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TW MAIN 01-14-08 A 33 TVWEEK 1/10/2008 4:56 PM Page 1

TELEVISIONWEEK January 14, 2008 33

SPECIAL SECTION

NewsproTHE STATE OF TV NEWS

Christiane Amanpour again hosts the documentary. PBS PUTS TOP TALES IRAQIRAQ IN IN BEFORE 2008 PUBLIC Documentary Offers DUPONT Winning Highlights By Debra Kaufman WINNERS Special to TelevisionWeek The 500-channel universe makes for a crowded landscape, and it isn’t always easy to catch the best inves- tigative reporting on television. duPontFOCUSFOCUS Awards Recognize Journalism Tracing That’s what the duPont Awards Impact of War on Veterans, Reporters, Home Front celebrate, and the organization’s documentary “Telling the Truth,” By Debra Kaufman produced by Rain Media, features Special to TelevisionWeek the stories chosen as the year’s best. “This is our effort to reach the Out of 510 radio and television news entries, 13 have been chosen public about great journalism,” to receive 2008 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards for said Jonnet Abeles, director of the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Univer- broadcast journalism. The award winners, whose programs aired in sity Awards. The duPont Awards the U.S. between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007, will receive their sil- committee began documenting the awards ceremony five years ago, ver batons Jan. 16 at Columbia University. covering it as an awards show and For the first time since the war began in 2003, this year’s duPont including the clips shown. Three Awards significantly recognize journalism emerging from that conflict. years ago, Rain Media founder and Continued on Page 42 “I think the jury would say in their conversations that the reporting on Continued on Page 42

BATTLEGROUND Many of this year’s duPont Award-winning stories derive from Iraq and the war. TW MAIN 01-14-08 A 34 TVWEEK 1/10/2008 4:25 PM Page 1

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CBS News ON THE TRAIL “60 Minutes” correspondent Steve Kroft followed the money trail to ‘60 MINUTES: THE Jordan, Poland and France in MOTHER OF ALL HEISTS’ “The Mother of All Heists.” By Hillary Atkin but there was almost no coverage Special to TelevisionWeek here because it didn’t really involve “60 Minutes” correspondent Americans, at least on the surface,” Steve Kroft has done more than his said Mr. Kroft. “We started pursuing it share of crime and corruption stories and found the Iraqi judge who was over the years, but he was still looking into it was going to be in shocked by what came to be called Washington. We met with him in “The Mother of All Heists”—the out- spring 2006, and we thought it was a right theft of up to $800 million ear- great story. We tracked down the for- mer head of procurement for the Iraqi government in Poland. He CREDITS: Steve Kroft, correspon- agreed to meet us in Europe.” dent; Andy Court, Keith Sharman, In addition, an assortment of producers; Daniel J. Glucksman, editor; Amjad Tadros, field producer, arms dealers, bankers, money chang- CBS News Amman; Tadd Lascari, ers and even a chimney sweep were Jonathan Schienberg, broadcast interviewed for the investigative associates; Jan Morgan, Jurgen report. Mr. Kroft and his colleagues Neumann, camera; Rowland Fowles, discovered that most of the missing Luigi Giuliani, sound; CBS News millions went to line the pockets of bureau, additional report- suspects who fled Iraq before they ing and translation; Michael R. Whitney, senior broadcast producer; “Corruption in Patti Hassler, executive editor; Jeff Fager, executive producer; Sean Iraq is now recog- ment opened something like 2,000 in Amman, Jordan. Some money seemed to care, much less offered McManus, president, CBS News nized as one of corruption cases relating to this.” went to other places in Jordan, assistance in tracking down the mon- In the “60 Minutes” piece, Mr. Dubai and . They could ey or those who absconded with it. the major reasons Kroft explained that much of the never find any of it,” Mr. Kroft said. For Mr. Kroft, “The “Mother of marked for equipping a new Iraqi money was Iraqi oil money, some of “The documents were so vague that All Heists” was part of the larger pic- military under U.S. supervision. Most we have not been which was confiscated by the U.S. you didn’t know what was ordered ture of the . “The dysfunc- of the vast sum apparently went to able to get things government and put into the Iraqi or what was delivered.” tionality of the Iraqi government several well-connected insiders now treasury. The people in charge of But the story didn’t end there. The and the huge amounts of oil stolen living lives of luxury in exile, out of under control.” building a new Iraqi military were funds used as intended bought use- and sold on the black market are reach of the Iraqi judicial system. Steve Kroft, “60 Minutes” under U.S. supervision, led by a man less, obsolete military equipment, undermining U.S. efforts there,” he The “60 Minutes” team traveled to whose managerial experience con- including Russian helicopters that said. “Corruption in Iraq is now rec- Jordan, Poland and France to track could be arrested. sisted of selling used cars and run- didn’t fly and Polish armored person- ognized as one of the major reasons down the story, which they first “As we tried to find people who ning a pizza parlor. He was in charge nel vehicles that were so underpow- we have not been able to get things learned of in a Miami Herald article knew something about it, we were of purchasing $1 billion worth of ered they couldn’t be used. under control. There are people that didn’t seem to draw much atten- stunned to find no one in the U.S. equipment for the Iraqi military. Part of the problem is that corrup- more concerned with lining their tion. They obtained the Iraqi govern- government was trying to track the “About half ended up in the pri- tion is an endemic part of the culture own pockets rather than seeing a ment report and had it translated. money down or arrest or find any of vate bank account of an Iraqi exile in the , Mr. Kroft said. responsible government that can “It was a really interesting story, the people involved. The Iraqi govern- and a shell company with a P.O. box Also, none of the coalition partners protect the country.” ■

