2008 National Press Club Ann Cottrell Free Animal Reporting Award Winners
Print/Online:
Christopher Schnaars and Tim Darragh
Winner:
"Who's Watching Out for Me?" by Tim Darragh and Christopher Schnaars, The Morning Call
An investigation by reporters Tim Darragh and Christopher Schnaars of the The Morning Call found that puppy breeding and boarding kennels throughout Pennsylvania were virtually assured of passing grades from state regulators -- even with filthy living areas, cramped cages, dirty water bowls and diseased and dead dogs. After three months of negotiations using the state public records law, the newspaper was able to obtain enough data make the first-ever analysis of 20,000 state kennel inspection records. They found that kennels were getting perfect scores 9 out of 10 times -- even when wardens noted numerous violations. After their expose, the state began posting data on its Web site and legislators are working to reform antiquated state regulations which would result in better conditions for thousands of animals.
Honorable Mention:
"Horse Slaughter on the Border" by Lisa Sandberg, San Antonio Express News
By documenting the brutal slaughter of American horses at a plant in Juarez, Mexico, reporter Lisa Sandberg was able to bring to light the common practice of killer-buyers hauling horses across the U.S. border into Canada and Mexico, where they are butchered into table meat. Her reporting put a spotlight on the results of good intentions gone haywire because of lack of legislative oversight of animal exports after American horse slaughter plants were shut down last year. Sandberg followed the trail of doomed horses from a Texas auction house to inspection pens on the border and finally to a slaughter plant in Mexico. She and photographer Jerry Lara witnessed revolting and primitive conditions, including workers stabbing panicked and terrified horses with knives until they collapsed. Her reporting brought in hundreds of responses from readers and ignited efforts to renew a ban on exports and to revive the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
"Horse Slaughter on the Border" by Lisa Sandberg, San Antonio Express News
By documenting the brutal slaughter of American horses at a plant in Juarez, Mexico, reporter Lisa Sandberg was able to bring to light the common practice of killer-buyers hauling horses across the U.S. border into Canada and Mexico, where they are butchered into table meat. Her reporting put a spotlight on the results of good intentions gone haywire because of lack of legislative oversight of animal exports after American horse slaughter plants were shut down last year. Sandberg followed the trail of doomed horses from a Texas auction house to inspection pens on the border and finally to a slaughter plant in Mexico. She and photographer Jerry Lara witnessed revolting and primitive conditions, including workers stabbing panicked and terrified horses with knives until they collapsed. Her reporting brought in hundreds of responses from readers and ignited efforts to renew a ban on exports and to revive the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
Broadcast:
Brad Woodard, KHOU-TV
Winner:
“A Voice for the Voiceless: Brad Woodard Reports”, KHOU-TV, Houston
In 2007, reporter Brad Woodard of KHOU-TV in Houston focused a spotlight on numerous animal cruelties in the state of Texas. His reporting included hard-hitting stories on street-level dog fighting, abuse of elephants, faux fur mislabeling – including that of cats and dogs – and the barbaric slaughter of American horses across the border in Mexico. His exposure of loopholes and weaknesses in state laws helped prompt the Texas legislature to enact tougher animal cruelty statutes, reducing the suffering of thousands of animals.
“A Voice for the Voiceless: Brad Woodard Reports”, KHOU-TV, Houston
In 2007, reporter Brad Woodard of KHOU-TV in Houston focused a spotlight on numerous animal cruelties in the state of Texas. His reporting included hard-hitting stories on street-level dog fighting, abuse of elephants, faux fur mislabeling – including that of cats and dogs – and the barbaric slaughter of American horses across the border in Mexico. His exposure of loopholes and weaknesses in state laws helped prompt the Texas legislature to enact tougher animal cruelty statutes, reducing the suffering of thousands of animals.
Honorable Mention
"PBS Nature: Silence of the Bees", Doug Shultz
Silence of the Bees was the first in-depth look at the search to uncover what is killing the honeybee. The filmmakers take viewers around the world to the sites of fallen hives, to high-tech labs, where scientists race to uncover clues, and even deep inside honeybee colonies. Silence of the Bees is the story of a riveting, ongoing investigation to save honeybees from dying out. The film goes beyond the unsolved mystery to tell the story of the honeybee itself, its invaluable impact on our diets and takes a look at what is at stake if honeybees disappear. Silence of the Bees explores the complex world of the honeybee in crisis and informs viewers of ways they can help these extraordinary animals
