KNXV, the Scripps ABC affiliate in Phoenix, exposed widespread and systemic problems with Arizona’s so-called “Brady” lists, which are supposed to track police officers in the state with documented histories of dishonesty, false arrests, crimes and integrity concerns.
KNXV’s 2020 investigative series, Full Disclosure, has earned a 2021 Peabody Award. The series has already earned a National Headliner Award and an IRE Award, recognizing the best investigative reporting across the country.
KNXV, the Scripps ABC affiliate in Phoenix, exposed widespread and systemic problems with Arizona’s so-called “Brady” lists, which are supposed to track police officers in the state with documented histories of dishonesty, false arrests, crimes and integrity concerns.
As part of the series, the reporting team created the first statewide public database of every officer on the “Brady” list. The station’s investigation prompted officials to launch multiple investigations, ended the careers of dishonest officers, forced county attorneys to increase transparency and pushed police union leaders to acknowledge the need for a misconduct database.
Brian Lawlor, Scripps’ local media president, says the station’s investigation “is a powerful example of journalism’s role as a watchdog in our communities, bringing accountability to a broken system and effecting lasting change for the citizens of Arizona.”
Click here for more content about KNXV’s Full Disclosure on their website.
The annual Peabody winners are a collection of 30 stories that powerfully reflect pressing social issues and vibrant emerging voices. From major productions to local journalism, the Peabody Awards elevate stories that defend the public interest, encourage empathy with others and expand understanding of the world around us.
Here’s what The Peabody Awards had to say about KNXV’s Full Disclosure:
The relationship between citizens and law enforcement should be rooted in trust. And as the United States grapples with ongoing calls for police reform, questions of trust cannot be uncoupled from discussions on transparency and accountability, two issues that are at the heart of “Full Disclosure.” Digging into Arizona’s “Brady list,” a system designed to track police officers with histories of lying and committing crimes in hopes of keeping various departments accountable, this hour-long special offers a stark portrait not only of why the system is broken, but why it’s never been fixed. The team at ABC15, led by Dave Biscobing, presented the findings of their yearlong investigation with exhaustive reporting, combing through endless files on cops who got bounced from department to department, and showing how it affected cases all over the state. The stories in themselves—of planted evidence and unwarranted violence and cruelty, of information withheld and outright obfuscated—may be incredible enough. But the video footage that accompanies them, the careful laying out of how law enforcement agencies rarely adhere to their own legal standards in keeping and disseminating such misconduct reports is as damning as it is enlightening. For exemplifying how committed local journalism can effectively serve its viewers and push for greater accountability from those in power, “Full Disclosure” wins a Peabody Award.
KRON4, Nexstar’s San Francisco Bay Area’s Local News Station, seeks a Newscast Producer. This position is responsible for creating a daily newscast for an assigned time slot, using various resources such as reporters, writers, video, wire copy, and information gathered in the newsroom. Click here for more specifics and how to apply.
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