Chicago Public Radio, Alix Spiegel and PRI ‘THIS AMERICAN LIFE: WHICH ONE OF THESE IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS?’ By Debra Kaufman “Which One of These Is Not Like the Special to TelevisionWeek Others?” was part of the “This American Life” CREDITS: Alix Spiegel, reporter; Diane “Which One of These Is Not Like the producers’ effort to investigate misunder- Cook, producer; Julie Snyder, senior Others?” aired Dec. 15, 2006. Although the standings between east and west. The original producer; Ira Glass, executive producer; producers of “This American Life” knew it was intent was to create a trio of stories related to produced by Chicago Public Radio; dis- a strong show, they were floored by the level the theme. When Ms. Spiegel’s first story idea tributed by Public Radio International of response the segment got. “Ira [Glass, exec- didn’t pan out, she again tapped all the organ- utive producer] said he had never seen a radio izations she had already contacted to find of whom declined to be interviewed due to story get that many letters,” said reporter Alix another one. A contact at the American Civil the ongoing civil lawsuit. Spiegel. “We got hundreds and hundreds of Liberties Union told her a story of a family “With the Justice Department corroborat- letters the first week, and an equal number that, after 9/11, had essentially been hounded ing the facts, I felt comfortable going for- the second week.” out of town. ward,” said Ms. Spiegel. She spent a full day The story, about a Muslim family’s disinte- Ms. Spiegel tracked down the family with the family, conducting interviews, and gration in the aftermath of 9/11, honed in on through its lawyer and then had to overcome wrote the piece, which was edited by Mr. a cherished American ideal: that America wel- Sari’s wariness of the press. She was particu- Glass and senior producer Julie Snyder. comes the assimilated immigrant. larly adamant that her family not be seen as So far, there’s been no happy ending to the In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks victims, said Ms. Spiegel. “Sari said she would family’s plight, said Ms. Spiegel. Sari and her of Sept. 11, the children of this well-integrat- talk about what happened to her family, but husband are still separated, their views of ed Muslim family were relentlessly harassed we had to disguise the names,” she said. “She America so divergent as to brook no reconcili- at school, and the parents came to two very didn’t want anyone in their new community ation. They’re still recovering from the situa- different conclusions. “The main thing that to know that they had had these problems.” tion, said Ms. Spiegel. tears the parents apart is that [the mother] Ms. Spiegel fact-checked the details of the From the perspective of a year later, Ms. Sari thinks it’s an aberration and doesn’t story with the U.S. Justice Department, which Spiegel also understands why “Which One TOUCHING A NERVE Executive producer represent anything bigger about America, had become involved with the case after a of These Is Not Like the Others?” has had Ira Glass said the duPont-winning story and the father feels this is what America is series of incidents at the daughter’s school. such a strong impact. “It’s about America,” drew an enormous response from listeners. and wants to move the family to a Muslim She also contacted the school, through the she said, “and what America will be in a country,” Ms. Spiegel said. principal and the child’s former teacher, both post-9/11 world.” ■ TW MAIN 01-14-08 A 36 TVWEEK 1/10/2008 4:26 PM Page 1

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Florentine Films/Hott Productions and WETA-TV, Washington KHOU-TV, Houston ‘THROUGH DEAF EYES’ ‘RULES OF By Jarre Fees laudet to the history of the deaf cul- the end they got Special to TelevisionWeek ture in America, and its education what she and Mr. THE GAME’ When yet another hearing presi- and advancement over the last 200 Hott wanted: Six dent was appointed to lead Gal- years. short films by deaf By Hillary Atkin laudet University in 1988—after “There was an exhibit [“History filmmakers are Special to TelevisionWeek more than a century of hearing pres- Through Deaf Eyes”] that was curat- incorporated into It was during the course of a idents—the students at the college ed by [author and historian] Jack “Through Deaf lengthy investigation into shoddy for the deaf revolted. Building on the Gannon at Gallaudet,” said Karen Eyes,” integrated into DNA and forensic work that would Kenton, director of national pro- the footage through shut down the Houston Police gramming for WETA in Arlington, the use of animation Department’s crime lab—and cause CREDITS: Lawrence Hott, Diane Va. “That’s what really inspired the and graphics. A deaf ripples at crime labs throughout the Garey, producers; Ken Chowder, film, which explains why these comedian and a rock nation—that KHOU-TV executive writer; Stockard Channing, narrator; issues of identity are so powerful band composed of producer David Raziq encountered Diane Garey, editor; Allen Moore, and meaningful to deaf people.” deaf musicians also another powerful story with far- Michael Chin, Stephen McCarthy, Ms. Kenton contacted producer are showcased, along GOOD VIBRATIONS A deaf woman tells a reaching implications, one for which cinematographers; Amit Sethi, ani- Lawrence Hott, who wanted to do with new forms of story to the accompaniment of deaf band he and investigative reporter Jeremy mation and graphics; Judy Hyman, the film but questioned his role as a technology such as Beethoven’s Nightmare at Gallaudet. Rogalski will take home a duPont Jeff Claus, music; Jean Bergey, teletype machines and even project director, Gallaudet Universi- hearing producer. Ms. Kenton, Mr. Award. ty; Karen Kenton, Dalton Delan, Hott and his producing partner cochlear implants. grate their child into the world.” Entitled “Rules of the Game,” the executive producers; Sharon Rocke- Diane Garey, along with writer Ken In addition to being broadcast on Narrated by Stockard Channing, six-minute piece detailed a Texas law feller, president, WETA Chowder, enlisted the help of Henry PBS, Ms. Kenton said, “Through the documentary also highlights an that tilts the scales of justice in favor Lang, a professor at the National Deaf Eyes” has been shown in public ongoing controversy inherent in Technical Institute for the Deaf at libraries and schools across the the education of the deaf, begin- foundations of the civil rights move- Rochester Institute, and started talk- nation. ning with Alexander Graham Bell’s CREDITS: Jeremy Rogalski, ment, Gallaudet faculty, staff and ing about using deaf filmmakers. “The film seeks to expand peo- insistence that deaf children should reporter; Chris Henao, producer; alumni joined the protest, winning “We couldn’t go with an ple’s concept of what is normal,” she not be instructed in sign language, Keith Tomshe, photojournalist and editor; David Raziq, executive pro- public support and the subsequent unknown director if we wanted to said. “We chose to focus on similari- but should learn to speak when ducer for investigative reporting; appointment of Dr. I. King Jordan, get funding,” Mr. Hott said. “But we ties, where American history inter- possible and be educated only by Keith Connors, news director the first deaf president at the Wash- thought, ‘What if we commission sects with deaf life.” speaking teachers. ington, D.C., university. filmmakers to make films that could “Being deaf has tentacles that “This is a big battle, because it WETA-TV’s two-hour duPont- fit right into the documentary with- reach out into all society,” Mr. Hott goes right to the heart of what it of the prosecution in criminal cases winning documentary on the deaf out having to be interpreted?’” said. “You talk to any family that has a means to be human,” Mr. Hott said. by allowing it to withhold from the community, “Through Deaf Eyes,” It took five years to mount the child who’s handicapped in some “Are we human because we can defense, until trial, basic evidence ties this galvanizing event at Gal- production, Ms. Kenton said, but in way, and that family wants to inte- speak?” ■ that might point to someone’s inno- cence. Such exculpatory evidence might include police and lab reports and eyewitness accounts. As a result, HBO, Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg attorneys’ ability to put on an effec- tive defense has been crippled and innocent people have gone to jail. “We talked to three dozen defense ‘THE TRIALS OF attorneys around Texas, former pros- ecutors in several counties and vari- ous legal experts. What emerged was DARRYL HUNT’ a draconian story of law and justice in Texas,” said Mr. Rogalski. By Hillary Atkin was no physical evidence that linked “We expect a level playing field. It’s Special to TelevisionWeek him to the crime, but the African- not the case in Texas. State law says “The Trials of Darryl Hunt,” a two- American youth was convicted by an the district attorney’s office holds all hour film that aired on HBO docu- all-white jury and sentenced to life in the cards and gets to show which ones menting the brutal rape and murder prison. After an appeal, he was con- it wants to show on the table. What’s of a young white newspaper editor in victed a second time. happening, according to defense North Carolina and a complex quest The filmmakers became involved attorneys, is the deck is stacked for justice, was a 13-year undertaking in 1993 after receiving a call from an against them,” he said. for filmmakers Annie Sundberg and investigator on Mr. Hunt’s defense The law, which is supposed to be Ricki Stern. The duPont Award-win- team asking them to come down in trumped by the federal Brady law, is ning program exposes the emotion- hopes of garnering some attention to POWER OF THE PRESS Darryl enforced in various ways in different ally wrenching, circuitous journey show the community that other eyes Hunt, center, was finally exon- counties throughout the state. In Har- after an innocent black man was were watching. erated of murder and released ris County, where Houston is located, convicted of the crime—and spent “We drove down to North Caroli- from prison in 2004. defense attorneys are sometimes— nearly 20 years behind bars. na with cinematographer William guilty’ to ‘He’s innocent.’ It was an and sometimes not—allowed to Rexer and a 16-millimeter camera interesting exploration for us.” often on free stock—instead storing review police, eyewitness and lab for a couple weeks and began to In 1994, DNA evidence cleared it in the freezer. After Mr. Hunt’s reports at the D.A.’s office, but are not CREDITS: Ricki Stern, Annie Sund- investigate and get documents. Mr. Hunt. However, he was impris- appeal was rejected by the U.S. allowed to make copies of what can berg, directors and executive pro- Every night we met up with the oned for another 10 years, despite Supreme Court, their hopes of get- be hundreds or even thousands of ducers; Katie Brown, William Rexer defense team, who gave us full the best efforts of his dedicated, pro ting the film made reached a nadir, pages of documents. They are permit- II, Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg, access to their work,” said Ms. Stern. bono defense team and a core yet they never gave up, even as file ted only to take handwritten notes, producers; Shannon Kennedy, edi- group of supporters who steadfastly cabinets filled with case material tor; William Rexer II, cinematogra- “Witness intimidation hearings and the notes cannot be verbatim. pher; John Foster, Alan Jacobson, were going on, and we were learn- maintained their belief in his inno- took up half their work space. “In some counties, the defense is Shannon Kennedy, additional cine- ing as we were going. I certainly had cence and refused to give up their “It was a difficult decision, but not allowed to see any of this materi- matography and digital video; Paul nothing invested in Darryl’s inno- quest to free him. we had to put it on the shelf,” Ms. al during discovery. It only comes to Brill, original score; Brad Bergbom, cence. We didn’t know, so it was “We understood what drove them Sundberg said. light if the author of the document is sound editor; Nancy Abraham, quite nerve-wracking. The state was to pursue the appeal without getting The turning point came in 2003, on the witness stand,” explained Mr. supervising producer, HBO; Sheila very persuasive. Both sides were.” paid, the passion behind it. As a film- when a local newspaper reporter did Raziq. Nevins, executive producer, HBO “We thought this could be an maker that’s what interesting, what a multipart investigative report on In still other counties, the defense interesting story about race relations drives that passion,” Ms. Stern said. the case, focusing national attention has access to all the D.A.’s evidence and the justice system, possibly a They also met Mr. Hunt and on a community and a criminal jus- before trial, as is the case in most judi- In 1984, Deborah Sykes was killed contemporary ‘To Kill a Mocking- became deeply impressed with his tice system mired in racism. cial systems across the U.S.—uphold- in Winston-Salem, N.C., near the bird,’” said Ms. Sundberg. “The local character, determination and lack of The filmmakers were able to get ing the tenet of equal justice that newspaper where she worked as a news media was very jaded and tired bitterness. completion money, and the film defendants have the right to see all the copy editor, her bloodied body found of the story and very vocal about Still, they were not able to tell his premiered at Sundance in 2006 evidence against them before trial. in a field. Based on a tip from a for- how it was a waste of their time. I story. They applied for funding but before airing on HBO in April. Mr. Mr. Rogalski likened the situation mer Ku Klux Klan member, 19-year- was astounded. It was an eyewitness couldn’t get it. Sometimes they did- Hunt was released from prison in of a defense attorney in Texas to a sur- old Darryl Hunt was arrested. There crime. You’d swing wildly from ‘He’s n’t develop the footage they shot— December 2004. ■ geon going into an operating room TW MAIN 01-14-08 A 37 TVWEEK 1/10/2008 4:27 PM Page 1

