WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Center for Public Integrity's
Takings Initiatives Accountability Project
was awarded first place in the outstanding
online reporting category by the Society of Environmental Journalists.
This marks the second time the Center has won SEJ’s annual award in the
online reporting category.
Launched in August 2006, the Center’s Takings Initiatives Accountability Project investigated four initiatives on the November 7, 2006, ballots in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, and Washington
that aimed to significantly alter land-use and environmental
regulations in those states. The investigation revealed the groups who
bankrolled, supported and opposed the measures and presented its
findings online for citizens in those states and elsewhere to assess
the subject matter and potential impact of the takings initiatives.
The
SEJ judges said the Center did “an outstanding online investigation of
land-use ballot initiatives that could have radically changed land-use
and environmental regulations in five Western states. The team did a
splendid job of using Internet tools to integrate an extensive
financial investigation, interviews and analysis that uncovered the
links between the initiatives and a single wealthy activist.”
“This
award represents the Center’s in-depth and comprehensive investigative
work and ability to provide useful, objective and timely information
for the public on an important policy initiative,” said Center
Executive Director Bill Buzenberg. “I am delighted to accept this award
on behalf of the Takings Initiatives
team and proud of our efforts to generate high-quality investigative
projects that service the public interest and make our democracy more
accountable.”
The
annual SEJ award is the world's largest and most comprehensive award
for journalism on environmental topics. It honors outstanding
environmental coverage in 10 categories representing the best
environmental reporting in print, on television, radio and the Internet
and is judged by panelists of journalists and journalism educators.
The Center’s Takings Initiatives Accountability Project was
made possible through the generous support of the Wallace Global Fund.
The Center previously won an SEJ award in 2005 for its
Politics of Oil
investigation. All of the Center’s award-winning investigative journalism can be found at
www.publicintegrity.org.
About the
Center for Public Integrity
The Center for Public Integrity is a nonprofit, nonpartisan independent Washington, D.C.-based organization that does investigative reporting and research on significant public issues. Since 1990, the Center has released more than 400 investigative reports and 17 books. It has received the prestigious George Polk Award and more than 22 other national journalism awards and 16 finalist nominations from national organizations, including PEN USA and Investigative Reporters and Editors. In April 2006, the Society of Professional Journalists recognized the Center with a national award for excellence in online public service journalism for the fifth consecutive year. In October 2006, the Center was honored with the Online News Association’s coveted General Excellence Award. In March 2007, the Center was given a special citation for the body of its investigative work from the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.