Eyewitness News iTeam wins top regional award for second year in a row

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — For the second straight year, the Eyewitness iTeam has been awarded a top regional journalism award for delving into the spending and practices by the West Virginia Supreme Court.

Lead iTeam Investigative Reporter Kennie Bass’ "Supreme Court Investigation" coverage – edited by News Operations Manager Larry Clark – was recognized among the winners of the 2019 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards that honor outstanding achievement in broadcast and digital journalism.

The coverage continued the probe into questionable spending by the Supreme Court, showing that Allen Loughry as a Supreme Court justice was intricately involved in the more than $360,000 renovation project in his office that included the infamous nearly $32,000 couch.

Coverage by the iTeam put a spotlight on the Supreme Court, which was swirled in controversy. After the coverage aired, Loughry was replaced as chief justice, resigned from the Supreme Court, was eventually convicted in federal court and is now serving a two-year sentence in South Carolina.

The RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious in broadcast and digital news.

This year’s Edward R. Murrow regional winners were judged in 14 regions and represent 309 local radio and TV newsrooms. The winners will move on to the national round of judging, which also includes digital and network news organizations and student awards. The national awards will be presented Oct. 14 at RTDNA’s Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala at Gotham Hall in New York.

In 2018, another Bass story – also edited by Clark – “Waste Watch Exclusive Investigation: WV Supreme Court spending examined” - won a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award.

In the story that aired in November 2017, details were revealed about Supreme Court renovations originally estimated at about $900,000 that ballooned to more than $3.7 million.