Center for Public Integrity Wins Polk Award; First Winner of Polk Internet Award

2/18/2004

From: Ann Pincus or Nathan Kommers, 202-466-1300, both of the Center for Public Integrity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- The Center for Public Integrity has been awarded the first George Polk Award for Internet Reporting, Long Island University announced today.

The Center won the award for its report, "Windfalls of War," a six-month investigation of American postwar contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In its exhaustive report the Center found that more than 70 American companies and individuals have won up to $8 billion in contracts for work in those two countries over the last two years. Those companies donated more money to the presidential campaign of George W. Bush -- a little over $500,000 -- than to any other politician over the last dozen years. The Center also found that nearly every one of the 10 largest contracts awarded for Iraq and Afghanistan went to companies employing former high-ranking government officials or individuals with close ties to those agencies or Congress.

Charles Lewis, executive director of the Center, commented: "The Center for Public Integrity is thrilled to receive this high honor. This massive report, Windfalls of War, including 71 contractor profiles, represented half a year of grit and perseverance and determination by 20 researchers, writers and editors here, not to mention the fruits of 73 Freedom of Information Act requests. Project manager Maud Beelman and the entire, spectacular team here refused to be put off, refused to take 'no' for an answer, from any bureaucrat or company official. We are still in federal court suing the State Department and the Army Corps of Engineers!"

According to the Polk Award press release, the Center "reports led to print and broadcast coverage here and abroad that put the Pentagon on the defensive and spurred new congressional oversight of military spending." The Polk Awards in 14 separate categories were announced today by Long Island University. The Award ceremony will be held in New York City on April second. The George Polk Awards, founded by Long Island University in 1949, memorialize the CBS correspondent slain covering a civil war in Greece and rank among America's most coveted journalism honors.

The Center for Public Integrity has been honored by the journalistic community 22 times since 1996. The Center conducts investigative research and reporting on issues of public policy in this country and throughout the world.

For more information: Ann Pincus or Nathan Kommers at 202-466- 1300.