The Elon School of Communications alumnus was given the award for work he did at a TV news outlet in Wisconsin.
Working as a freelancer in the fall of 2012, Douglas conceived and oversaw production of an hour-long primetime television special titled “Swing State Wisconsin: A News 3 Campaign 2012 Special.”
The CBS station dedicated significant resources to its coverage of the 2012 election, which included “Swing State” and another show Douglas produced that documented the rise of Rep. Paul Ryan (R) from small-town Wisconsin boy to national political star.
Anchors Susan Siman and Eric Franke helmed the broadcast, which included significant contributions from the station’s veteran political reporter Jessica Arp. Edited by Brian Mesmer and Jessica Omdahl, “Swing State” was seen in both the Madison and LaCrosse, Wisc., television markets. It included additional contributions by reporters Theo Keith, alumna Dannika Lewis ’10, Marc Lovicott, Andy Choi and Lou Hillman. Two signature sit-down interviews with U.S. Senate candidates Tammy Baldwin and Tommy Thompson were handled by anchor Susan Siman.
Photojournalists Jim Abraham, Brian Mesmer, Jeremy Nichols, Jessica Omdahl, Kathy King and Mike Van Susteren contributed. Travis Kobs designed graphics for the project. The production was overseen by WISC-TV Executive Producer Jessica Laszewski, News Director Colin Benedict and VP/General Manager Tom Bier. WISC-TV is a family-owned CBS affiliate serving south-central Wisconsin.
Douglas currently works in lives in Chicago, covering the midwest for Al Jazeera America.