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Atlanta News First reporting wins prestigious duPont Columbia Award

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Atlanta News First reporting wins prestigious duPont Columbia Award


ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Sixth, an in-depth investigative series produced by Atlanta News First Investigates (WANF-TV) and InvestigateTV, has been awarded a 2024 duPont-Columbia Award.

Award winners were announced at a ceremony Thursday hosted by David Muir and Audie Cornish at Columbia University’s Low Library. The award is considered the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, both administered by the university.

The series, led by investigative reporter Andy Pierrotti, examined the impact of public defender shortages throughout Georgia and the nation. While The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizens accused of crimes the right to an attorney if they can’t afford one and a speedy trial, the series uncovered hundreds of people behind bars with no legal representation for months at a time.

Pierrotti traveled to Georgia, Wisconsin, Oregon and Maryland to document the consequences when there are no attorneys available for the poor and its impact to the criminal justice system.

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Other contributors to the series include, Lee Zurik, vice president of investigations; Jamie Gray, managing editor at InvestigateTV; Lindsey Basye, executive producer of investigations; Luke Carter, investigative photojournalist and lead editor; Eric Carlton, investigative photojournalist; Dimitri Lotovski, investigative photojournalist; Bailey Williams, investigative producer; and Tim Darnell, digital content producer.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Columbia University and the jurors who believed the series was worthy of such an honor,” Pierrotti said. “I’m also lucky to work on a team with some of the best journalists in the country who helped make sure these important stories got on television and online.”

The journalism organization revealed 14 other winners during the evening, including PBS who won three, and The New York Times. Atlanta News First is among just five local news outlets to win.

The winning pieces go through a rigorous screening process before a group of nine jurors ultimately selects the award recipients.

“In this moment when truth is being tested here at home and around the world,” said Muir, “It is a privilege to honor the journalists who work tirelessly to uncover the truth, and who often risk their own lives to report on the most pressing stories of our time. Their work has never been more important, and it serves as an inspiration for us all”

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Andy Pierrotti speaks after he and the Atlanta News First and Investigate TV team was awarded a 2024 duPont-Columbia award.(Columbia University via YouTube)

Founded by Jessie Ball duPont in honor of her late husband Alfred I. duPont, for 80 years the duPont awards have set the standard for audio and video reporting, in broadcast, documentary and online.

The duPont-Columbia Awards uphold the highest standards in journalism by honoring winners annually, informing the public about those journalists’ contributions and supporting journalism education and innovation, thereby cultivating a collective spirit for the profession.

“Every year I am uplifted by the sense of purpose these journalists bring into the rotunda at this ceremony,” said duPont Director Lisa R. Cohen. “Their work is a model for our students, and journalists everywhere.”

2024 duPont-Columbia Award winners:

  • 20 Days in Mariupol, The Associated Press | PBS FRONTLINE
  • Accountability After Uvalde, Tony Plohetski & KVUE TV | The Austin American-Statesman
  • Afghanistan, Undercover PBS FRONTLINE
  • Aftershock, ABC News Studios | Onyx Collective | Hulu
  • Against All Enemies, Scott Friedman & KXAS-TV (NBC)
  • Beyond Utopia, Ideal Partners
  • BURNED, KUSA 9NEWS Denver
  • Caught on Camera, Traced by Phone: The Russian Military Unit That Killed Dozens in Bucha, The New York Times
  • Mother Country, Radicals Crooked Media
  • Putin vs the West, Brook Lapping | Les Films D’ici
  • Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong, APM Reports
  • The 13th Step, New Hampshire Public Radio
  • Environmental Reporting: (Combined) The Power of Water & Trashed, ABC News
  • The Power of Water, ABC News
  • Trashed: The Secret Life of Plastic Recycling, ABC News
  • The Sixth, Andy Pierrotti & WANF-TV | InvestigateTV
  • The U.S. and the Holocaust, Florentine Films | WETA
The Atlanta News First and Investigate TV team at the 2024 duPont-Columbia Awards on Thursday,...
The Atlanta News First and Investigate TV team at the 2024 duPont-Columbia Awards on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.(WANF)



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Atlanta, GA

Michael Penix Jr. shines in Atlanta Falcons’ debut victory over New York Giants | NFL on FOX Pod

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Michael Penix Jr. shines in Atlanta Falcons’ debut victory over New York Giants | NFL on FOX Pod


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Dave Helman sits down to recap the Atlanta Falcons’ victory over the New York Giants! Within the conversation, Helman reacts to Michael Penix Jr.’s debut and explains why he had an impressive performance for the Falcons!

