BALTIMORE, April 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinclair
Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI) today is pleased to announce Project
Baltimore, a special investigative reporting unit of Fox 45
News, was honored by the Investigative Reporters and Editors
(IRE) for its coverage of a taxpayer-funded Baltimore school, which offers a high school
diploma in just two hours.
This seven-month investigation exposed how state regulators
provide little to no oversight of church-exempt schools once they
are approved. Project Baltimore
won the prestigious IRE Award for "best in investigative reporting"
in the Broadcast/Video category for Division III, which encompasses
television stations in market sizes 21-50.
"We continue to tell stories that have been ignored for years.
We're committed to not only uncovering these issues, but working
with the community to find solutions and hold public officials
accountable for their decisions and actions. We understand that if
we don't tell these stories, no one else will. We have the
responsibility to uncover the truth and empower students, parents
and taxpayers," commented Scott
Livingston, Senior Vice President of News for Sinclair.
Project Baltimore's ongoing
investigation of the public school systems in the Baltimore area will continue to look at every
aspect of these enormous government entities, reporting on their
successes and failures. To date, Project Baltimore has produced
upwards of 200 stories, multiple town halls and nearly a dozen
half-hour specials focused on the local public education
system.
"We believe improving the school system is the key to a better
future for not only the students, but the entire city," said
Chris Papst, Project Baltimore Chief
Investigative Reporter.
Established in 1979, the annual IRE Awards recognize outstanding
investigative reporting from newsrooms across the globe, with
contest entries screened and judged by IRE members who are working
journalists.
"We are both humbled and excited to receive this prestigious
award from some of the most-esteemed investigative journalists in
the industry," said Livingston. "This recognition from our peers is
a tremendous honor that reinforces Sinclair's commitment to
impactful reporting with a local focus."
The awards will be presented at the 2019 IRE Conference in
Houston, Texas on Saturday, June 15. Additionally, all entries from
2018 will be placed in the IRE Resource Center story library,
allowing members to learn from each other.
About Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Sinclair is one
of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting
companies in the country. The Company owns, operates and/or
provides services to 191 television stations in 89 markets.
Sinclair is a leading local news provider in the country and is
dedicated to impactful journalism with a local focus. The Company
has multiple national networks, live local sports production, as
well as stations affiliated with all the major networks. Sinclair's
content is delivered via multiple-platforms, including
over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and digital
platforms. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source
of Company information which can be accessed
at www.sbgi.net.
About Project Baltimore
Project Baltimore is a special news unit of Sinclair
Broadcast Group's Fox 45 News which investigates the
Baltimore-Area Public Education system. The Project Baltimore
investigative team examines the unique challenges that confront the
area's public school systems. To date, it has produced nearly 200
stories, multiple town halls and nearly a dozen half-hour specials
focused on the local public education system. You can view Project
Baltimore's investigative reporting at
https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/more.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/project-baltimore-wins-coveted-investigative-reporters-and-editors-ire-award-for-broadcast-300828461.html
SOURCE Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.