x
Breaking News
More () »

10News' 'Zombie Campaigns' report wins Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award

Noah Pransky, Paul Thorson, and the Tampa Bay Times exposed loopholes in federal laws that allowed politicians to continue using campaign funds after they leave office or even after they have died.
Credit: Columbia University in the City of New York
10News WTSP and 10Investigates reporter Noah Pransky won a 2019 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for their “Zombie Campaigns” reports.

10News WTSP and 10Investigates reporter Noah Pransky won a 2019 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for the “Zombie Campaigns” series.

The award recognizes excellence in broadcast, digital and documentary journalism. It was the second honor for Pransky and photographer Paul Thorson, who also won the award in 2015 for their series on red light camera abuses.

Zombie Campaigns, an investigative collaboration with the Tampa Bay Times, exposed the loopholes in federal laws that allow politicians to continue using campaign funds after they leave office or even after they have died.

Pransky and the Times team analyzed more than one million records detailing the spending of former U.S. lawmakers and federal candidates. The group found more than 100 campaigns still spending, even though their candidates' political careers had ended.

10News worked with sister stations KHOU in Houston, WCNC in Charlotte, and a dozen other TEGNA stations to tracking down - and attemp to interview - former politicians still using campaign funds.

In addition to the 2019 duPont-Columbia University Award, “Zombie Campaigns” also won a regional Emmy Award for Investigative Series and was named a finalist for the international Data Journalism Awards.

Related: 10News wins nine Emmy awards

Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.

Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Before You Leave, Check This Out