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KMOV-TV St. Louis ‘LEFT BEHIND: THE FAILURE OF EAST Jeremy Rogalski

but not knowing what kind of surgery ST. LOUIS SCHOOLS’ needed to be performed; he said attor- neys often are placed in the position of By Debra Kaufman Louis problems as insurmount- MAKE IT BETTER KMOV’s reports digesting complicated reports during Special to TelevisionWeek able,” said KMOV photographer/ helped improve education for students. 20- to 30-minute court recesses and The story began simply editor Gary Womack, which leads defending their clients on the fly. enough. In St. Louis, KMOV-TV them to regard stories about the evolution of the news focus. “We at least a dozen requests for docu- He and Mr. Raziq hope the sta- reporter Craig Cheatham was district as “white noise.” decided it was worth the fight.” ments through the Freedom of tion’s report will bring about change, investigating a school district in But Stephon led to Tom He credits Ms. Garner with tak- Information Act to get the school but they don’t discount the power of Kennedy, an attorney who had a ing a big risk. “It was a risky situa- board minutes, which revealed the prosecutors’ offices and the fact CREDITS: Craig Cheatham, mission to improve the East St. tion for an acting news director to some of the worst abuses. that most judges are former prose- reporter; Gary Womack, pho- Louis school district, and soon Mr. go this far out on a limb,” he The KMOV reports generated cutors. tographer and editor; Genie Cheatham was producing the first notes. “The stories represented a change. “I don’t think there’s any “It’s business as usual and I don’t Garner, acting news director of what would be 21 reports over a community that is constantly for- question that our story had a sig- know why. It’s been this way for so seven-month period. gotten. The station wasn’t going to nificant impact on how the school long and it’s the way it’s done. I an affluent suburb of St. Louis that Those reports methodically curry any favor with running this district educates kids in East St. couldn’t believe I was in 21st-century was failing to meet the needs of documented a web of abuse, cor- story. They did it for all the right Louis,” said Mr. Cheatham, who America,” said Mr. Rogalski. “For special-education students. Then ruption, nepotism and state and reasons.” said half a dozen people were whatever reason, I think there are he met Stephon, a special-ed stu- federal violations that were unde- Mr. Cheatham also credits the demoted or reassigned and stu- people behind bars who are inno- dent from the East St. Louis school niable in their power and shock Belo group, which owns KMOV. dents at two charter schools got cent. If they’re innocent, by default, a district, which is notorious as one value. That included, ultimately, “They place a very high value on special-ed services that had been guilty person is walking free, and of the worst districts in the state the revelation that district funds enterprise journalism, especially denied by the district for at least that’s a little scary. and is considered impossible to were being used to create hun- investigative journalism,” he said. four years. “The defense says it should be penetrate or change. dreds of non-teaching jobs for “They walk the talk and they look “One thing we noticed is that about seeking the truth and not a “It’s a forgotten community,” school board family members or for relentlessness.” the board rubber-stamped every- game of hide the ball or dirty pool on said KMOV acting news director political cronies. Mr. Cheatham received coop- thing, and that isn’t the case any an unlevel playing field. Equal justice Genie Garner, who is now news “You start out excited, then eration from many involved par- more. I believe the process is no is supposed to be about two opposing director at Belo station WHAS-TV you get frustrated and angry, and ties, but the school board—source longer quite corrupt. It’s cleaned sides seeking the truth, based upon in Louisville, Ky. then you dig in your heels,” said of the most egregious activities— up considerably, and that’s a last- the facts as they are known.” ■ “Most viewers think of East St. Mr. Cheatham, explaining the totally stonewalled him. He filed ing change,” he said. ■ TW MAIN 01-14-08 A 38 TVWEEK 1/10/2008 4:28 PM Page 1

