Facing Reality: Politics, Drugs and Waste

One trend in television news is the diminishing number of investigative stories, reporter Bill Elder, ably assisted by assistant producer Diana Baker and cameraman Bob Eustler, remind us of the power of television to effect change in a local community. Their series uncovered blatant drug abuse and sexual misconduct among patients at drug rehabilitation centers co-owned by a state representative while a major candidate for mayor of New Orleans. In the face of fierce counter-attack by the politician under investigation were mounted by the local District Attorney, the Louisiana Attorney General, and the U.S. Justice Department. For investigative reporting of the highest calibre, marked by courage and intensity, a Peabody to WWL-TV for Facing Reality: Politics, Drugs and Waste.