Eddy Awards, Charlottesville edition

In case you missed our Aug. 23, newsroom salute, here is a rundown of a special edition of Eddy Awards to honor key players in our coverage of a Charlottesville,, Va., white supremacists rally, counter-protests and resulting violence.

Let’s start with the digital team. Taylor Freyer and Tommy Gallagher each noticed social media traffic suggesting a car driven into a crowd of protesters, killing one and injuring more than a dozen, had an Ohio license plate.

Both started digging. Taylor located a photo of the suspect’s car. Tommy helped determine the tags indicated the vehicle was licensed in Lucas County. Web updates started drawing significant traffic while the reporters then jumped into action.

 

Lauren Lindstrom got the terrific interview with Samantha Bloom, the suspect’s mother, and was interviewed on CNN, confirming James A. Fields Jr.  attended in support of the rally, not to protest it.

Ryan Dunn left a bachelor party in Athens, Ohio, to drive more than 10 hours to provide on-the scene coverage from Charlottesville, including the suspect’s first appearance hearing.

 

And Allison Reamer worked the phones and public records to find out where Fields went to school. She also traveled to his hometown in Kentucky, interviewed teachers and the principal, and learned through the local police  that the suspect hurt and intimidated his mother when he was a juvenile.

 

The outstanding work by these five journalists was supported by additional reporters, desk editors, and copy editors to ensure our coverage was thorough and compelling.

Taylor, Tommy, Lauren, Ryan and Allison all receive a $50 gas card, along with our thanks. In addition, the Wednesday pizza party was a small token of how impressive the journalism was throughout the newsroom. Everyone pulled together to turn in a great resulting
product.

Don’t forget. Your non-Charlottesville Eddy nominations are due to Luann by noon Aug. 31.