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KNOE-TV, Monroe, La. ‘NAMES, RANKS AND SERIAL PLUNDER: THE NATIONAL GUARD AND KATRINA’ By Jarre Fees backed a dump truck up to an auto man was ready to talk. Special to TelevisionWeek parts store and filled it with stolen Mr. Henry went to After Hurricane Katrina hit New merchandise, looted the pharmacies New Orleans and Orleans on Aug. 29, 2005, looters and jewelry stores they had been sent “retraced the guards- swarmed the streets and the National to protect and helped themselves to man’s steps”; the guards- Guard dispatched troops to patrol weapons from a gun dealership. man showed him where the city. According to KNOE-TV News After Mr. Henry’s four-month alleged looting had taken Director Taylor Henry, the Guard investigation, KNOE, located in Mon- place. Now all he had, “brought food and supplies to evac- roe, La., aired “Names, Ranks and Mr. Henry said, was “an Serial Plunder: The National Guard informal allegation on and Katrina” over four nights as the tape.” But two other CREDITS: Taylor Henry, pro- lead on its nightly news. The series, guardsmen were willing to be inter- rounding Katrina. The tally was later ON GUARD KNOE-TV’s ducer, reporter, writer; Jennifer televised to coincide with the one- viewed about the looting, and Mr. increased to 21, including a lieu- four-part series investi- Townley, Tom Cole, video edi- year anniversary of Katrina, is the Battaglia mentioned that the local tenant, a captain, nine noncommis- gated looting by some tors; John Denison, graphics winner of an Alfred I duPont Award. sheriff also knew about it. Mr. Henry’s sioned officers and 10 privates. members of the National designer; Richard Sommers, Guard assigned to patrol When a local man, Mike Battaglia, investigation started to open up. Mr. Henry believes the official list assistant producer; Jack New Orleans after Hurri- whose son had been stationed in The sheriff turned over the case is “just the tip of the iceberg,” adding, Dietle, Ed Rowan, Michael cane Katrina. Tuberville, Jerry Hester, pho- New Orleans during the Katrina file of a deputy who had been caught “A lot of guys didn’t get caught.” Of tographers; Taylor Henry, news aftermath, approached Mr. Henry with a stolen weapon; the deputy had those who were caught, “A few of director; Roy Frostenson, exec- about National Guardsmen involved “finally admitted” he had received it them got fines and jail time, mostly in “Other media reports were por- utive producer in looting, the newsman said he was from a National Guardsman. the form of suspended sentences,” he traying the National Guard as the skeptical. But Mr. Battaglia set up a Under the Freedom of Informa- said. “Some took a reduction in rank. heroes after Katrina,” Mr. Henry said, meeting for Mr. Henry with a second tion Act, the National Guard’s public The enlisted men were discharged adding he is quick to agree with that uees who were stranded in the guardsman, who confirmed the information officer “finally turned and the officers were allowed to assessment. “But the public depend- Superdome, conducted search-and- Battaglia story but who “had grave over a one-page document,” Mr. resign.” ed on these guys, and in some cases rescue operations and helped restore reservations about going public.” Henry said, listing the names of 18 The series led to a review by the they betrayed that trust. Not just a order.” Three weeks later, Mr. Battaglia called military personnel who had been Pentagon and the reorganization of few misfits, but men who had been in Some National Guardsmen also Mr. Henry again; the other guards- court-martialed after the events sur- the Louisiana National Guard. the military many years.” ■

