Eugene, Oregon (18 May 2012) – Freelance journalists Matthew LaPlante and Rick Egan and the founders of the Yancey County News, Jonathan and Susan Austin, were presented the 2012 Ancil Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism yesterday at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. The annual award honors journalists and news organizations that demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to ethical conduct, even when faced with economic, personal, or political pressure.
La Plante and Egan were recognized for their efforts to document the ritual killing of “cursed” children in Ethiopia’s South Omo River Valley. A 2012 Ancil Payne Award also went to the Yancey County News, a weekly newspaper in rural Burnsville, North Carolina which Jonathan and Susan Austin founded in 2011 and, in its 15 months of operation, has been established as a check on corrupt local law enforcement.
“Doing good journalism every day is challenging. Being an ethical journalist under pressure is even harder,” said Tim Gleason, Edwin L. Artzt Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication and chair of the Ancil Payne Awards judging panel. “The Ancil Payne Awards honor these four journalists who made tough decisions despite significant obstacles and produced important, game-changing journalism.“
LaPlante and Egan were selected for an Ancil Payne Award for their careful consideration of the ethical issues in advance of researching their story, as well as their willingness to risk their economic security. When they chose to report on the ritual killing of mingi, or “cursed,” children in Ethiopia – a story that had previously been unnoticed by world media – they first approached their employer, the Salt Lake Tribune, for funding but were turned down. They both cashed in vacation days, tapped savings, and LaPlante even quit his job at the paper, to pursue the story. Only after returning from their trip did they sell the story, first to Christianity Today and then to CNN.
Broaching a sensitive subject through a translator, discovering illegal adoptions, and the potential for being present when a child was killed were only a few of the ethical dilemmas the reporters had to resolve before they began their reporting, but doing so enabled them to report this story in a way that was direct and effective.
“Clearly, an ethical infrastructure is important to journalism, but that's often hard to see in a finished product,” noted LaPlante. “In that way, it's a little bit like the framing of a building. It's not something people usually see, but it's what holds the structure upright.”
In winning the Ancil Payne Award, the work of Jonathan and Susan Austin – founders of the Yancey County News in rural Burnsville, North Carolina – was described as “classic public interest journalism at great personal and economic risk.” Shortly after it began publication, the paper reported a state investigation into elections fraud involving the sheriff’s department that other local papers had ignored. Also in 2011, the paper reported that the deputy sheriff, who many revered for his tough-on-crime attitude, was pawning county-owned firearms for personal gain.
During the award ceremony, Jonathan Austin noted, “Small papers led by journalists will always shine the light on areas that should be illuminated.”
The award ceremony was followed by a panel discussion with the award winners, moderated by Dean Gleason.
About the Ancil Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism
Ancil Payne, a legend in Seattle broadcasting, established the Payne Awards at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication in 1999 “to honor the journalist of integrity and character who reports with insight and clarity in the face of political or economic pressures and to reward performance that inspires public trust in the media.” Payne, who died in October 2004, was former CEO of KING Broadcasting; under his leadership, the company developed a national reputation for its commitment to ethical journalism.
About the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication
The University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) produces outstanding writers, editors, digital media makers, strategists, and critical thinkers by providing a program rich in ethics, innovation, and social responsibility. Students hone their skills while participating in award-winning student media such as Flux, Mosaic, and Oregon News, and more than 10 student groups, including Allen Hall Advertising, Allen Hall Public Relations and the National Broadcasters Association. In addition to learning from an accomplished and diverse faculty, students have unparalleled opportunities to network and learn from experienced industry professionals. The SOJC hosts the annual Journalists- and Executives-in-Residence programs, as well annual events including the Ancil Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism, the Hulteng Conversations in Ethics, and the annual Johnston and Ruhl Lectures. The school counts nine Pulitzer Prize winners among its more than 9,000 graduates. journalism.uoregon.edu
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