CNN
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Drew Griffin, CNN’s award-winning Senior Investigative Correspondent, identified for getting even the cagiest of interview topics to have interaction in a narrative, died Saturday after an extended battle with most cancers, his household stated. He was 60.
A gifted storyteller, Griffin had a well-earned status for holding highly effective folks and establishments accountable.
“Drew’s loss of life is a devastating loss to CNN and our complete career,” CNN CEO Chris Licht stated in a be aware to workers. “A extremely acclaimed investigative journalist, Drew’s work had unbelievable affect and embodied the mission of this group in each manner.”
Griffin labored on a whole lot of tales and a number of documentaries over the course of practically twenty years on CNN’s investigative group. His reporting had been honored with a few of journalism’s most prestigious awards – Emmys, Peabodys, and Murrows amongst them.
“However folks mattered extra to Drew than prizes,” Licht stated.
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Griffin had an extremely sturdy work ethic, colleagues stated. He stored his sickness non-public from most of his co-workers and had been reporting up till the day he handed.
Michael Bass, CNN’s Govt Vice President of Programming, additionally shared his admiration for Griffin in a be aware to the investigative group Sunday.
“Fearless and clever on the similar time, he knew tips on how to push a narrative ahead to its limits, but in addition inform it in a manner that might make everybody perceive,” Bass stated. “What number of occasions has he chased an unwilling interviewee? What number of occasions has he spoken reality to energy? What number of occasions has he made a distinction on one thing vital … It was an honor to be his colleague and to be witness to his work and the methods it modified the world.”
Griffin’s reporting had vital affect and prompted change.
He led a yearlong investigation that uncovered delays in medical care that contributed to affected person deaths at Division of Veterans Affairs hospitals nationwide. The group’s reporting led to the resignation of the VA secretary, which was adopted by the passage of federal laws and a basic change in how veterans’ appointments are dealt with.
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Amid his reporting into the excessive variety of sexual assaults allegations in opposition to Uber drivers, the corporate modified its background examine course of and launched new security options in its app. Following the CNN investigation, Uber introduced it will cast off a coverage that beforehand pressured people with sexual assault complaints into arbitration and made them signal non-disclosure agreements.
Patricia DiCarlo, Govt Producer of CNN’s investigative unit who labored alongside Griffin for practically a decade stated Griffin was an distinctive author who crafted items into “compelling, must-see TV tales.”
“You recognize when a Drew Griffin story begins – it’s going to be nice,” she stated. “His manner with phrases set him aside.”
Griffin’s tenacious strategy towards probably the most difficult tales and his means to get among the most reluctant public figures to open up and provides their aspect of the story underscored his sense of equity. Nonetheless, he by no means missed a chance to grill them with powerful questions.
Griffin’s incisive, Emmy-award profitable investigation into fraud claims in opposition to Trump College in 2016 uncovered the questionable, financially draining techniques of a collection of actual property seminars that resulted at school motion lawsuits by members. In an unique interview, Griffin pressed a former Trump College teacher about his function within the scheme – not educating actual property methods, however luring members into paying for extra seminars: “We have been bringing within the cash,” he informed Griffin.
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When election denialism continued, Griffin labored to dispel the myths of widespread election fraud, confronting one of many largest names in misinformation: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. After reviewing the so-called proof, Griffin sat down with Lindell for a prolonged interview to judge his claims and, in the end, laid out the reality: Lindell had “proof of nothing.”
There have been occasions, although, when Griffin, like all reporters, couldn’t get his topics to speak immediately – leading to memorable on-camera confrontations with authorities officers, specifically.
When Griffin discovered of the rampant fraud in California’s state drug rehab program in 2013, he pressed the officers in cost for solutions. He lastly tracked down the pinnacle of California’s Well being and Human Companies Company, who tried dodging Griffin’s questions by working to a restroom, which was locked. Griffin’s investigation resulted in a legislative probe and a public apology from the director of this system.
Extra just lately, Griffin’s physique of labor within the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol uncovered the risks of election deniers and was cited in courtroom filings by the Division of Justice and Home choose committee investigating the rebel.
‘You recognize that is not true’: CNN reporter corrects man who stormed Capitol
Whereas investigative journalism was on the coronary heart of Griffin’s work, he typically jumped into breaking information protection – from mass shootings to devastating hurricanes. Amongst his extra memorable on-air moments was throughout Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when he rescued a person by pulling him from a sinking pickup truck.
Griffin’s confidence, arduous work and doggedness spoke for itself on digicam, but it was his graciousness and compassion that outlined him behind the scenes. Few within the viewers would know that after these hard-hitting interviews, Griffin would typically craft hand-written thanks notes to those that appeared in a narrative. And, whereas intensely non-public, Griffin took nice care to wrap up the massive tales – a few of which swept him the world over – so he may get dwelling and spend time along with his household.
Colleagues remembered the veteran journalist as a sort, consummate skilled who took the time to mentor youthful reporters, cared deeply about his group – and was all the time able to assist.
DiCarlo in contrast her time working with Griffin to “profitable the profession lottery.”
“There are simply so many individuals who labored with him and beloved him – it is a devastating loss,” DiCarlo stated, reflecting on the group of producers who intently labored with Griffin on his tales. “There was nobody else like him. We have been Workforce Drew.”
A Chicago native, Griffin started his reporting profession as a reporter/cameraman for WICD-TV in Champaign, Illinois. He spent stints working for TV stations in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Washington. He turned an investigative reporter when he joined KIRO-TV in Seattle. He joined CBS 2 Information in Los Angeles in January 1994, the place he labored as a reporter and anchor and helped create the station’s investigative reporting group and gained a number of native awards.
When he wasn’t chasing his subsequent scoop, members of the family stated he beloved to journey along with his spouse Margot, play the trumpet or take pleasure in a spherical of golf with associates. He additionally doted over his three youngsters whose names have been impressed by jazz greats – daughter, Ele Gast; sons, Louis and Miles Griffin – and two grandchildren.