MSNBC and CREDITS: Richard Engel, reporter; Madeleine Haeringer, producer; Elizabeth Ruksznis, associate producer; Carrie ‘WAR ZONE DIARY’ Wysocki, director; Linda Diehl, Beverly Chase, editors; Bre- By Hillary Atkin satellite phone. I had a safe house, dun Edwards, Steve O’Neill, Special to TelevisionWeek getaway cars, generators and Kevin Burke, Richard Engel, When the U.S. invaded Iraq in crowbars. It was easier to consoli- camera; Jody Sugrue, motion 2003, Richard Engel was in Bagh- date everything, what I was eating, graphics artist; Gordon Miller, dad as a freelance journalist. The doing, a way to collect my music, Judith Greenberg, U.S. television networks had thoughts in the middle of the day. I Sharon Hoffman, senior pro- pulled most of their people out on kept it up. I still keep it up.” ducers; Scott Hooker, senior the eve of war, but Mr. Engel was It was after the invasion that executive producer; Michael there in the thick of battle, docu- Mr. Engel joined NBC News, Rubin, vice president of long- menting everything with a hand- reporting for all of its news pro- form programming, Steve held camcorder. grams from Iraq, all the while con- Capus, president, NBC News Mr. Engel also decided to turn tinuing to keep his video diary. the camera on himself as a way of “There were four years of inci- recording what he experienced, dents, but I only put in ones where NBC News bureau was blown up and he continued to do so as he I thought there was an emotional twice, destroying archived footage. lived behind enemy lines and impact. I didn’t talk about the When Mr. Engel went back over reported from the war zone. political situation, and didn’t try to his own tapes, he was struck by the Four years later, he and produc- document key events,” Mr. Engel changes that had occurred and er Madeleine Haeringer went said. how brutal things had been. through 30 hours of his tapes, His video diary describes his “It seemed like there were sev- along with hundreds of team’s betrayal by a trusted Iraqi eral wars,” he said. “The first year hours of footage that “fixer,” who after several years of was nothing like the second year, didn’t make “Nightly working with the NBC crew tried which was nothing like the third. News,” and produced to extort money from them by fak- Each period had such distinctive BEHIND ENEMY LINES “War Zone Diary,” an ing his own kidnapping. Mr. Engel characteristics. … Oftentimes you For MSNBC’s “War Zone hourlong program that also tells of the personal toll of would think bombings all blend Diary,” Richard Engel aired on MSNBC. growing apart from his wife in the together, but the targets were dif- drew on more than 30 “I thought I was United States and their eventual ferent, the enemy was different, hours of his personal going to be filming my divorce. and looking at it chronologically, it video journal as well as own obituary,” said Mr. “I tried to show what war over helped me understand that.” unaired news footage. Engel. “I was very con- time does to people and societies Mr. Engel, who became the scious of the fact that and what it’s like to witness it,” bureau chief of NBC’s newly creat- this might be it, facing said Mr. Engel. “I didn’t dwell on it, ed outpost in June 2006, has what was billed as the but so many soldiers got divorced, lived in the Middle East since ‘shock and awe’ of the and so many of my colleagues 1996. “I get to see things, I get to invasion. The situation were in relationships that fell watch,” he said. “I feel very lucky was so fluid I thought I apart.” to get to see history in formation, might have to ditch Three of the four hotels where to get in the front car as it’s hap- everything. I had to he lived in Baghdad were bombed, pening. I think of journalism as a hide tapes and the and he saw colleagues die. The journey of exploration.” ■ TW MAIN 01-14-08 A 39 TVWEEK 1/10/2008 4:29 PM Page 1

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NPR and Daniel Zwerdling FACING A CHALLENGE Monica Groves was the subject of “Dateline’s” show about a teacher in ‘MENTAL ANGUISH an inner-city school. AND THE MILITARY’ By Jarre Fees body else who’s going through this?’ Special to TelevisionWeek And everybody knew somebody who In 2005 a mental health special- was going through the same thing. So ist at the Veterans Administration I’d ask them for names.” warned NPR’s Daniel Zwerdling that At some point, Mr. Zwerdling said, the military was not adequately car- he also started asking soldiers for their ing for returning Iraq War veterans, military records. who were exhibiting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder CREDITS: Daniel Zwerdling, cor- (PTSD) in record numbers. Mr. respondent; Anne Hawke, pro- Zwerdling thought he would make a ducer; Ellen Weiss, vice presi- few calls. dent, news, NPR “Dozens upon dozens” of calls later, the six-part “Mental Anguish “From recruitment to the first-year and the Military,” Zwerdling and exam to the return from Iraq, medical NBC News NPR’s duPont Award-winning inves- records showed the soldiers saw the tigative series, revealed not just the base therapist, and what the therapist serious mental health issues affect- diagnosed,” Mr. Zwerdling said. “The ing a large number of Iraq War veter- counselor is writing down that this ‘DATELINE: THE EDUCATION ans (as many as 20% to 25%, by the soldier’s marriage is falling apart, he military’s own estimate), but also the can’t sleep, and when he does sleep he CREDITS: , Army’s lack of adequate mental has terrible nightmares; he can’t have OF MS. GROVES’ reporter; Izhar Harpaz, health care, made worse by the lack sex—and around that same date, Shayla Harris, producers; of compassion in some of the very every time, his personnel records By Debra Kaufman with, if not the best.” Ellen Mason, senior pro- personnel who are supposed to pro- show this guy’s sergeant is punishing Special to TelevisionWeek The school’s principal, ducer; Deanna DiMuro, vide assistance. him for something like not having a With No Child Left Behind in Thomas Kenner, also gave the Serene Fang, Henning Acting on advice from a military regulation haircut.” the national spotlight, “Date- “Dateline” crew extraordinary Fog, Sarah Gregory, asso- contact, Mr. Zwerdling focused on When Mr. Zwerdling spoke to line’s” “The Education of Ms. access to the classroom, where ciate producers; Francis- soldiers based at Fort Carson, Colo. “It midlevel military personnel at Fort Groves” was an illuminating they shot 90 days throughout the co Bido, editor; Liz Cole, took five months before anyone Carson, he found staff sergeants as portrait of an idealistic, 21-year- school year. “We slowly realized executive editor; David would talk to me,” Mr. Zwerdling said. young as 24 who spoke candidly old college graduate facing the we were able to show an educa- Corvo, executive produc- Finally one staff sergeant agreed to be about their contempt for people who tough realities of teaching in an tional journey in process, and it er; Steve Capus, presi- interviewed. “She said I was a persist- had PTSD and thought “punishing inner-city school. was important for us to be there,” dent, NBC News ent little prick,” Mr. Zwerdling said, these men was the right way to go.” Initially conceived by NBC said Mr. Harpaz. “We were also “but she finally agreed to meet me.” Mr. Zwerdling then approached correspondent Sarah James able to show the challenges that Ms. Groves’ arc from energetic After a few soldiers opened up to top military brass, only to find that, (who stepped down for personal low-income children have to optimist to self-proclaimed him about their problems, Mr. again, no one would grant him an reasons and was replaced by overcome, and we realized we “tyrant,” angry and impatient Zwerdling said, he started “doing a interview. “When the story came reporter Hoda Kotb) and “Date- were going against stereotypes with disruptive students, and chain. I’d say, ‘Do you know some- out, they basically said it was ‘aston- line” producer Izhar Harpaz, the about minority children and finally to a more peaceful, realis- ishing drivel,’” Mr. Zwerdling said. program—executive produced education. Many of them suc- tic middle way, insisting on “But [Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., by David Corvo—first needed to ceeded despite the challenges. It attention and excellence without Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Kit find the right teacher to profile. was the system that failed them.” resorting to anger. Bond, R-Mo.,] announced they were Mr. Harpaz contacted Teach Early in the semester, Ms. Since “The Education of Ms. going to investigate.” A Pentagon for America, an organization that Groves assigned her students to Groves” was shot, the profiled task force and other government recruits college graduates to write a poem expressing who children have gone on to high agencies also have investigated, and teach for two years in difficult they were. The “Dateline” crew school and are doing well, said the Army now says it is trying to schools. They provided him with shot seven children reciting their Mr. Harpaz. Ms. Groves left to get address the mental health issues. a list of potential candidates, and poems, and three emerged as the her master’s degree in education After the series aired, Mr. Monica Groves was the fourth story’s main focus: feisty Maya, at Harvard. She also got lucrative Zwerdling talked once more to the phone call he made. quiet Steve and confident Drew. offers from the William Morris staff sergeant who had spoken most “Two minutes into my conver- Their stories revealed a father in Agency and production compa- contemptuously about soldiers with sation with Monica, I knew I jail, a homeless family living in a nies that wanted to make a series PTSD. “The sergeant said, ‘After that found who I wanted, because she motel room and other behind- based on her life. interview I did a lot of thinking, and I seemed incredibly honest with the-scenes tragedies that pervade “She went back to teach at the realized I’m falling apart, too. So I’m herself, able to balance idealism these children’s lives. same school and same grade,” in therapy now.’” with a dose of reality,” he said. “I Another production chal- reports Mr. Harpaz. “She’s the real SERVICE JOURNALISM That remark made a big impact Daniel Zwerdling focused on had no inkling that she’d be one of lenge was carving a story out of thing. My instinct about her was on Mr. Zwerdling. “One victory at a soldiers at Fort Carson, Colo. the best characters I’d ever worked 150 hours of footage, following really correct.” ■ time,” he said. ■ TW MAIN 01-14-08 A 40 TVWEEK 1/10/2008 4:30 PM Page 1

