Investigating Innovation: Boston Globe's "Blind Spot" Team
Nov. 15, 2021
On Monday, Nov. 15, the Journalism program hosted the team behind the Boston Globe's series "Blind Spot," which took home this year's Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting. Reporters Evan Allen, Laura Crimaldi and project editor Brendan McCarthy presented in person on the Brandeis campus (with the team's two other reporters, Vernal Coleman and Matt Rocheleau, joining via Zoom). They discussed how they uncovered systemic government failures that led to dangerous — and sometimes deadly — consequences for drivers.
And in turn, how their investigation led to reform. This project is an example of investigative multimedia journalism at its best. Heather Ciras, director of Audience Experience, also joined the panel. Brandeis students had the valuable opportunity to ask questions of the journalists behind this Pulitzer win and hear about how dogged reporting and creative presentations can influence both public thought and government action. To learn more, check out the full coverage of the event and watch the recording.
Photo features the Boston Globe's newest Pulitzer Prize winners after the Nov. 15 Brandeis Journalism forum. From left: video producer Caitlin Healy; editors Brendan McCarthy and Scott Allen; director of audience engagement Heather Ciras; Brandeis Journalism director Neil Swidey and assistant director Rachel Raczka; reporters Laura Crimaldi and Evan Allen. (Photo by Noah Zeitlin)
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The Brandeis Journalism Program hosted the “Quick Strike” team behind the Boston Globe’s series “Blind Spot” on Nov. 15. The reporting team won the 2021 Investigative Reporting Pulitzer Prize for uncovering systemic government failures that led to fatal consequences for drivers. They spoke to the Brandeis community along with the video producer and audience director who helped make the reader experience as complex and all-encompassing as the investigation itself. They discussed the importance of multimedia journalism and how investigative news can influence public opinion and government action.
“The form of journalism is different [than activism]. I am not yelling at people to be outraged, you're showing people the facts,” explained reporter Evan Allen. “Ultimately, people do not like to be told what to do. It doesn't move people when you tell them what to think or how to feel or how to act. But when you present them with the facts that they need to draw their own conclusions, that’s when you can move the dial a little bit. That’s why I like journalism — the facts are loud and they hurt and they should.”
—Anna Nappi