MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2018--
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced its station, WTSP in Tampa, has
won a 2019 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, which recognizes
excellence in broadcast, digital and documentary journalism. WTSP’s
report on “Zombie Campaigns,” an investigative collaboration with The
Tampa Bay Times, exposed loopholes in federal campaign laws that allow
politicians to continue using campaign funds long after they leave
office and even after they have died.
WTSP and The Tampa Bay Times analyzed more than 1 million records
detailing the spending of former U.S. lawmakers and federal candidates
in “Zombie Campaigns.” They found more than 100 of these zombie
campaigns still spending, even though their candidates’ political career
had ended. WTSP tapped TEGNA stations KHOU in Houston and WCNC in
Charlotte, NC for assistance in tracking down and attempting to
interview former local politicians still using campaign funds.
Since the report first aired and was published in The Tampa Bay Times,
dozens of campaigns have reformed their questionable spending. In
addition, The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) has changed the review
process of campaign spending once a politician has left office and is in
the process of considering a number of rule changes to the use of
campaign funds by a politician once he/she has left office.
“Local investigative reporters play a vital role in communities. They
hold the powerful accountable and act in the community’s interest to
enact change,” said Lynn Beall, COO of Media Operations, TEGNA.
“Congratulations to WTSP and their partners at the Tampa Bay Times on
this well-deserved honor.”
This year “Zombie Campaigns” from WTSP was a finalist for the Data
Journalism Awards and won a regional Emmy Award for Investigative Series.
For more information on the 2019 Alfred E. duPont-Columbia University
Awards, click
here.
About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the
greater good of our communities. With 47 television stations and two
radio stations in 39 markets, TEGNA delivers relevant content and
information to consumers across platforms. It is the largest owner of
top 4 affiliates in the top 25 markets, reaching approximately one-third
of all television households nationwide. Each month, TEGNA reaches 50
million adults on-air and approximately 30 million across its digital
platforms. TEGNA has been consistently honored with the industry’s top
awards, including Edward R. Murrow, George Polk, Alfred I. DuPont and
Emmy Awards. TEGNA also delivers innovative and unparalleled solutions
for advertisers through TEGNA
Marketing Solutions (TMS). TMS is a one-stop shop that helps
businesses thrive through an unmatched suite of services and solutions
that reach consumers across television, email, social and over-the-top
(OTT) platforms, including Premion,
TEGNA’s OTT advertising service. Across platforms, TEGNA tells
empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers
innovative marketing solutions. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181211005589/en/
Source: TEGNA Inc.
For media inquiries, contact:
Ellen Booth
Corporate
Communications
703-873-6274
ebooth@TEGNA.com
For investor inquiries, contact:
Jeffrey Heinz
Vice
President, Investor Relations
703-873-6917
jheinz@TEGNA.com