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Paladin Invision, London, and WETA-TV, Washington TRACING A MOVEMENT Part of a PBS program- ming initiative, “Jihad” looks at the intellectual ‘JIHAD: THE MEN AND birth of Al Qaeda. IDEAS BEHIND AL QAEDA’ By Hillary Atkin Afghanistan in 1979, through Sept. Special to TelevisionWeek 11, 2001, to the present day. The series “America at a Cross- Producer Bill Cran and his team roads” was an ambitious initiative for spent 11 months traveling through- PBS last spring: six consecutive nights out the Middle East, Sudan, Pakistan, of programming examining tough Great Britain and the U.S. They inter- questions surrounding the war on ter- viewed numerous insiders and eye- rorism and the conflicts in Iraq and witnesses to dissect the beliefs that Afghanistan. It cost the network a incite Islamic terrorist attacks. reported $20 million. “It’s the smartest thing I’ve ever The two-hour program leading off seen,” said Jeff Bieber, VP of news and the series, “Jihad: The Men and Ideas public affairs at WETA-TV in Washing- Behind Al Qaeda,” was awarded the ton. “Bill’s directing style is incredibly duPont for being what the judges engaging. Originally I wanted an hour called “a lucid, insightful, intellectual produced, but as we started working tour de force for television. The nar- on it, and seeing cuts and scripts, it rative and historical footage are flaw- was really clear it had to be two hours.” lessly drawn together.” “I’ve always been drawn to sub- The documentary traces the intel- jects that are not visual, that are lectual birth of Al Qaeda, from the about ideas—in this case, Islamo-fas- Muslim Brotherhood founded in cism,” said Mr. Cran. “My rule of Egypt in the 1920s through the radi- thumb was to talk to people who had calization of Osama bin Laden as a met bin Laden or Ayman al-Zawahiri, result of the Soviet invasion of his No. 2, and to weave in stories of on the FBI’s most wanted list, but he profile, opting not to get film permits Afghanistan in the last gasps of the the ideas that influenced them.” was murdered in Madagascar before and using lightweight equipment. Cold War in the early 1980s. The arms He said many former jihadists liv- They were not allowed into Saudi and money were funneled through CREDITS: William Cran, writer- ing in the West or in Egypt were afraid Arabia. Pakistan, which favored the most fun- producer-director; Adam Live- “It’s the smartest to talk, fearing they would draw the “I was quite apprehensive about damentalist groups in Afghanistan— ly, co-producer/co-writer; Robert MacNeil, narrator; attention of police or intelligence thing I’ve ever going to some of these countries, but whose members would later morph Allen Charlton, Joe Frost, edi- services. They also were suspicious of seen. Bill [Cran’s] the overwhelming feeling is one of into the Taliban. tors; Sue Temple, production the non- program makers. normalcy,” said Mr. Cran. “In most of It traces the actual birth of Al executive; Catharine Alen- The production team had to directing style is the places I didn’t feel personal danger. Qaeda to 1988 in Peshawar, Pak- Buckley, line producer; Clive prove its commitment to getting at You read in the papers about this part istan, two years after bin Laden met Syddall, executive producer, the truth, sometimes meeting with incredibly of the world, but when you actually go, Zawahiri, the founder of Egyptian Paladin Invision; Leo Eaton, subjects numerous times before they engaging.” you find people are people, which Islamic Jihad. The terrorist group series producer; Jeff Bieber, agreed to be interviewed on camera. gave me a little hope for the future.” incorporated the ideas of warring Dalton Delan, executive pro- More than 20 interviewees appear in Jeff Bieber, WETA-TV, on “Jihad” In one of its most resonant chap- against Western powers rather than ducers; Sharon Rockefeller, the documentary. The producers ters, the film relates how the CIA focusing on toppling the dynastic president, WETA-TV even were scheduled to interview that could happen. covertly funded and armed the Muja- regimes of the Middle East—to bin Laden’s brother-in-law, who was In many countries they kept a low hedeen fighting the Soviets in devastating results. ■

