PITTSBURGH -- WTAE Channel 4 is honored with the George Foster Peabody Award, long considered among the most prestigious prizes in electronic media.

WTAE Channel 4 is the first Pittsburgh news station to receive a Peabody since 1985.

In 2007, Channel 4 Action News exposed how PHEAA, Pennsylvania's state-run student loan agency, cost taxpayers more than $1 million in wasteful and abusive spending. Travel documents revealed bureaucrats spent thousands of dollars on items and services such as tuxedo rentals, alcohol, flower arrangements, NFL tickets, aromatherapy massages and greens fees. The station's efforts were praised by decision makers in Harrisburg, forcing substantive changes in PHEAA staffing and polices.

"WTAE-TV and its reporter's persistence demonstrated with startling clarity the need for open records if citizen's rights are to be protected," Peabody judges said.

The pieces were reported by Team 4's Jim Parsons, photographed by Kendall Cross and edited by Michael Lazorko, with the involvement of news director Bob Longo and assistant news director Roberta Petterson.

"We're humbled and proud of Jim Parsons and our entire news team, who worked for nearly two years to bring our viewers this story," said WTAE Channel 4 News Director Bob Longo.

First presented in 1941, the George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished achievement and meritorious service by radio and television networks, stations, producing organizations, cable television organizations, webcasters and individuals.

Just last week, WTAE Channel 4 became the only television station in the country to receive the IRE Medal, the highest honor bestowed for investigative reporting.

Earlier this month, Channel 4 Action News won a National Headliner Award for the same investigative story.

Previous Stories:

• October 4, 2007: Team 4: Audit Rips PHEAA For Hersheypark Day, Huge Bonuses
• September 26, 2007: Team 4: PHEAA Student-Loan Agency's President Will Retire
• September 12, 2007: Team 4: PHEAA Making $19M In Budget Cuts
• August 28, 2007: Team 4: Sen. Joins Gov. Rendell In Call For PHEAA Changes
• August 22, 2007: Team 4: Pa. PHEAA Awards More Than $500K In Bonuses
• August 1, 2007: Team 4 Investigation: PHEAA Hands Out Big Bonuses
• June 1, 2007: Team 4: PHEAA's Lawyer Fees Top $400K
• April 17, 2007: Team 4: Auditor General To Audit PHEAA
• March 26, 2007: Team 4: Gov. Talks PHEAA During Speech
• March 22, 2007: PHEAA OKs Tougher Policy; Team 4 Confronts Board Member
• March 21, 2007: Team 4: Rendell Furious With PHEAA's Actions
• March 21, 2007: Team 4: New PHEAA Spending Details Emerge
• March 21, 2007: Team 4: PHEAA Spending Still Under Fire
• March 20, 2007: Team 4: PHEAA CEO Upset Over Exposed Travel Expenses
• Nov. 30, 2005: Team 4 Investigates Use Of State Planes

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