#United States #New York #Long Island University #George Polk Awards #Investigative Journalism

Long Island University's 2024 George Polk Awards

On February 17, 2025, Long Island University announced the winners of the prestigious 2024 George Polk Awards in Journalism, applauding groundbreaking work that shines a light on critical global issues. This year, the awards spotlighted courageous reporting from conflict zones such as Sudan, the Russian-Ukraine war, Israel's West Bank, and Haiti, among others. A total of 15 exemplary reports were recognized, showcasing diverse subjects from healthcare practices to social media dangers.

The George Polk Awards, established in 1949 in memory of CBS correspondent George Polk, who was murdered while covering the Greek civil war, aim to honor investigative journalism that creates awareness and drives change. This year's winning entries were chosen from a competitive pool of 493 submissions, spanning print, online, and broadcast media, all demonstrating exceptional journalistic integrity and insight.

Notable Winners and Their Achievements

Among the distinguished awardees, Ronen Bergman and Mark Mazzetti of The New York Times Magazine garnered the Foreign Reporting award for their investigative piece titled "The Unpunished: How Extremists Took Over Israel." This report unravels how ultranationalist settlers’ terrorization of West Bank Palestinians became institutionalized by governmental policies.

In the realm of War Reporting, Declan Walsh and his team from The New York Times captured the horrific realities of the Sudanese conflict, revealing starvation and grotesque human rights violations employed during a brutal civil war. Their investigations implicated the United Arab Emirates' clandestine involvement in the turmoil, prompting the nation to reassess its operations in Sudan.

The National Reporting award was awarded to Katherine Eban of Vanity Fair for her critical exposé on how political considerations outweighed public health concerns during a bird flu outbreak, illustrating the ongoing repercussions of ignoring lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, Alissa Zhu and her colleagues from The Baltimore Banner received the Local Reporting award for their diligent data collection which showcased Baltimore's drug overdose crisis, exposing systemic failures in the city’s response to this escalating epidemic.

Highlights from Health and Medical Reporting

The theme of health and medical malpractice is prevalent among several award-winning entries. Notably, a group of journalists from STAT delved into UnitedHealth Group's profound impact on the healthcare sector, scrutinizing its profit-driven practices and the damaging effects on patients and taxpayers alike. They were recipients of the Health Care Reporting honor.

Meanwhile, in Medical Reporting, a team from ProPublica revealed the heart-wrenching consequences of rigid abortion laws following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, documenting the preventable deaths of women denied timely medical treatment.

Groundbreaking Investigations on Social Issues

Other awards highlighted grave issues affecting society, including children’s safety online, which earned Bloomberg Businessweek the Technology Reporting award. The series showcased how gaming and social media platforms facilitated the exploitation of minors, leading to policy changes aimed at enhancing safety measures online.

Jane Mayer of The New Yorker earned the Political Reporting award for uncovering a troubling history involving Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, including instances of misconduct that could have ended his career early.

Moreover, the reporting duo from the San Francisco Chronicle was honored with the Justice Reporting award for their investigative series highlighting abusive practices among police departments in California, resulting in necessary policy reforms.

Celebrating Journalistic Excellence

The ceremony will take place on April 4, 2024, at Cipriani 42nd Street, honoring these exemplary journalists. The recognition of such audacious reporting not only celebrates individual achievements but also emphasizes the crucial role of journalism in upholding democracy and accountability.

Long Island University's unwavering commitment to supporting investigative journalism is further reflected in its George Polk School of Communications, dedicated to educating the next generation of journalists. As Dr. Kimberly Cline, President of Long Island University, remarked, the awards perpetuate the legacy of investigative reporting critical to societal progress.

In a world increasingly threatened by misinformation, these awards reiterate the importance of ethical journalism, inspiring future journalists to battle injustices, uncover hidden truths, and seek to empower vulnerable populations through their narrative craftsmanship.