Kevin Carmody Award for Outstanding Investigative Reporting, Large: SEJ 23rd Annual Awards for Reporting on the Environment

First Place

"The Bat Lands" by Ryan McNeill, Deborah J. Nelson, Allison Martell, Helen Reid, Grant Smith, Adolfo Arranz, Michael Ovaska, Sam Hart, Sreekanth Sivadasan, Jake Spring, Cooper Inveen, Prasanta Kumar Dutta, Matthew Green, Ruma Paul, Rupam Jain and Andrew R.C. Marshall for Reuters

Screenshot of first-place project, Carmody Reporting, Large

 

Team roles:

Project landing page: Illustrations and introduction by Adolfo Arranz, Matthew Weber and Deborah J. Nelson

Part 1:

• By Ryan McNeill, Helen Reid, Allison Martell, Cooper Inveen, Deborah J. Nelson, Matthew Green and Michael Ovaska
• Contributors: Francis Kokoroko, Grant Smith and Alphonso Toweh
• Data: Ryan McNeill, Allison Martell and Grant Smith
• Additional graphics: Sam Hart and Jackie Gu
• Photo editing: Simon Newman
• Video: Cooper Inveen, Zohra Bensemra, Ilan Rubens, Lucy Ha and Matthew Stock
• Edited by Janet Roberts, Feilding Cage, Paulo Prada and Blake Morrison

Part 2:

• By Deborah J. Nelson, Ryan McNeill, Sreekanth Sivadasan, Allison Martell, Ruma Paul, Andrew R.C. Marshall and Adolfo Arranz
• Contributor: Rupam Nair
• Data: Ryan McNeill and Allison Martell
• Additional graphics: Daisy Chung and Sam Hart
• Illustration and animation: Adolfo Arranz and Matthew Weber
• Photo editing: Simon Newman
• Video: Sreekanth Sivadasan, Rafiqur Rahman, Sivaram V, Rosanna Philpott, Lucy Ha and Matthew Stock
• Edited by Feilding Cage, Paulo Prada, Janet Roberts and Blake Morrison

Part 3:

• By Ryan McNeill, Deborah J. Nelson, Allison Martell and Michael Ovaska
• Contributor: Chen Lin
• Data: Ryan McNeill, Allison Martell and Grant Smith
• Additional graphics: Sam Hart
• Photo editing: Simon Newman
• Edited by Paulo Prada, Feilding Cage and Janet Roberts

Part 4:

• By Jake Spring, Grant Smith, Ryan McNeill, Allison Martell, Adolfo Arranz and Prasanta Kumar Dutta
• Data: Grant Smith, Ryan McNeill and Allison Martell
• Illustration and animation: Adolfo Arranz and Matthew Weber
• Photo editing: Simon Newman
• Video: Leonardo Benassatto, Bruno Kelly, ​​Jake Spring, Emma Jehle, Lucy Ha and Matthew Stock
• Edited by Feilding Cage, Paulo Prada, Janet Roberts and Blake Morrison

Part 5:

• By Helen Reid and Grant Smith
• Contributors: Deborah J. Nelson, Ryan McNeill, Matthew Green and Andrew R.C. Marshall
• Data: Ryan McNeill and Allison Martell
• Graphics: Sam Hart
• Photo editing: Simon Newman
• Edited by Janet Roberts, Paulo Prada and Feilding Cage

Story links:

• Project landing page: "The Next Pandemic May Come From Bats. Reuters Investigates Where." (May 16, 2023)
• Part 1: "The World's Bat Lands Are Under Attack, Seeding Risk of a New Pandemic. Here's Where."
• Part 2: "How a Deadly Bat Virus Found New Ways To Infect People"
• Part 3: "China, Birthplace of the COVID Pandemic, Is Laying Tracks for Another Global Health Crisis"
• Part 4: "Deep in the Amazon, Scientists Race Against Time To Identify Unknown Pathogens"
• Part 5: "Bats Carry Killer Viruses. Scientists Suggest Ways To Cope."

