The Top Local TV Investigations in 2024 as Judged by Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)

By Paul Greeley
817-578-6324, Paul@NewsBlues.com

The Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of investigative reporting, announced the winners and finalists in the 2024 IRE Awards. The annual contest showcases exemplary work by members of Investigative Reporters and Editors from the past year.

Awards will be presented at the 2025 IRE Conference in New Orleans on Saturday, June 21.

Here are this year’s local TV winners and finalists including the judges’ comments:

Video – Division II

Winners:

“In Plane Sight: The Fix” – Atlanta News First & InvestigateTV

by Brendan Keefe, Lindsey Basye, Bailey Williams, Tim Darnell and Jamie Grey

Judges’ comments: This groundbreaking investigation expanded on the original story with impressive follow-ups and a major change in national policy as a result of the revelations. Judges admired the innovative investigative techniques and the overall production. A passenger who saw the original story and was stopped for inspection shot the encounter on his phone, showing in real time how law enforcement agents were carrying out these “cold consent encounters” at departure gates. And the Department of Justice ordered the Drug Enforcement Administration to suspend these encounters, a major result of the investigation.

Winners:

“Drained” — KPRC 2 News

by Amy Davis, Andrea Slaydon, Adrian Montes, Jon Hill, Jason Nguyen and Ana Lastra

Judges’ comments: The investigation into questionable water contracts is a classic tale of government waste and corruption. The story title, “Drained,” stemmed from customers who were drained for years from disputing unusually high, unexplained water bills. The people who paid the bills were financially drained as well as taxpayers supporting the water infrastructure. As a result of the story, seven Houston water department employees and contractors were charged and the director of the water department resigned. And if that weren’t enough, questions were raised about a former city official at the center of the investigation and a so-called charity. Accountability journalism at its best.

Finalist:

“Squatter Standoff: Eyewitness to Change” — WABC-TV

by Dan Krauth, Brett Cohen, Daniela Royes, Cheryl Meaney and Scott Matthews

Judges’ comments: The story revealed a growing problem with squatters and  prompted major change that benefits homeowners. The reporting revealed  a loophole in the law and led to criminal charges against the accused squatter highlighted in the story. The station captured in real time how a homeowner was arrested after evicting a squatter.

Video – Division III

Winner:

“Predator: System Failure” — WSMV-TV

by Jeremy Finley, Jason Finley, Jeff Bishop, Erin Newnam and Meredith Whittemore

Judges’ comments: This four-year investigation wowed the judges. WSMV was relentless in investigating a predator, seeing him brought to justice and holding the systems accountable that failed to stop him sooner. Jeremy Finley meticulously documented 26 reports of sexual assault against a massage therapist and the mishandling of the investigations by police and the state health department. The storytelling was riveting complete with stunning twists and reveals. Dogged reporting led to the arrest and prosecution of the predator and an overhaul of the processes within Nashville’s sex crimes unit.

Finalists:

“Confronting Hate” — WTVF-TV

by Phil Williams and Bryan Staples

Judges’ comments: This is brave and important investigative reporting. Williams had a lot of moral clarity and did not mince words in exposing white supremacist groups showing up — and in some cases growing in numbers — in Nashville and elsewhere in Tennessee. He showed great courage in staying on the hate beat while facing threats and significant pushback from certain officials and popular personalities from fringe groups.

Finalists:

“Secrets of a School Shooting Revealed” — KMOV-TV

by Susan El Khoury, Mark Hadler, Noah Brooks, Krista Ulberg and Emily Beck

Judges’ comments: This reporting challenged authorities and uncovered lessons about how a St. Louis school shooter could have been stopped and lives could have been saved. The judges were impressed by the pursuit of answers in what went wrong during the shooting and emergency response. The investigative team at First Alert 4 obtained records that were never publicly released. Combined with compelling accounts from the families of the victims, this was an excellent investigative special.

Finalists:

“Flaw in the Law: No License Loophole” — WISN-TV

by James Stratton, Jason Hunter, Bob Palmer, Saman Wanniarachchi and Renee Raffaelli Bakken

Judges’ comments: This was a well-executed rolling investigation complete with solid storytelling, a number of emotional interviews and stunning body camera video. The story uncovered a legal loophole in Wisconsin law allowing unlicensed drivers to avoid criminal charges for driving without a license, despite some having as many as 36 offenses. 12 News Investigates used public records and accounts from crash victims, witnesses and families to expose the loophole and deadly crashes tied to these drivers and then push lawmakers to fix it.