NewsChannel 5's investigative team has been honored with five National Headliner Awards for investigations of tax breaks for developers, a district attorney's deals, a school system's testing practices, a police department's handling of misconduct allegations and a state lawmaker's environmental practices.
In addition, a NewsChannel 5 reporter-photographer team won a sixth Headliner Award for feature reporting, it was announced Friday.
"Building Boomtown," an investigation of Nashville's use of tax-increment financing, was recognized with a first-place award in the category for television investigative reporting. That project included investigative reporter Ben Hall, executive producer Kevin Wisniewski, photojournalist Mike Rose and graphic artist Terrence Boyce.
"The DA's Deals," an investigation of a pension deal involving Nashville's district attorney, received second place in that same category. That effort was led by chief investigative reporter Phil Williams and photojournalist Bryan Staples.
"Making the Grade," an investigation of the Metro Schools' testing and grading practices, earned second place in the television public service category. That project included Williams and Staples.
"The Police and the POST," an investigation of how Metro Police handled misconduct cases, received third place in that same category. That investigation was led by investigative reporter Jennifer Kraus and Staples.
"Pigs, Politics and Power," an investigation of regulators' handling of environmental violations by state Rep. Andy Holt, was honored with second place in the television environmental category. That project was the work of Hall and Rose.
In addition, NewsChannel 5 reporter Jason Lamb and photojournalist Catherine Steward were awarded second place for television human interest story for their feature "Sing Me A Story."
Founded in 1934 by the Press Club of Atlantic City, the National Headliner Awards program is one of the oldest and largest annual contests recognizing journalistic merit.
