Kept Out

Some might assume that redlining—the practice of discouraging non-white people from living in certain neighborhoods by manipulating rentals and homebuying—is mostly a historical practice. But reporters at Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting and Public Radio Exchange sorted through 31 million mortgage records to show that in 61 metro areas people of color are still far more likely than white people to see mortgage applications denied. Their report, Kept Out, even unearthed redlining in ethnically and racially diverse areas, like the neighborhoods in and around the city of Philadelphia where much of their field reporting was based. In addition to audio reports, Kept Out included TV stories with PBS’ NewsHour, webinar training to help journalists across the country use the data, an interactive database allowing the public to search lending patterns in their own neighborhoods, and a partnership with Spanish-language news outlet Univision to produce a version of the story for their website. The series prompted investigations in several states, inspired the establishment of a $100 million affordable housing fund in Philadelphia, and forced banks to open branches in underserved areas. For exposing the continuing practice of systemic racism in mortgage lending across the country, Kept Out earns a Peabody Award.