December 12th, 2014

Drew Griffin honored with Dirksen Award

CNN investigative correspondent Drew Griffin has been honored with the prestigious Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress, it was announced yesterday by the National Press Foundation.

 

The year-long series “Congress for Sale” on Anderson Cooper 360 examined the growing obsession with fundraising by members of congress. The near non-stop fundraising, which leads to an all too cozy relationship with lobbyists and others seeking influence on Capitol Hill, creates a system that many in the series called legalized extortion.

 

In recognizing Griffin’s reporting, the National Press Freedom judges said, “Drew Griffin produced a profound series of pieces illuminating the dark side of elected officials and big business. It succinctly explained how members of Congress abuse enormous amounts of money for personal gain. It took the veil off the relationship between lobbyists, politicians, and the town they work in.”

 

CNN Senior Producer David Fitzpatrick worked with Griffin on the year-long series “Congress for Sale.”