The following is a joint press release by WVUE-TV (Fox 8) and The Lens.
New Orleans Fox Affiliate WVUE and the non-profit investigative journalism website The Lens announced a joint partnership today.
The exclusive agreement establishes a regular joint reporting arrangement on multiple media platforms. Joint investigations will appear on Fox 8 TV, fox8live.com and thelensnola.org.
The partnership reunites Fox 8 Chief Investigative Reporter Lee Zurik and The Lens reporter Karen Gadbois. Last year, the two worked together on a 50 part series looking into New Orleans Affordable Homeownership. The stories sparked a federal investigation and won Zurik multiple awards including the George Foster Peabody Award, IRE Gold Medal, and the Suncoast Emmy.
Joining Gadbois at The Lens are former Times-Picayune editors Jed Horne and Steve Beatty, former New Orleans City Business writer Ariella Cohen and environmental reporter Brentin Mock.
Fox 8 News Director Mikel Schaefer says, “This partnership reflects the commitment we’re making to investigative journalism here at Fox 8. We’re very excited to join forces with such an experienced group of journalists at The Lens. We believe this partnership will help bring to light more stories the public needs to know about.”
Steve Beatty, managing editor of The Lens says, “We’re looking forward to working with the best investigative team in New Orleans television. With such a broad audience reach, more people will be able to benefit from our jointly reported stories that will hold public officials accountable for their actions, which affect citizens across the New Orleans area.”
Contact: Steve Beatty: 504-655-2375 The Lens
Mikel Schaefer: 504-483-1501 Fox 8 News
