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“Birth & Betrayal”

Distinguished Service to the First Amendment, honoring Edward Willis Scripps

Miami Herald, ProPublica, 2022

Author(s): Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang | Miami Herald Staff | ProPublica

2:36

ProPublica and the Miami Herald exposed abuses by a government-subsidized program that was created to cover the health care costs of children who suffered catastrophic brain injuries at birth. The program also was intended to shield health care professionals and hospitals from costly lawsuits. The collaborative investigative reporting project revealed that Florida’s Neurological Injury Compensation Association betrayed families rather than protect them. The work led to policy changes in mental health subsidies and the elimination of Medicaid abuses tied to the program.

Honoring Edward Willis Scripps

E.W. Scripps is largely responsible for today’s free and independent press. In 1878, E.W. started his own newspaper in Cleveland designed to reach the greatest number of people by being affordable. Most importantly, it was completely independent, which left no party, cause, business or individual above criticism.