Chauncey Bailey Project

Awards

McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage | University of Georgia, 2010 Four reporters associated with the Chauncey Bailey Project were honored by the University of Georgia for journalistic courage: Thomas Peele, Josh Richman, Mary Fricker and Bob Butler. “Peele, Richman, Fricker and Butler’s reporting was truly courageous,” wrote Oakland
Tribune editor Martin G. Reynolds in his nomination. “A reporter was killed and they continued and expanded his work despite obvious dangers.”
Knight Public Service Award and Investigative Journalism Award in the Small Site Category | Online News Association, 2009 The Chauncey Bailey Project received two of the Online News Association Awards. The judges who awarded The Knight Award for Public Service noted that, “The reporting is good and relentless under what were obviously and literally dangerous circumstances,” and that, “The reporters didn’t shy away from exposing both criminals and police. The Chauncey Bailey Project is absolutely exemplary — a type of investigation that we wish more organizations could pursue. Its role is necessary, the reporting great.” In addition to The Knight Award for Public Service, the Project received a $5,000 cash prize from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.When explaining the best Investigative Journalism, Small Site award, judges stated that the Project was, “A tenacious and precise investigation of an institutional scandal that focuses on the murder of a journalist but explains much more about the community that created the conditions for his death.” The review continues, “…an exceptionally written and presented package….Strong photojournalism and timeline storytelling techniques… Outstanding ongoing effort two years hence.”
Community Service Award | Bay Area Black Journalists Association, 2009 The Bay Area Black Journalists Association awarded The Chauncey Bailey Project its first ever Community Service Award because “for two years, the project has worked diligently to carry on the work of our colleague and friend.”
New Media Online Project: News and Investigative Reporting, 150,000+ circulation | National Association of Black Journalists, 2009 The Chauncey Bailey Project received two of NABJ’s Salute to Excellence honors, “the country’s only honors to commend the exemplary journalists covering the African and African-American experience.”
Paul Tobenkin Memorial Award | Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, 2009 The project was honored for “connecting the dots when no one else even saw the dots and when many in law enforcement didn’t even want to see if there were any dots.” — Ernest Sotomayor, a Tobenkin judge and the Journalism School’s director of career services
Community Service Award | National Association of Black Journalists, 2009 “The whole team deserves the highest recognition for their unwillingness to accept the institutional denial of justice in this case. The tragedy that enveloped a black journalist and community icon called for a deep commitment to uncover the truth.” – Barbara Ciara, NABJ president
Medium-sized newspapers (100,000 to 250,000) | Investigative Reporters and Editors, 2009 For “tenacious” investigative reporting. “Under the most difficult of circumstances, the reporters exposed deep flaws in the police investigation of the murder of journalist Chauncey Bailey.” – IRE statement
Best Practices Award | National Association of Black Journalists, 2008 “It is horrendous when a journalist is killed for reporting on a story that needs to be told. This is really something that deserves to be honored, so it was an easy decision.” – Barbara Ciara, NABJ president
Tom Renner Award | Investigative Reporters and Editors, 2008 For outstanding reporting covering organized crime or other criminal acts. “These stories would have been difficult to pursue under any circumstances, but it took extreme dedication to get at the truth following the assassination of Oakland Post Editor Chauncey Bailey.” – IRE statement
James Madison Freedom of Information Awards | Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter, 2008 The Chauncey Bailey Project and two of its reporters, Thomas Peele and Roland De Wolk, were recognized for their significant contributions to the advancement of freedom of information and expression.
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