Judges' comments: "'The Bat Lands' — a five-part multimedia investigative report by Reuters — is a global, exhaustive, visually engrossing series chronicling humanity's intrusion into bat habitats and the impending viral outbreaks that often accompany it. Guided by thoughtful interactive animations, detailed maps, satellite analysis, impactful photography and videography, the Reuters team traces the tragic consequences and dangers of urban development and deforestation on four continents. From the bat-borne outbreaks of Marburg and Ebola in Africa to Nipah in Asia, the series studied two decades worth of data to create an original method of analysis to isolate areas of highest risk around the globe. Often, the journalism and data analysis from this investigative series were informing the science. The presentation of the series is both compelling and striking in every way an investigative report can be — from the human toll of zoonotic outbreak to the growing threat in jump zones to the solutions necessary to prevent or mitigate future pandemics. The ramifications of this research and reporting can help scientists and governments save lives in the highest risk zones — areas that their analysis shows comprise 6% of Earth's land mass and are home to 1.8 billion people — for those willing to listen. For all of these reasons, 'The Bat Lands' is transcendent journalism and our choice as the winner of the Kevin Carmody Award for Outstanding Investigative Reporting, Large."

 

Second Place

"Uncharted Waters" by Christopher Flavelle, David Guttenfelder, Blacki Migliozzi, Eli Murray, Mira Rojanasakul, Dionne Searcey, Tristan Spinski and Hiroko Tabuchi for The New York Times

Team roles:

• Christopher Flavelle, Climate Domestic Correspondent, The New York Times: Reporting
• David Guttenfelder, Photographer: Photos
• Blacki Migliozzi, Graphics/Multimedia Editor, The New York Times: Data Analysis and Visualization
• Eli Murray, Graphics/Multimedia Editor, The New York Times: Data Analysis and Visualization
• Mira Rojanasakul, Climate Graphics Editor, The New York Times: Reporting; Data Analysis and Visualization
• Dionne Searcey, Domestic Correspondent, The New York Times: Reporting
• Tristan Spinski, Photographer: Photos
• Hiroko Tabuchi, Reporter; The New York Times: Reporting

Story links:

1. "America Is Using Up Its Groundwater Like There's No Tomorrow" (Aug. 28, 2023)
2. "Big Farms and Flawless Fries Are Gulping Water in the Land of 10,000 Lakes" (Sept. 3, 2023; photographs by David Guttenfelder)
3. "'Monster Fracks' Are Getting Far Bigger. And Far Thirstier." (Sept. 25, 2023)
4. "Inside Poland Spring's Hidden Attack on Water Rules It Didn't Like" (Oct. 24, 2023; photographs by Tristan Spinski)
5. "As Groundwater Dwindles, Powerful Players Block Change" (Nov. 24, 2023)

Judges' comments: "A team at The New York Times developed a massive database charting United States groundwater resources and demonstrating historic declines in groundwater levels, a growing crisis through the country generally ignored by policymakers. Among the accomplishments in this large-scale body of work, Times team members created a compelling animation package showing locations of droughts and change in water availability, a project involving tens of thousands of sites and a massive amount of previously uncollected data. Among the reasons for this dramatic decline in water availability, the Times said, are the demands on groundwater from fracking, farming, heavy industry and real estate with regulators severely limited in efforts to monitor the situation. In this groundbreaking investigation, the Times produced dramatic graphics that guided readers through the crisis and the data surrounding it. These highly documented stories and their presentation brought significant government and academic interest to the topic, as is fitting for a crisis described by multiple commentators as perhaps 'the story of the century.'"

