Investigative Reporting ( Division B,Division A )Back
Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Wisconsin State Journal Entry Title: Inmates locked down, guards investigated as progress stalls over Green Bay prison Entry Credit: Lucas Robinson Judge Comment: This is an extremely well-crafted piece, weaving facts with the human factor; providing in-depth information about the situation without getting many officials to go on the record — or even respond to requests for interviews and/or information. Yet you got the answers. This is investigative journalism at its best.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Cap Times Entry Title: Why Wisconsin prisons can still shackle mothers in childbirth Entry Credit: Erin McGroarty Judge Comment: Now this is how you do an investigation: clearly identify the problem and/or conflict, do the research, find knowledgeable/credible sources and get them on the record, ask probing questions, seek clarity and report the facts, backed by statistics — and then lay out the story in a way that can be easily digested by the reader. It was telling that “the DOC would not allow the Cap Times to interview the warden at Taycheedah Correctional Institution about this issue.” Erin clearly did everything she could to flesh out this gripping story — trying to make these women “count.”
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Cap Times Entry Title: Mobile homes are affordable but some residents find serious downsides Entry Credit: Allison Garfield Judge Comment: This is a compelling story with multiple angles: the economic realities facing owners and investors — which are demonstrably at odds; the human tales of life in a “trailer” community; the feeling of being trapped. Allison does a great job weaving through those (and other strands) without losing track of the story. She also did her homework in seeking “interviews with the owners or property managers of all four mobile home parks in Madison.” Interestingly, she said one owner did answer questions, but then “asked not to be included in the article.” Allison did a great working around this by using what the owner said while she was on the record — learning that she “is trying to sell the park and has several potential buyers, large and small, both in and out of state.”
Finally, doing the research into the national “boot camp” for aspiring mobile home park investors run by Mobile Home University was a masterstroke — providing insight into that side of the economic ledger.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: The Post-Crescent Entry Title: Conditions in Wisconsin jails, prisons Entry Credit: Kelli Arseneau Judge Comment: Very well done. Great job in reporting the facts — including detailed reviews of as many state jails as possible — interwoven with the personal tales of those on both sides of those visits. I got a true sense of the implied conflict that exists with jails that don’t allow in-person visits and get a slice of the revenue from video visits. Not to mention that some contracts with video providers prohibit jails from even offering in-person. Talk about creating a literal captive audience.
