WTAE Channel 4 Wins National Headliner Awards

PITTSBURGH -- WTAE Channel 4 has been honored with four 2008 National Headliner Awards.

In competition against the best of the best from local stations across the nation, Channel 4 Action News' reporting was honored in four separate categories, the most of any local station in the country.

Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event: First Place - "State Agency Secrets"
WTAE Channel 4 helped to bring about change in Pennsylvania, jamming a foot in the door of a closed government. After 2 lawsuits and through more than 20 stories, Team 4 investigator Jim Parsons exposed wasteful and abusive spending of public monies at PHEAA, Pennsylvania's state-run student loan agency. PHEAA's secrets cost the people of Pennsylvania more than $1 million: $800,000 in retreats and $400,000 in legal fees. Team 4's efforts were praised by decision-makers in Harrisburg forcing substantive changes in PHEAA personnel and polices.

Investigative Reporting: First Place - "Jim Parsons vs. URA"
After a battle reaching Pennsylvania's Supreme Court, Team 4 investigator Jim Parsons revealed how millions of dollars in Streetface Loans, doled out by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, were never repaid. The story resulted in policy changes for the program and an audit by the City Controller's office. Pittsburgh's mayor fired the URA's executive director following our report, though he offered no specific reason for that decision.

Environmental Reporting: First Place - "Dangerous Drinking Water"
A Team 4 investigation revealed that local homeowners were being exposed to dangerous amounts of lead in their drinking water -- and the results were never disclosed by local water agencies. In some instances, homeowners were exposed to lead levels 90 times higher than what is considered safe by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Feature, Sports or Human Interest Story: Third Place - "No Handicap Golf"
Imagine a day when failure is not an option, where disabilities do not exist and where "special needs" are an advantage. Channel 4 Action News reporter Ari Hait introduced viewers to local golf pros who taught disabled kids the challenging game of golf.

Founded in 1934 by the Press Club of Atlantic City, the National Headliner Awards program is one of the oldest and largest annual contests recognizing journalistic merit in the communications industry. WTAE Channel 4 has long been a winning part of this tradition.