The Secret Side of Adoption
Best Local Documentary
New York Associated Press & New York Broadcasters Association
A weekend vo/sot at Walmart turned into my first series on the job. I met two women who were signing up people who wanted to find the children they gave up for adoption or their biological parents. One of the women helped hundreds of people make connections. She passed away the day before the series aired. I worked on this with a photographer who taught me all about great storytelling!
Gay Marriage
Best In-depth Series
Louisiana Associated Press
In 2004, the first same sex marriage was performed in Massachusetts. That year, I shared stories of gay couples, in committed relationships, who talked about the challenges and frustrations of not being able to marry. Their love stories furthered the conversation about gay marriage in homes across our community.
Oil Rig Death
Best Investigative Reporting
Louisiana Associated Press
Most of the time, when someone dies in an oil rig accident their family will not talk to the media because of legal settlements with the company. In this series, I retraced the steps of a young teacher the day her fiance was killed on a rig. When I met her, she still had his shoes lined up in their bedroom just as they were the day he died. I also interviewed a top leader at the oil company about the high number of OSHA violations on rigs.
Drinking and Driving
Best In-depth Series
Louisiana Associated Press
Just like most of us did when we were kids, two young brothers hopped on their bikes and took off down their dirt road. That was the last time their parents saw them alive. A man who had two previous DUI's drove drunk up their road and hit them head on. Not far from their house, a husband and his pregnant wife were driving to the town baseball field and got hit head on by another man with multiple DUI's. The husband died instantly. His wife was hospitalized to try to save her baby. His coffin had to be brought to her hospital bedside because she could not attend the funeral.
Agent Orange
Best In-depth Series
Louisiana Associated Press
I interviewed a Vietnam War Veteran on a mission to get medical conditions, associated with Agent Orange, included on the government's list of benefits. At the time, thousands of veterans were not getting their treatment covered despite growing evidence of a link between their time serving in Vietnam and their current health conditions. I also interviewed the wife of a Vietnam Veteran who died from a cancer now associated with Agent Orange. She spent years fighting to get his medical bills covered.
Wildlife Center
Best Feature Reporting
Louisiana Associated Press
I thought I had scheduled a visit to the zoo for a summer adventure series. When we finally made our way through the gates, I realized this was not your average wildlife center! The giraffes, zebras and bison all roamed free on a wildlife preserve. It was like being on safari in our own backyard - minus the meat eaters!
Crossing Guard
Best Feature Reporting
Louisiana Associated Press
Sometimes the unsung heroes of our days make the best stories! This crossing guard caught our attention because of how much he loved his job and how much fun he had doing it! He was well into his retirement from his "real" job, but kept waking up early to make sure the kids got to school safely.
Best Local Documentary
New York Associated Press & New York Broadcasters Association
A weekend vo/sot at Walmart turned into my first series on the job. I met two women who were signing up people who wanted to find the children they gave up for adoption or their biological parents. One of the women helped hundreds of people make connections. She passed away the day before the series aired. I worked on this with a photographer who taught me all about great storytelling!
Gay Marriage
Best In-depth Series
Louisiana Associated Press
In 2004, the first same sex marriage was performed in Massachusetts. That year, I shared stories of gay couples, in committed relationships, who talked about the challenges and frustrations of not being able to marry. Their love stories furthered the conversation about gay marriage in homes across our community.
Oil Rig Death
Best Investigative Reporting
Louisiana Associated Press
Most of the time, when someone dies in an oil rig accident their family will not talk to the media because of legal settlements with the company. In this series, I retraced the steps of a young teacher the day her fiance was killed on a rig. When I met her, she still had his shoes lined up in their bedroom just as they were the day he died. I also interviewed a top leader at the oil company about the high number of OSHA violations on rigs.
Drinking and Driving
Best In-depth Series
Louisiana Associated Press
Just like most of us did when we were kids, two young brothers hopped on their bikes and took off down their dirt road. That was the last time their parents saw them alive. A man who had two previous DUI's drove drunk up their road and hit them head on. Not far from their house, a husband and his pregnant wife were driving to the town baseball field and got hit head on by another man with multiple DUI's. The husband died instantly. His wife was hospitalized to try to save her baby. His coffin had to be brought to her hospital bedside because she could not attend the funeral.
Agent Orange
Best In-depth Series
Louisiana Associated Press
I interviewed a Vietnam War Veteran on a mission to get medical conditions, associated with Agent Orange, included on the government's list of benefits. At the time, thousands of veterans were not getting their treatment covered despite growing evidence of a link between their time serving in Vietnam and their current health conditions. I also interviewed the wife of a Vietnam Veteran who died from a cancer now associated with Agent Orange. She spent years fighting to get his medical bills covered.
Wildlife Center
Best Feature Reporting
Louisiana Associated Press
I thought I had scheduled a visit to the zoo for a summer adventure series. When we finally made our way through the gates, I realized this was not your average wildlife center! The giraffes, zebras and bison all roamed free on a wildlife preserve. It was like being on safari in our own backyard - minus the meat eaters!
Crossing Guard
Best Feature Reporting
Louisiana Associated Press
Sometimes the unsung heroes of our days make the best stories! This crossing guard caught our attention because of how much he loved his job and how much fun he had doing it! He was well into his retirement from his "real" job, but kept waking up early to make sure the kids got to school safely.