NEW YORK, NY (April 8, 2022) – THE CITY, an independent, digital news outlet dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York, was awarded the merit prize in the breaking news category by the Silurians Press Club. THE CITY earned the honor for its coverage of former governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignation. The nonprofit newsroom also won an Izzy Award from the Park Center of Independent Media (PCIM) at Ithaca College for coverage of safety hazards in public housing.
Just before noon on Aug. 10, 2021, Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave two weeks’ notice to New Yorkers — announcing his resignation just seven days after an investigation by State Attorney General Letitia James’ office detailed numerous allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
THE CITY’s newsroom sprung into action with all-hands-on-deck coverage that quickly produced a comprehensive package on the scandal while looking back at Cuomo’s career, and forwards to the historic elevation of Kathy Hochul.
The winning submissions include:
- A sweeping breakdown of Cuomo’s rise and stunning downfall, set against the odyssey of a governor’s son who believed he was preordained to hold the job
- An overview of Cuomo’s accomplishments and failures while in office, from his successful push for the legalization of same-sex marriage to his broken promise to reform the clemency process.
- An analysis of Cuomo’s iron-fisted handling of transportation, from the opening of the Second Avenue Subway’s leg to his hedging on plans to bring congestion pricing to much of Manhattan.
- A profile on Kathy Hochul, a once little-known Buffalo politician who would soon become the state’s first female governor.
- A dissection of the political fallout of the resignation as Democrats and Republicans in New York scrambled for power after the unexpected opening of multiple seats.
THE CITY’s Izzy Award for Outstanding Achievement by PCIM was earned for an investigation by THE CITY reporter Greg B. Smith into lead paint contamination in New York City public housing.
Smith uncovered how 5,000 public housing apartments run by the New York City Housing Authority were contaminated with lead paint, although they had been deemed clear of any contamination years prior. His reporting called out the legacy of NYCHA’s failure to ensure the well-being of its residents.
“Such big-city nonprofit newsrooms are crucial because corporate media too often overlook major stories affecting the urban poor,” the judges commented.
The ceremony for the Izzy Awards takes place virtually on April 26, while the awards ceremony for the Silurians Press Club takes place on June 15 at the National Arts Club on Gramercy Park South.
ABOUT THE CITY: THE CITY is an independent, nonprofit news outlet dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York. Our reporters pound the pavement in all five boroughs, working with New Yorkers to tell their stories and make their lives better. We’re here to listen to New Yorkers, dig into their concerns and deliver stories that drive the public conversation and set the agenda on key issues. At a time when the media has been upended by technological, economic and political shifts, we want to reconnect people back to local news – and reconnect local news to getting action. THE CITY has more than 50 awards and recognitions, including honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the New York Press Club, and the Silurians Press Club.
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