with temporary badge access to the ON THE LINE WBBM’s information on the missing badges, investigation began with a asking for data back to 2004. planes who had submitted fraudu- flight attendant who risked “We got a [disc] showing there lent information to obtain badges, her job to go on camera and were 3,700-plus badges missing,” including Social Security numbers talk about security lapses said Mr. Savini, “including names of of deceased people. The badges are at O’Hare Airport. employees, FBI agents, Homeland the only identification required for Security people who had all lost back-gate entrance by airline and their badges.” The badges, he said, airport employees, including pilots, era,” Mr. Savini said. “She told us, are the only identification required baggage handlers and security per- ‘This cleaning crew comes in the for entry through the back gate at sonnel, and “nobody’s even check- back gate with me.’ She started won- O’Hare. ing whether the applicant has a dering about the background checks valid Social [Security number],” Mr. of people coming in that gate.” “If you don’t police Savini said. Mr. Savini contacted the private The series led to a congressional company that controls security for … the people who investigation and investigations by O’Hare, but no one there would talk hold the keys to the Illinois state legislature and the to him. Acting on a hunch, Mr. Savini Transportation Safety Administra- went to the public alley behind the the back gate, tion, which increased its random security company’s office, climbed in security screenings of airport and started filling trash bags. then what good is employees. But Mr. Savini continues “I did this for two months,” Mr. all that security at to investigate the rear entrance. Savini said, “and the deeper I dug, “If you don’t police that funda- WBBM-TV, Chicago the more I realized what was at the front?” mental area, the people who hold hand.” He collected “volumes of Dave Savini, WBBM-TV investigative reporter the keys to the back gate,” he said, documents they were throwing “then what good is all that security ‘FLY AT YOUR OWN RISK’ away,” including copies of birth cer- WBBM notified the Chicago at the front?” ■ tificates and residency cards. Department of Aviation about the By Jarre Fees contacted Dave Savini, investigative He also collected internal memos information it had received, and CREDITS: Dave Savini, reporter; stating badges were missing after “within minutes” the station got a Special to TelevisionWeek reporter at WBBM-TV (CBS 2) in Michele Youngerman, producer; When an American Airlines jet Chicago, who began an ongoing employees had quit or been termi- call from a Washington attorney Mike Klingele, Bond Li, Jerry received a bomb threat on a scrap of investigation into security measures nated, and other memos “dated requesting that the station return Pedroza, photographers and edi- paper at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport in at O’Hare. The original six-part, hid- much later” saying “we need to call the disc. “We refused,” said Mr. tors; Marda LeBeau, executive 2005, airline officials did not bother den-camera series, “Fly at Your Own the Department of Aviation” about Savini, “but we agreed not to use the producer; Carol Fowler, vice pres- to call security agents. Instead, they Risk,” is one of this year’s duPont those missing badges. names, just the [missing badge] ident and director of news; Joe had the cleaning crew search the Award winners. Under the Freedom of Informa- numbers.” Ahern, president and general plane. “The flight attendant who came tion Act, Mr. Savini and producer WBBM discovered that one secu- manager A flight attendant for the airline to us risked her job to go on cam- Michele Youngerman applied for rity company had 130 individuals TW MAIN 01-14-08 A 41 TVWEEK 1/10/2008 5:02 PM Page 1

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MUDDLED PRIORITIES WFAA-TV, Dallas “Television Justice” dis- covered the Murphy, Texas, police were in effect acting as cameramen for a reality ‘TELEVISION JUSTICE’ show during a sting. By Jarre Fees ed Justice have altered the way they Special to TelevisionWeek set up sting operations as a result of Following the suicide of an assis- “Television Justice.” But criticism tant district attorney in the Dallas sub- about the suicide of the assistant D.A. urb of Murphy, Texas, WFAA-TV lingers. reporter Byron Harris and producer “He never went to the sting Mark Smith heard a rumor that the house,” Mr. Harris said, “so they went man had been part of a sting opera- to his house instead. They broke in tion. When the Murphy Police Depart- with a SWAT team, and the guy blew ment refused to release further infor- his brains out. I’m not saying he was mation on the suicide or the sting, Mr. a good guy; I don’t know. He was a Harris started asking questions. suspected predator. I’m saying what The resulting three-part, duPont happens when TV journalists pre- Award-winning report “Television tend to be cops, and cops pretend to Justice” takes an old-fashioned be journalists?” ■ approach to television journalism in our modern era of reality shows and Internet sex. “The man who killed himself was a suspected Internet predator,” Mr. Harris said, “and a group called Per-

CREDITS: Byron Harris, YOU CAN’T HIDE reporter; Mark Smith, producer; Kraig Kirchem, photographer and editor; Dave Arnold, addi- tional photography; Michael Valentine, news director THE TRUTH verted Justice found out about him and tracked him down. They con- vinced the Murphy Police Depart- ment to set up a sting operation.” Perverted Justice, Mr. Harris dis- covered, had been hired by NBC’s On-air legends, independent producers and investigative “Dateline” for its recurring “To Catch a Predator” segment. Led by one man, reporters from local stations to national networks tell the Internet stealth group infiltrates Christiane Amanpour what it takes to dig deep, uncover online chat rooms. “They set up sting houses,” Mr. the truth, and produce outstanding news reports worthy of Harris said, “and bring in Internet broadcast journalism’s most prestigious honor. predators with the idea they’re going to meet some young boy or girl—and when [the alleged predators] go in the house, there are camera crews and 2008 ALFRED I. DUPONT- cops waiting.” WFAA discovered it was hard to COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AWARDS tell the difference between the cops and the camera crew. “We were watching tapes of [the Murphy sting house] and there was a cop making an arrest,” Mr. Harris said. “In some shots, all we could see was a hand holding a gun at the end of an arm, and there’s a voice saying, ‘You’re under arrest.’ And we thought, ‘Wait a minute. Who’s holding the Telling the Truth: camera?’” Mr. Harris realized the Murphy The Best in police were, in effect, “being used as cameramen for a reality show.” Broadcast Journalism Although nearly two dozen arrests were made in the Murphy sting, none The one-hour documentary is hosted by of the suspects has been prosecuted. Christiane Amanpour with excerpts from “A local district attorney went on award-winning coverage honored by the camera during the investigation,” Mr. Harris said, “and pointed out that the duPont-Columbia University Awards. Murphy police were in such a hurry to make a television show, they didn’t do Written and produced by the work required to get these guys Martin Smith and Margarita Dragon. arrested.” Mr. Harris also found that key evi- dence, such as chat logs and other Airing on PBS stations beginning records necessary for prosecution of January 28. Check local listings. online predators, was withheld from authorities by producers, forcing prosecutors to concede they could Learn more at www.dupont.org not win a conviction of any of the sus- for CNN ©2007 Stirton Images Getty Brent pects. “They can’t even turn that evi- dence over to the D.A.’s office,” Mr. Harris said, “since it’s already been on television.” “To Catch a Predator” and Pervert- TW MAIN 01-14-08 A 42 TVWEEK 1/10/2008 4:30 PM Page 1