 

Third Place

"Thirsty Valley" by Jay Calderon, Nat Lash, Liz Moughon, Ash Ngu, Mark Olalde and Janet Wilson for ProPublica and The Desert Sun

Team roles:

• Jay Calderon, photographer, Desert Sun: Photographed agricultural operations and farmers in the Imperial Valley
• Nat Lash, News Applications Developer, ProPublica: Analyzed satellite imagery and land, business and farm records and visually depicted water use in the Imperial Valley and on the Colorado River
• Liz Moughon, Video and Film Fellow, ProPublica: Photography and video
• Ash Ngu, News Applications Developer, ProPublica: Visualized Las Vegas’ turf removal efforts
• Mark Olalde, Reporter, ProPublica: Reported on Las Vegas’ aggressive turf-removal program and profiled the Colorado River’s most important negotiator, J.B. Hamby
• Janet Wilson, Senior Environment Reporter, Desert Sun: Conceived of the Imperial water project; obtained satellite, land and business records; reported on the water use and histories of the Imperial Valley's farming dynasties

Story links:

1. "Las Vegas Needs To Save Water. It Won't Find It in Lawns." (June 7, 2023)
2. "The 20 Farming Families Who Use More Water From the Colorado River Than Some Western States" (Nov. 9, 2023)
3. "The Historic Claims That Put a Few California Farming Families First in Line for Colorado River Water" (Nov. 9, 2023)
4. "The Future of the Colorado River Hinges on One Young Negotiator" (Nov. 20, 2023)

Judges' comments: "In an innovative national-local partnership, ProPublica and The Desert Sun revealed what had long been a closely held secret: who had drawn huge amounts of water from the Colorado River, and what they had done with it. Using dogged reporting and cutting-edge analyses of satellite imagery and public records, ProPublica and The Sun revealed that just 20 extended farming families in California's remote Imperial Valley received, together, more water than every major city in the Western states served by the drought-diminished Colorado — and more than three entire states with rights to the river's water. And despite their desert locale, farmers in the Imperial Valley used most of their water allocations on water-intensive crops like alfalfa. These stunning findings — presented in a package that included high-quality motion graphics, in-depth reporting on how Imperial Valley farmers gained their outsized claim to water and other supporting investigation — led to serious discussion of broad changes in allocations of Colorado River water and exemplify the relentless and innovative investigative reporting that the Kevin Carmody Award for Investigative Reporting aims to honor."

 

First Honorable Mention

"UAE COP28 Oil Deals Investigation" by Lawrence Carter, Adam Eley, Justin Rowlatt and Ben Stockton for Centre for Climate Reporting and BBC

Team roles:

• Project editor: Lawrence Carter, Director and founder, Centre for Climate Reporting
• Publication partner: Adam Eley, Producer, BBC
• Publication partner: Justin Rowlatt, Climate editor, BBC
• Lead reporter: Ben Stockton, Investigations editor, Centre for Climate Reporting

Story links:

1. "COP28 President Secretly Used Climate Summit Role To Push Oil Trade With Foreign Government Officials" (Nov. 27, 2023)
2. "UAE Planned To Use COP28 Climate Talks To Make Oil Deals" (Nov. 27, 2023)

Judges' comments: "The Centre for Climate Reporting exposed the extraordinary conflicts of interest surrounding the business activities of the president of COP28, Sultan Al Jaber, Emerati chair of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Investigative reporter Ben Stockton and CCR, working alongside the BBC, reported for over a year on Al Jaber's lobbying efforts on behalf of the Abu Dhabi oil company, using COP28 meetings and contacts to lobby on behalf of the company's business interests. Thanks to multiple whistleblowers and confidential sources, CCR obtained documents and briefing notes emphasizing the oil company's interests. The story sent shock waves through the climate community and was covered extensively by media around the world."

 

Second Honorable Mention

"The Hidden Cost of Your Supermarket Salmon" by Dan Clark, Irene de la Torre Arenas, Alexandra Heal, Sam Joiner, Guy Peterson, Lucy Rogers, Jack Thompson, Ely Cheikh Mohamed Vadel and Justine Williams for The Financial Times

Team roles:

• Dan Clark, The Financial Times: Data journalist
• Irene de la Torre Arenas, The Financial Times: Digital designer
• Alexandra Heal, The Financial Times: Lead reporter
• Sam Joiner, The Financial Times: Visual investigations editor
• Guy Peterson: Freelance photographer
• Lucy Rogers, The Financial Times: Reporter
• Jack Thompson, Freelance: Lead reporter in Mauritania
• Ely Cheikh Mohamed Vadel: Fixer/translator
• Justine Williams, The Financial Times: Newsroom developer

