2025 Broadcast Reporting (News) Winners

About the Winners:

These features represent the culmination of years of sustained reporting on special education in Indiana. McCoy and Gaines began building deep expertise on the subject in 2021 when they broke a story revealing that Indiana was violating federal law by allowing untrained educators to teach special education. 

In the years since, they have continued to cover special education consistently, building trust with educators, parents and advocates and developing a nuanced understanding of how policy failures affect students with disabilities. That foundation shaped both audio features.

Comments From the Judges:

“Impressive reporting, especially now after the Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Education has been decimated. Nice job showing how federal cuts have impacted the rights of students with disabilities.”

“Compelling, interesting and thorough. I appreciated that we heard from those impacted by the policy change but most importantly the architects behind the policy. I feel like I walked away with a full understanding of the issue, the players and the implications. Well done.”

Photo credit: Kaiti Sullivan (Amy Cupp’s and daughter’s hands and sitting at table)