1 HOUR AGO・the nfl on fox podcast・6:13



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Falcons Risers, Fallers: Buy Stock in Michael Penix Jr. After Win vs. Giants

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Falcons Risers, Fallers: Buy Stock in Michael Penix Jr. After Win vs. Giants


ATLANTA — After falling behind by a touchdown early in the second quarter, the Atlanta Falcons (8-7) scored 34 unanswered points to close out Sunday’s 34-7 victory over the New York Giants (2-13) inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Atlanta has eclipsed seven wins for the first time since 2017, and it now enters the final two games of the regular season with a shot at the postseason — and with a jolt of energy from rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Here’s who’s rising and falling after the Falcons’ victory …

QB Michael Penix Jr.

The consensus from Atlanta’s side postgame on Penix: He played well.

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Rookie quarterbacks can go either way in their debut. Penix was solid, completing 18-of-27 passes for 202 yards, no touchdowns and an interception that bounced out of tight end Kyle Pitts’ hands and into the arms of Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott.

Consider Sunday a success for Penix, who provided no reason to stop dreaming.

OLB Matt Judon

Judon’s season overall hasn’t been what many expected when Atlanta sent a third-round pick to the New England Patriots for his services in August, but he’s turned a corner lately — and played his best game of the season Sunday.

The 32-year-old Judon collected one sack, two quarterback hits, a pass deflection and returned an interception 27 yards to the endzone for his first career touchdown.

Judon wore plenty of blame when he was struggling. He deserves similarly strong credit when he plays at the level he did Sunday.

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ILB Kaden Elliss

Elliss is the only player in the NFL with a sack in each of the last four consecutive weeks, according to the Falcons’ communication staff. He was excellent Sunday, logging a team-high seven tackles and two quarterback hits.

The 6’2″, 238-pound Elliss notched one sack — a forced fumble that was recovered by outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie and gave Atlanta’s offense the ball in plus-territory.

Since inserting Elliss into the pass rushing plan more frequently, the Falcons’ pass rush — and defense as a whole — has made considerable strides.

TE Kyle Pitts

Pitts was targeted only twice — one went for seven yards, and the other led to Penix’s interception on a pass that hit his hands.

After a four-catch game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15, Pitts failed to carry that production back home. He now has one or fewer receptions in four of the Falcons’ last five games and five of their last seven.

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Evidently, Pitts’ minimal production since the calendar flipped to November wasn’t solely due to quarterback Kirk Cousins.

There really isn’t much to complain about regarding Atlanta’s performance. Perhaps a slow start? A missed field goal from kicker Riley Patterson, who responded by making his other two field goals and all four extra points?

For the first time this season, there’s only one faller.

The Falcons return to action at 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, against the Washington Commanders inside Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.



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Atlanta Falcons inactives for Week 16 matchup with the New York Giants 

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Atlanta Falcons inactives for Week 16 matchup with the New York Giants 


ATLANTA — After listing outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge as questionable on Friday’s game report, the Falcons made a final decision on the two prior to Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

Both were given the all-clear after working through injuries this week. Carter was listed on the injury report as having a groin injury, while Hodge was listed as having a ribs injury.

Because of Hodge’s active status, the Falcons decided to keep practice squad receiver Dylan Drummond inactive after using a standard practice squad elevation on him Saturday. On the same day, the Falcons signed fellow receiver Chris Blair to the active roster. So, the Falcons have good depth at receiver heading into Michael Penix Jr.’s first career start.

Here is the full list of Falcons’ inactives for Week 16:

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