SACRAMENTO, Calif. — ABC10 Sacramento (KXTV) received the prestigious 2022 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, which honors news stories and film for the strength of their reporting, storytelling, and influence. Sixteen of the 30 finalists from across the United States were chosen to receive this distinguished award. Other entrants included streaming services such as Amazon, Apple, HBO, and newspapers like The New York Times.
ABC10 was honored for "FIRE - POWER - MONEY: Holding PG&E Accountable," an investigative series on Pacific Gas & Electric's role in the deadliest wildfire in California's history, the 2018 Camp Fire.
"This is evidence of the hard work and patience that the team poured into this series over the last three years," said ABC10 President and General Manager Risa Omega. "Part of our brand's purpose is to hold the powerful accountable, and the FIRE - POWER - MONEY series is proving that time and time again."
Executive Producer of Special Projects Gonzalo Magaña echoes that same sentiment.
"[The win] is a testament to the impactful journalism and storytelling produced by ABC10, even amid a global pandemic. We will continue to stand by our audience and the thousands of fire victims across our state," Magaña said. "The goal is to continue to hold PG&E and our state leaders accountable for keeping our communities safe and minimizing the fire risk."
Brandon Rittiman, the ABC10 investigative reporter who probed the Pacific Gas & Electric Company's criminality and corruption, says the award is a testament to the strength of the survivors of PG&E's wildfires.
"They've bravely shared their stories with us in the hopes that PG&E will be held accountable and prevented from committing more crimes that burn homes and kill people," Rittiman said.
"ABC10 is devoted to telling stories with high impact," said ABC10 Director of Content Jill Manuel. "Since 2018, Brandon, Gonzalo, and their team have been digging into not only PG&E's role in the Camp Fire but the system that enables the company to avoid accountability for their actions. This award is a testament to holding the powerful accountable with investigative journalism, impacting lives."
In FIRE - POWER - MONEY, ABC10 investigative reporter Brandon Rittiman sought to force accountability by California utility monopoly Pacific Gas & Electric for its role in the devastating 2018 Camp Fire. Prosecutors said that the station's continuing inquiry played "an integral role" in the utility pleading guilty to 84 felony counts of manslaughter.
The FIRE - POWER - MONEY series led to PG&E being held accountable for sparking preventable wildfires, and the investigation continues to expose how the state government enables PG&E's criminal behavior at the expense of past and future fire victims.
People can watch the complete FIRE - POWER- MONEY series at www.firepowermoney.com.
Watch the duPont Award-winning episodes:
The latest season can be seen HERE.
Watch Brandon Rittaman's acceptance speech:
About ABC10
ABC10 is an Emmy-award-winning multi-media company that provides news coverage and entertainment programs for residents in a 16-county area reaching across Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Sierra Nevada, and foothill communities in California.
We redefine journalism and content creation through empowering stories, impactful investigations, and innovative marketing services. ABC10 is owned by TEGNA, Inc. (NYSE: TGNA), one of the most geographically diverse broadcasters in the U.S., with 49 television stations and two radio stations in 41 markets. For more information, go to www.abc10.com.