The New England Center for Investigative Reporting and its partner WGBH News recently were named winners of a 2014 Clarion Award for a two-part series on sex trafficking demand, called “Johns.”
The series, which won under the radio feature story category, launched the center’s collaboration with WGBH in November 2013.
The Clarion Awards, presented by the Association for Women in Communications, were named after “the medieval trumpet known for its clarity” and “symbolize excellence in clear, concise communications,’’ according to the Virginia-based organization. The story “Johns” won under the radio feature story category, one of 92 awards picked from entries from 23 states and three countries.
The story was produced by Phillip Martin, Senior Investigative Reporter for WGBH News; Jenifer B. McKim, Senior Investigative Reporter for The New England Center for Investigative Reporting and Ted Canova, Executive Editor for WGBH News.
The radio story was aired in tandem with a print story published by NECIR focusing of the lax enforcement of a new state anti-trafficking law meant to focus on sex buyers. Since then, the city of Boston announced an effort to reduce demand for prostitutes in Boston by 20 percent in two years.
McKim, who joined NECIR last year, said she was proud to be involved in a story that focused public attention on the challenges in fighting against domestic sex trafficking. “This is why I got into the business,’’ she said.
The New England Center for Investigative Reporting is a nonprofit news center based out of WGBH News and Boston University. WGBH Radio serves listeners across New England with 89.7 WGBH Boston Public Radio; 99.5 WCRB; and WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR® Station.