Alabama Media Group’s Investigative Journalism Lab Delivers Special Report on Alabama Prisons
Birmingham, AL (PRWEB) June 21, 2014 -- Alabama Media Group is delivering a special report in The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times and Mobile Press-Register on Sunday, June 22. The special report presents a fresh overview and new findings from an ongoing investigation into Alabama’s prisons problems and the history of abuse uncovered at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women.
AL.com has explored the problem in greater detail as part of the Alabama Investigative Journalism Lab, launched this year by Alabama Media Group. In the lab, AL.com reporters are teaming up with reporters at public radio station WBHM to tell the story through multimedia platforms. Journalists are also collaborating with partners at The Center for Investigative Reporting in California to find innovative ways to connect the public with their work.
A 12-page special section is the culmination of an investigation that included a review of hundreds of documents and dozens of interviews with decision-makers, prison employees, current and former inmates and families over the past three months.
The extent of Alabama’s prison crisis is disturbing: AL.com found wardens who kept their jobs, were promoted even, after documented abuse of inmates. Guards and others described how inmates are treated like animals and dying after being denied access to basic medical care. What AL.com found on both sides of the bars shows how the state’s overcrowded, abusive and violent prisons are dangerously close to becoming the targets of a federal takeover.
Readers can find a full collection of stories on AL.com/prisons.
"It is our duty to ask the hard questions and shed light on the significant issues that impact our local communities and state," said Michelle Holmes, the company's Vice President of Content. "We are proud of this work and hope our readers reflect on and talk about it. "
Alabama Media Group established the Investigative Journalism Lab in February 2014 as part of an ongoing commitment to high-quality journalism. The project includes fellowships and collaborations to deliver important local news to the people of Alabama.
About Alabama Media Group
Alabama Media Group is a digitally-focused news and information company that combines quality journalism from The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times, Mobile's Press Register and The Mississippi Press with up-to-the-minute access of AL.com.
Erin Chambers, Alabama Media Group, http://alabamamediagroup.com, +1 (205) 325-2442, [email protected]
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