Story links:

• "The Hidden Cost of Your Salmon" (Feb. 1, 2024; subscription required)
• PDF version

Judges' comments: "Through comprehensive on-the-ground reporting in West Africa and painstaking gathering and assessment of shipping and other supply-chain data, The Financial Times showed how some half a million metric tons of fish from the waters off Mauritania were turned into fish meal used in Norwegian salmon farms. This FT investigation used data visualization, motion graphics and photography to great effect, literally connecting the dots between crisis-level food shortages in West Africa — driven by the near-collapse of the region's fish stocks that Norway's salmon farming operations had caused — and the salmon marketed on UK supermarket shelves."

 

Third Honorable Mention

"ABC News Investigates: Our Inheritance Is Washing Away" by Sabrina Cedeno-Tobon, Cindy Galli, Faith Jones, Jared Kofsky, Mike Ladisa, Stephen Mucci, Eric Ortega, Steve Osunsami, Maia Rosenfeld, Steve Senn, Howard Tate, Jonathan Whitehead and Steve Widner for ABC News

Team roles:

• Sabrina Cedeno-Tobon, Freelance: Sound Technician
• Cindy Galli, ABC News: Executive Producer of ABC News Investigates
• Faith Jones, Freelance: Broadcast Editor
• Jared Kofsky, ABC News: Producer and Reporter
• Mike Ladisa, Freelance: Photographer and Drone Operator
• Stephen Mucci, Freelance: Photographer
• Eric Ortega, ABC News: Executive Producer of ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis
• Steve Osunsami, ABC News: Senior National Correspondent and Lead Broadcast Writer
• Maia Rosenfeld, ABC Owned Television Stations: Producer and Data Journalist
• Steve Senn, Freelance: Photographer
• Howard Tate, Freelance: Broadcast Editor
• Jonathan Whitehead, Freelance: Broadcast Editor
• Steve Widner, Freelance: Sound Technician

Story links:

1. Main text article and main ABC News Live Prime video story: "Black Alabamans Say Highway Project Caused Major Flooding, Threatening Their Community" (Oct.31, 2023)
2. Sidebar text article about restrictive covenants: "Alabama Accused of 'Highway Robbery' Following Flooding of Predominantly-Black Community" (Oct.31, 2023)
3. Follow-up text article about visit to USDOT headquarters: "Residents of Historically Black Alabama Community Take Flooding Concerns to USDOT: 'Emergency Situation'" (March 1, 2024)
4. Follow-up text article about USDOT Sec. Pete Buttigieg's visit and second ABC News Live Prime video story: "Buttigieg Visits Predominantly Black Alabama Community Following ABC News Investigation About Neighborhood Flooding" (April 11, 2024)

Judges' comments: "'Our Inheritance Is Washing Away' by ABC News documents the fight for environmental justice in Shiloh, Alabama, where Black residents have been the victim of frequent flooding as a result of inadequate drainage since the construction of a new interstate highway. The report and the concurrent civil rights investigation detail the racial inequity of the state's response to Shiloh's residents, some who have spent generations there. It also caught the attention of federal government officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited as part of their own investigation, as ABC News documented in a follow-up report. In-depth reporting coupled with striking imagery and emotional interviews result in a powerful work of journalism that may lead to significant relief for Shiloh's Black residents."

 

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The Society of Environmental Journalists' annual Awards for Reporting on the Environment honor the best environmental journalism in 10 categories, bringing recognition to the stories that are among the most important on the planet. Prizes are $500 for first-place winners and $250 for second-place winners in all categories. Plus, the Nina Mason Pulliam Award for the "best of the best" environmental reporting will award $10,000 to one entry selected from the first-place winners of SEJ's Awards for Reporting on the Environment. Sponsored by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, this prestigious award will be announced live on January 28 — please save the date and stay tuned for details.

 

SEJ's 2024 Esteemed Judges and Screeners
SEJ's 2024 Awards Committee

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