Sinclair Broadcast Group’s “Project Baltimore” Named a Finalist for 2023 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award
November 04 2022 - 10:49AM
Business Wire
WBFF/Fox45’s Investigative Unit Exposes
Flaws in Baltimore Public School System
Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI) is pleased to announce
Project Baltimore, the special investigative reporting unit of
WBFF/Fox 45 News, has been named a finalist for the 2023 Alfred I.
duPont-Columbia University Award. Project Baltimore’s reporting
exposed a massive scheme to inflate enrollment in Baltimore City
Schools and promote students who did not meet requirements.
In naming Project Baltimore a finalist, Columbia University said
the series “uncovered numbing neglect and corruption in the
Baltimore Public School system, including an examination of ‘ghost
students,’ absent but still on school rolls, and costing taxpayers
millions.”
Founded in 1942, Columbia Journalism School’s duPont-Columbia
Awards uphold the highest standards in journalism by honoring
winners annually, informing the public about those journalists'
contributions and supporting journalism education and
innovation.
Commenting on the honor, Scott Livingston, Senior Vice President
of News said, “We’re very proud of the Project Baltimore team and
the hard work that went into earning this incredible recognition.
This nomination is a tremendous honor that reinforces Sinclair's
commitment to impactful reporting with a local focus.”
In a year-long investigation, Project Baltimore shed light on
the failures of the education system that have impacted generations
of students, while providing the impetus for lawmakers and
community members to finally make it right.
“This series highlighted the devastating impact of a school
system failing to properly educate too many children,” said Carolyn
Peirce, Executive Producer of Project Baltimore. “We are thankful
for the families who came forward to share their stories in hopes
of securing a better outcome for future students of Baltimore
City.”
The investigation was prompted when a Baltimore City mother,
Tiffany France, came forward with stunning information about her
son’s education. In four years at Augusta Fells, a Baltimore City
high school, he passed just three classes, yet the school was still
promoting him through the course levels with a grade point average
of only 0.13. Project Baltimore’s investigation uncovered he was
one of many failing students passing through the school.
Additionally, Project Baltimore discovered state taxpayers paid
nearly $93 million in a single year to educate 6,126 students
across the state, whose whereabouts were unknown.
As a result of the investigation, the Maryland State Department
of Education announced City Schools may have to pay back as much as
$1.6 million that it received in 2019 to educate students who were
not in school at Augusta Fells. Maryland’s Comptroller has called
for the State to change how it funds public schools and Republican
leaders in Annapolis are joining in, introducing legislation this
session.
Since its creation in 2017, Project Baltimore’s investigative
work has been recognized with dozens of honors, including four
first place National Headliner Awards, the SPJ Sigma Delta Chi
Award, a National Press Photographers Association First Place
award, and three prestigious IRE Awards. Additionally, Project
Baltimore has won 27 Regional Emmy Awards, six Regional Edward R.
Murrow Awards and seven Associated Press Awards.
The winners of the 2023 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University
Awards will be announced early next year.
About Sinclair Broadcast Group,
Inc.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is a diversified media company
and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns,
operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86
markets; owns multiple national networks including Tennis Channel
and Stadium; has TV stations affiliated with all the major
broadcast networks and owns and/or operates 21 regional sports
network brands. Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple
platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program
distributors, and digital and streaming platforms NewsON and STIRR.
The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company
information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net.
Category: General
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Media Contact: Jessica Bellucci
Jbellucci-c@sbgtv.com
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