Alum Phil Williams wins third Peabody

Phil Williams

Mass Comm journalism graduate Phil Williams has won his third George Foster Peabody Award.

Williams, chief investigative reporter, and his WTVF-TV NewsChannel 5 team in Nashville nabbed the Peabody for “NewsChannel 5 Investigates: Questions of Influence.” The investigation examined inquiries surrounding Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in state contracts and explored ethical questions regarding Haslam’s business relationship with a Capitol Hill lobbyist.

“In a series of reports capped by an hour-long prime-time special, WTVF’s investigators revealed that running Tennessee state government ‘like a business,’ as the governor had publicly pledged, in reality meant sweetheart deals, no-bid contracts and ethical lapses,” the Peabody judges noted in the announcement. “A scathing state audit was just one of the results.”

This is Williams’ third Peabody. He is also the recipient of three DuPont-Columbia awards, multiple regional Emmy awards and a national Emmy in 2006 for his reporting on “The Ticket Fix,” an investigation of widespread ticket fixing. Williams is a member of the College of Mass Communication’s Wall of Fame, an honor that recognizes alumni achievement.

The Peabody Awards, the oldest in electronic media, are considered among the most prestigious and selective prizes. The Peabodys recognize excellence and meritorious work by radio and television stations, networks, webcasters, producing organizations and individuals.The Peabody medallions will be formally presented on May 19 at a luncheon ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. For a list of this year’s winners, please click here.

To learn more about Williams’ investigation, please click here.