Television: Long Form
2009 Casey Medals
Winner: "Critical Condition," Public Policy Productions, Inc.
Compelling stories and fluid story-telling drive this sharp documentary on the lack of affordable health care. The issue affects so many in this country and has been told so often, but Public Policy Productions reports these harrowing tales in an extraordinarily intimate way. The program offered comprehensive follow-up materials through community engagements and lesson plans; the availability of online materials and tie-ins to the 2008 presidential campaign; and a mash-up map that enables viewers to locate health services for the uninsured in their area.
Runner-Up: "Growing Up Online," FRONTLINE
A riveting look at social networking sites and the interplay between the real and the online lives of adolescents. FRONTLINE gained remarkable access to teens and weaves their multiple stories and issues into a strong narrative. Afterwards, the program had tangible impact in the discussions it incited among communities and organizations.
Honorable Mention: "Heart of the City: Chicago’s War on Violence," BET News
In Chicago, a bloody weekend in April 2008 could have just been a headline soon forgotten. But the producers demonstrated remarkable initiative as they sought access to law enforcement and the families of the victims gunned down. BET News deftly navigated a difficult terrain to tell the stories of those children lost to gun violence.
2008 Casey Medals
Winner: "Waiting on the World to Change," ABC News 20/20
An extraordinary story about three young children with little else than big dreams in Camden, N.J., this report is at times raw, unfiltered, heartbreaking, depressing and revealing. It’s easy to parachute in, make judgments, and still make a 5 p.m. deadline. This story took a great deal of time and it paid off because we were there for the critical moments. You feel hope when things seem to be turning around and crushed when those opportunities fall through. The focus is on a few characters, but tells a much bigger story.
Runner-Up: "Rosevelt's America," Public Policy Productions
Roger Weisberg has had a long career chronicling the haves and have-nots in America. This was a fresh and compelling look at the experience of refugees in the United States through the eyes of one family.
Honorable Mention: "Darkest Hours: The Crisis in Children's Mental Health Care," Danolas Productions
This is a difficult but important piece about children’s mental health care, and Christina DeFranco should be lauded for putting it together on a budget that was undoubtedly dwarfed by the resources of larger filmmaking companies.
2007 Casey Medals
Winner: "The Education of Ms. Groves," Dateline NBC/NBC News
This piece shows the impact of teachers such as Ms. Groves, whose devotion to underprivileged students improves their chances for productive futures. It took impressive commitment for Dateline to follow this young, relatively untrained educator for an entire school year. The one-hour program captures the struggles facing teachers and students alike, yet maintains a sense of optimism about the state of education in our country.
Winner: "No Place for a Child," MSNBC
Stories about foster children are usually predictable in their storylines, but this documentary takes the unusual step of looking inside the courtrooms that rule the children’s lives. The producers provide a thorough and unflinching portrait of families involved in foster care. Happy endings seem elusive, but this production allows outsiders to perhaps understand why.
about this award
The Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism recognize exemplary reporting on children and families in the U.S. More than 4,500 journalists have competed for Casey Medals since 1994.