“Preserving the Reputations of Sexual Harassers” — a joint project by NPR Illinois and ProPublica — was recently named Best Investigative Report for 2019 by the Illinois Associated Press Broadcasters Association.
In a June 3 letter in the Champaign News-Gazette, BGA Policy Director Marie C. Dillon recalls that the University of Illinois shut down this reporting, in violation of the journalists’ First Amendment rights.
The series documented how the U of I mishandled sexual misconduct cases, allowing employees who violated university policy to leave with their records unblemished. U of I officials responded to the report by telling NPR reporters (who are university employees) that they cannot protect the anonymity of sources who say they are victims of sexual misconduct.
The BGA continues to urge the university to reverse its unconstitutional position.
You can read the letter here.
