Observer’s medical examiner series wins national journalism award

A Charlotte Observer investigation that revealed glaring shortcomings in North Carolina’s medical examiner system has won a national award from the Society of Professional Journalists.

The newspaper’s five-part series, called “Fatally Flawed,” won the public service award for large newspapers in the Sigma Delta Chi competition.

The Observer’s investigation found that the state’s medical examiners rarely go to death scenes and sometimes don’t look at bodies in the cases they handle. The stories have spurred legislation that would overhaul the system. A bill introduced this session by Sen. Jeff Tarte, R-Mecklenburg, would transform the state’s system of mostly volunteer medical examiners into a staff of trained, full-time death investigators.

Published last year, the stories were written by reporters Ames Alexander, Fred Clasen-Kelly, Elizabeth Leland and Gavin Off. Senior editor Jim Walser edited the series.

The series also won the North Carolina Press Association’s public service award, and was named a finalist in two other national journalism competitions: the Investigative Reporters and Editors awards and the American Society of News Editors awards.

SPJ works to inspire and educate journalists, and to protect the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and of the press. Staff Reports

This story was originally published April 24, 2015 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Observer’s medical examiner series wins national journalism award."