(Baton Rouge – November 24, 2014) Four Louisiana journalists and researchers were recognized by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers today for their coverage of education issues in the state. The School Bell Award for Excellence in Education Journalism is presented to writers for outstanding efforts in promoting better understanding of education issues.
Karen Gadbois and Steve Beatty are the co-founder and editor, respectively, of The Lens, an online publication dedicated to the kind of investigative reporting that other media have largely abandoned in the New Orleans market. Ms. Gadbois, with co-founder Ariella Cohen, began writing about the outrages perpetrated on New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She has evolved into a superb journalist, winning some of the profession’s most prestigious awards. Steve Beatty is a veteran investigative reporter who previously worked with The Times-Picayune, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Pelican Institute. With a unique combination of staff and a volunteer reporting corps, The Lens doggedly covers education issues involving the city’s 46 charter school boards and 75 schools, as well as the traditional public school system. While other media serve as cheerleaders for the city’s charter experiment, The Lens probes for the facts behind the hype. Their mission statement says it all: “We provide the information and analysis necessary to advocate for more accountable and just governance.”
Dr. Barbara Ferguson and Charles J. Hatfield are the founders and main movers behind Research on Reforms, an organization dedicated to conducting data analysis on the education reform movement and publishing their findings on the Web. Dr. Ferguson is an attorney, educator and former school superintendent; Mr. Hatfield is an educator, data analyst, administrator and evaluator. Their combined expertise perfectly suits the pair to their mission. ROR’s published reports are a refreshing tonic, refuting the misinformation spread by ideologically biased “reformers” and their corporate sponsors. Research on Reforms has revealed the facts behind bogus state reports on the Recovery School District and charter schools, filing suit when necessary to get information the state would rather not be made public.
