PHOENIX, July 11,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Society of Professional
Journalists has awarded KNXV-ABC15, the Phoenix-based local television station owned
by The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), with a national 2023
Sigma Delta Chi Award for excellence in journalism.
Chief Investigative Reporter Dave
Biscobing and the ABC15 Investigators were recognized in the
television investigative reporting (large market) category for "Too
Unwell to Testify." The series exposed how a top Phoenix homicide detective, who's married to
an assistant chief, repeatedly mishandled evidence and then claimed
to be too sick to answer for the mistakes.
ABC15 obtained pictures, documents, job postings and social
media entries that proved Detective Jennifer DiPonzio worked at least two jobs and
traveled as the court operated under the belief that she was too
debilitated to testify or participate in any capacity. In 2023,
ABC15 aired nearly two dozen reports in the ongoing
investigation.
"After beginning with a basic story exploring DiPonzio's
mysterious unavailability in March
2023, our investigation quickly expanded as we unraveled a
coordinated effort to hide and obfuscate her troubling history,"
Biscobing said. "While we still have a lot of work left, the impact
of our reporting has been substantial."
During the series of reports, Phoenix police released thousands of pages of
misconduct files related to DiPonzio and other homicide detectives.
The Department of Justice interviewed people connected to the
scandal as part of its ongoing pattern and practice investigation.
The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board opened an
investigation. DiPonzio forfeited her police certification. The
ABC15 reports are being directly cited in post-conviction appeals.
And as a direct result of the reporting, the court ruled DiPonzio
is now required to testify. The court also held a multi-day
evidentiary hearing where police officials were forced to take the
stand and answer questions about the reporting that showed how
records and information about her past were withheld.
The investigative series also won a regional Edward R. Murrow Award and is now under
consideration for the Murrow Award's national competition.
This is the second year in a row Biscobing and the ABC15
Arizona team received a Sigma
Delta Chi Award for their work. The 2022 investigation, "The
Secrets They Keep," won the award in the public service in
television journalism (all markets) category.
The Sigma Delta Chi Awards date back to 1932, when the Society
of Professional Journalists first honored six individuals for
contributions to journalism. This year's winners were chosen from
entries in categories covering print, radio, television and online.
The awards recognize outstanding work published or broadcast in
2023.
Winners were announced during a virtual presentation on
Tuesday, July 9.
Media contact: Molly
Miossi, The E.W. Scripps Company, 513-977-3713,
molly.miossi@scripps.com
About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media
company focused on creating a better-informed world. As one of the
nation's largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities
with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio
of more than 60 stations in 40+ markets. Scripps reaches households
across the U.S. with national news outlets Scripps News and Court
TV and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery
and Laff. Scripps is the nation's largest holder of broadcast
spectrum. Scripps is the longtime steward of the Scripps National
Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps' long-time motto is: "Give
light and the people will find their own way."
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SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company