TEGNA Station KARE 11 Wins Two Prestigious 2020 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards
Tysons, VA – TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced that KARE 11, TEGNA’s NBC affiliate in Minneapolis, has won two 2020 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards. The duPont Awards are among the highest honors given for excellence in journalism. KARE 11 won awards for the documentary “Love Them First: Lessons from Lucy Laney Elementary” exploring race and poverty, and for “On the Veterans Beat,” an investigative series probing the Veterans Administration’s systematic denial of promised benefits to U.S. servicemen and women.
“Love Them First: Lessons from Lucy Laney Elementary” is a story of hope and perseverance, told through the lens of students and educators at a Minneapolis school where more than 80 percent of students live near or below the poverty line. The unprecedented access to the school throughout the year-long project allowed the KARE 11 team to dive deep into the heart of the issues facing one of Minnesota’s lowest performing schools. The result is a powerful tale of a principal’s extraordinary leadership, and the remarkable resilience of students in coping with violence and their own personal challenges.
“On the Veterans Beat” is a long-term, ongoing investigation that has exposed improper denial of benefits to veterans that could total billions of dollars. KARE 11’s original, groundbreaking reporting has shed light on a massive bureaucratic quagmire at the Veterans Administration that has resulted in needless deaths, discrimination, and harassment of veterans by collection agencies. KARE 11’s investigations have led to new laws written by Congress, major reforms announced at the VA, reversals of medical care denials, and have put money back in the pockets of veterans.
“These awards are a testament to the impact local journalism can have on our communities, in holding the powerful accountable and in raising awareness of issues that impact our daily lives,” said Lynn Beall, executive vice president and COO for media operations, TEGNA. “Congratulations to KARE 11 and the teams who contributed to these important projects.”
More information about the 2020 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University awards can be found here.
About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 62 television stations and four radio stations in 51 markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups, reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks Justice Network and Quest. TEGNA Marketing Solutions (TMS) offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, email, social and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNA’s OTT advertising service. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.
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