Eric Falquero, editor of Street Sense, talks about winning the prestigious Robert D.G. Lewis Award for Watchdog Journalism in 2021. His entry in the SPJ DC Pro Chapter’s annual Dateline Awards contest was published in 2020, and deemed by judges to best exemplify “journalism aimed at protecting the public from abuses by those who would betray the public trust.” His investigation, “What can happen when the police are asked to respond to a mental health crisis in D.C.?,” began when he witnessed the police detaining a homeless, mentally ill man at the June 20, 2020, Black Lives Matter demonstration in Washington, D.C.
For a list of all the contest categories’ winners, from which the Lewis Award is determined, for the 2021 contest, go to this page, which also lists all finalists. Watch a video of the June 15, 2021, awards presentations on the SPJ DC Chapter YouTube Channel.