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Chicago, IL —
The Patriot Ledger (Mass.) has been awarded Project of the Year in Division A for the "Disability Pension Series"
About the entry
The Patriot Ledger’s investigation of questionable disability pensions featured the work of Elizabeth Crowley, Nancy Reardon, Ken Johnson and John Murphy. The three-day series exposed abuse in the public pension system, including examples of questionable disability pensions. Reporters discovered several cases of public officials claiming disability and costing taxpayers millions when evidence suggested the claims were questionable at best. Heavily researched stories were supplemented in print by equally in-depth sidebars, timelines, charts and other features that explained the ins and outs of the pension system. The Ledger also enlisted the help of the First Amendment Center at Northeastern University in obtaining documents vital to the investigation. An online package contained a sortable database of disability pensions, plus videos, a poll and reader feedback, with audio and written comments.
Judges’ comments
“The Patriot Ledger's far-reaching examination of disability pension abuse in Massachusetts is the kind of must-read journalism that showcases the strength of newspapers. The series was loaded with details and full of solid reporting. The Patriot Ledger should be applauded for pursuing this issue, despite the fact that public officials in Massachusetts appear to be dragging their feet about eliminating the abuse.”
Finalists
The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, Mass., “Grounded”
The Repository, Canton, Ohio, “What’s Your Property Worth?”
The Patriot Ledger (Mass.) has been awarded Project of the Year in Division A for the "Disability Pension Series"
About the entry
The Patriot Ledger’s investigation of questionable disability pensions featured the work of Elizabeth Crowley, Nancy Reardon, Ken Johnson and John Murphy. The three-day series exposed abuse in the public pension system, including examples of questionable disability pensions. Reporters discovered several cases of public officials claiming disability and costing taxpayers millions when evidence suggested the claims were questionable at best. Heavily researched stories were supplemented in print by equally in-depth sidebars, timelines, charts and other features that explained the ins and outs of the pension system. The Ledger also enlisted the help of the First Amendment Center at Northeastern University in obtaining documents vital to the investigation. An online package contained a sortable database of disability pensions, plus videos, a poll and reader feedback, with audio and written comments.
Judges’ comments
“The Patriot Ledger's far-reaching examination of disability pension abuse in Massachusetts is the kind of must-read journalism that showcases the strength of newspapers. The series was loaded with details and full of solid reporting. The Patriot Ledger should be applauded for pursuing this issue, despite the fact that public officials in Massachusetts appear to be dragging their feet about eliminating the abuse.”
Finalists
The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, Mass., “Grounded”
The Repository, Canton, Ohio, “What’s Your Property Worth?”
