The E. W. Scripps Company on Thursday received eight national Emmy Award nominations for its Scripps News streaming channel, and two of its local television stations were honored with Peabody Awards for their investigative journalism.
The honors were bestowed the same week that Scripps News and its local TV station in Phoenix, KNXV (Channel 15, ABC), received National Headliner Awards for their investigative and enterprise news.
The eight national Emmy Awards nominations include designations in four categories for the Scripps News show “In Real Life,” two for investigative news related to the channel’s investigation into the aftermath of a mass shooting in Maine two years ago, and one nomination each for “In the Shadows with Jason Bellini” and “Darwin’s War.”
Hours before the nominations were announced, KNXV and another Scripps station, Nashville CBS affiliate WTVF (Channel 5), were officially designated as Peabody Award winners.
KNXV won for its 32-part investigative series “Policing Phoenix,” which spurred a U.S. Department of Justice civil rights investigation into the Phoenix Police Department. WTVF and its reporter, Phil Williams, won for “Confronting Hate,” a series that examined the rise of right-wing extremism in Tennessee, which included a spotlight on a local police official whose promotion of conspiracy theories led to a state investigation.
KNXV and WTVF were the only local TV news outlets to receive Peabody Awards in the news category this year. The other winners include Vice News and Al Jazeera English.
“These prestigious Peabody Awards are a testament to the unwavering commitment and transformative power of local journalism,” said Dean Littleton, the Executive Vice President of Media Broadcast Operations at Scripps. “The impactful investigations by WTVF and KNXV are not just stories; they are catalysts for change and vital contributions to the public discourse. Their work reinforces our responsibility to serve as the watchdogs in our communities, fostering transparency and integrity of those in power. We are incredibly proud of our teams and their dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of the people they serve.”
The Emmy nominations for Scripps News come about six months after the channel reverted to a free streaming TV network after being available on broadcast TV for several years. The channel originally launched as Newsy, which Scripps acquired in 2014.
Matt Simon, the Vice President of Scripps News, said journalists at the news outlet were “persevering in an unforgiving industry at a difficult time.”
“We are choosing to surround ourselves with talented colleagues, who above all else are good people who have each other’s backs,” Simon wrote in an all-staff memo obtained by The Desk. “That’s who we are. We are laser focused on providing information our viewers and readers need as we navigate complicated times.”
Simon continued: “The award-worthy work you produce is not limited to the work that has received recognition. It is what you do day in and day out. From the early mornings to the late weekend nights when you’re logging in to prepare for the week or get things done that you couldn’t get to before. Your dedication to each other and the people who look to us for information is visible, important, and appreciated.”