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St. Louis school district to educate children with special needs. NBC WAR News for “Dateline” produced “The Continued from Page 33 Education of Ms. Groves,” which the aftermath of Sept. 11, in terms of follows a year in the life of an ideal- covering terrorism, the Iraq war, istic novice teacher who joins Teach Afghanistan and the major global for America in an inner-city school conflicts, has deepened,” said Jon- in Atlanta. net S. Abeles, director of the Alfred I. duPont Awards & John Chancellor Impact Journalism Award at Columbia University’s Other winning entries are Graduate School of Journalism. “The “Through Deaf Eyes,” a two-hour stories are more subtle and have a documentary from Florentine lot of impact.” Films/Hott Productions and Ms. Abeles points to Daniel WETA-TV in Washington, D.C., that Zwerdling’s six-part National Public covers 200 years of the history of Radio series “Mental Anguish and deaf culture in the United States; the Military” to illustrate her point. and “Fly at Your Own Risk,” a six- “The report on how the psychologi- part investigative series from cal injuries of the war aren’t being WBBM-TV in Chicago in which treated in the same way as the phys- reporter Dave Svini reveals lax ical ones has led to a broad aware- security procedures such as virtu- ness of the problems in adjusting to ally unrestricted airport access for dealing with mental wounds,” she cleaning companies with high said. “Daniel Zwerdling was interest- “People are ed in post-traumatic stress syn- drome from the beginning,” said digging deeper Ann Cooper, broadcast director of TRACKING FRAUD “The Mother of All Heists” uncovered how U.S. funds went to buy substandard equipment. the Columbia University Graduate into the many School of Journalism and chair of NBC’s Middle East correspondent stories that come the duPont Awards jury. “That Richard Engel that looks at the turned into an amazing story. We’re quotidian realities of the Iraq war out of the war in seeing that as the war effort in Iraq from the ground. has grown more complicated and Ms. Cooper noted the coverage Iraq and the very controversial, the press is goes beyond the war in Iraq. “There larger war on picking up on more issues related are quite a few reports on the vari- to it.” ous repercussions of 9/11,” she terrorism.” said. “People are digging deeper Ann Cooper, chair of the duPont Awards jury Nuanced Reporting into the many stories that come out Another example of this year’s of the war in Iraq and the larger war employee turnover. more subtle war reporting is the on terrorism. “ “Telling the Truth,” a documen- “60 Minutes” segment “The Mother Among these are “Jihad: The tary highlighting the duPont Award of All Heists,” Ms. Abeles said. “It Men and Ideas Behind Al-Qaeda,” a winners, was produced for the sec- was a difficult investigation to fol- two-hour historical examination by ond year by Rain Media and direct- low the money that went to Iraq to Paladin Invision London and ed by Martin Smith and Margarita purchase adequate military sup- WETA-TV in Washington, D.C., of Dragon. The documentary, again plies for the Iraqi army,” she said. the evolution of extremist Islamist hosted by CNN chief international “Nobody knows specifically what doctrine and the roots of conflict correspondent Christiane Aman- money went where, but it didn’t go with the West; and “Which One of pour, will be fed to PBS stations on where it was intended. That’s These Is Not Like the Others?,” a Jan. 28 and air at various times on a nuanced, deep reporting.” radio piece from Chicago Public TEXAS ‘JUSTICE’ WFAA-TV’s three-part “Television Justice” explored the market-by-market basis. One reason the Iraq war cover- Radio, Alix Spiegel and PRI for backstory of a Texas man’s suicide. “This is our effort to reach the age has become more subtle, Ms. “This American Life” that focuses ines a Texas law that allows prose- tion of media and justice within the public about great journalism,” said Abeles said, is that there is less on the post-9/11 discrimination cutors to withhold evidence from context of how the Murphy, Texas, Ms. Abeles. focus on reporters being “embed- endured by a Muslim family in the defense before trial. KNOE-TV police department commingled law “I’m bowled over at the amount ded.” “The flood of returning veter- New Jersey. in Monroe, La., produced “Names, enforcement with television pro- of terrific journalism that’s out there ans has made it a more visible sto- The rule of law is another theme Ranks and Serial Plunder: The duction for NBC’s “Dateline” series on TV and radio,” Ms. Cooper said. ry,” she said. “And I think that in the 2008 awards. In HBO’s “The National Guard and Katrina,” a “To Catch a Predator.” “It’s easy to be dismissive and criti- skepticism about the war, that Trials of Darryl Hunt,” two journal- four-part investigation of members Education also was examined by cal of the media, particularly when wasn’t in the build-up to the war, ists re-examine the conviction of an of the Louisiana National Guard more than one duPont Award win- cable TV leaps on a big celebrity sto- enables people—including jour- African-American man for the rape who looted while on duty after Hur- ner. In St. Louis, KMOV-TV pro- ry. But then you sift through these nalists—to see things differently.” and murder of a white woman. ricane Katrina. WFAA-TV in Dallas duced “Left Behind: The Failure of entries and realize there’s still very, Another example of that is “War Another story, “Rules of the Game” produced “Television Justice,” three East St. Louis Schools,” a series very fine journalism being done all Zone Diary,” a chronicle from from KHOU-TV in Houston, exam- reports that explore the intersec- investigating the failure of the East the time, in many places.” ■

in a row to be hosted by CNN chief on terror (“Mother of All Heists,” and Katrina.” The biggest challenge, said Mr. international correspondent Chris- “War Zone Diary” and “Jihad: The Ms. Amanpour’s stand-up nar- Smith and Ms. Dragon, is making ‘TELLING’ tiane Amanpour. The one-hour Men and Ideas Behind Al Qaeda”), ration will act as a transitional the documentary come together as Continued from Page 33 program will be fed to PBS stations then justice (“The Trials of Darryl device between each story. “Of all a whole. “Any film, if it’s any good, director Martin Smith submitted a on Jan. 28 and air at various times Hunt”), education (“The Education the hosts we’ve had so far, Chris- has to be crafted,” said Mr. Smith. proposal to the duPont committee on a market-by-market basis. “It’s always a challenge to do justice to make the documentary less Viewers of this year’s “Telling the “It’s always a challenge [in the to the scope and complexity of the about the ceremony and more Truth” will be heartened, said Ann reporting and give the viewer some about the journalism. Cooper, broadcast director of the documentary] to do justice to the scope sense of that in short form.” “We decided the audience wants Columbia University graduate and complexity of the reporting and Mr. Smith and Ms. Dragon hope to cut to the chase and see who the school of journalism and chair of that “Telling the Truth” will leave winners are, so that’s the direction the duPont Awards jury, especially give the viewer some sense of that in viewers will with an understanding we took it, to actually feature the in light of what she calls “a time of that there are journalists out there journalists and their stories,” Mr. angst for all media in America.” short form.” who are extraordinarily committed. Smith said. Rather than interview all of the Martin Smith, co-director, “Telling the Truth” “Speaking truth to power and “We also made it about the jour- winners, said Mr. Smith, they look speaking for people who don’t have nalists in their element, where for themes that emerge from that of Ms. Groves”) and then we pick tiane was very successful,” said Mr. a voice is an important function,” they’re working,” said co-director year’s winners and do small, up on two local investigations, Smith. “We got a lot of good feed- said Mr. Smith. Margarita Dragon. “That gives it a focused pieces on those programs. WBBM-TV Chicago’s “Fly at Your back about her last year, and very “Especially at the local level,” bit of a behind-the-scenes feel.” This year, he said, the common Own Risk” and, from Monroe, La., much wanted her again, although added Ms. Dragon, “there are quite This year’s “Telling the Truth” is threads are Iraq, justice and cor- KNOE-TV’s “Names, Ranks and Ser- logistically it was hard to make it a few people on limited budgets Rain Media’s third, and the second ruption. “We open up with the war ial Plunder: The National Guard happen.” doing extraordinary work.” ■