1978 duPont-Columbia Award Winners
In a special program, the duPont-Columbia University Awards announced 9 winners and 8 Special Citation recipients.
Six American Families - Group W and Paul Wilkes
Probably the most ambitious documentary series of the year -- an attempt to portray contemporary America through profiles of six families, as diverse in makeup and temperament as their geographic locations.
28 Tonight - KCET-TV, Los Angeles
A distinguished local magazine show whose revolving format mad room for excellent in-house investigative features such as ‘National Lead’ as well as independent documentaries of the caliber of the Academy Award-winning ‘Number Our Day.’
The Timber Farmers - KGW-TV, Portland
A sixty-minute documentary which explored a controversial subject of great local concern without oversimplification or slight to either side.
Human Rights: A Soviet-American Debate & NBC Reports: The Struggle for Freedom NBC News
Within three days, NBC News presented two excellent programs on ‘human rights,’ a subject of compelling international concern. The first, permitting Soviet and U.S. experts to square off in a live TV debate for the first time; the second, a documentary digging into the reasons why such a debate was important.
CBS Evening News and Walter Cronkite CBS
Not only does Walter Cronkite anchor the most successful and technically proficient of the three networks’ evening newscasts, but he was in the year under consideration a particularly eloquent and effective spokesman for the demanding profession of TV newsman.
Once a Priest - WBBM-TV, Chicago
Religion in a time of skepticism and drastic change has seldom been presented with such understanding and impact as in this hour-long documentary concerned with the vocations of ten young Catholic Priests.
Clear and Present Danger - WFAA-TV, Dallas
A record of outstanding service to its community which included distinguished coverage of the energy crisis and local racial issues, in addition to an impressive series of extended investigative reports including its ten-part inquiry into contemporary environmental hazards, ‘Clear and Present Danger.’
"Carter's Energy Plan," "Woodward-Bernstein: Frost Interview" & "Korea and Congress: the Scandal So Far" - WNET-TV New York & WETA-TV Washington, DC
Day after day this admirable series has given thoughtful, in-depth treatment to important news developments that are dealt with more superficially on evening newscasts.
The Police Tapes | WNET-TV
A stunning combination of on-the-spot observations and perceptive social commentary concerning one of the world’s prime breeding grounds of crime, the South Bronx in New York City, achieved with a minimum budget and maximum understanding of the dilemmas of police officers and residents alike.
Special Citations
New Religions- Holiness or Heresy? ABC News Closeup
For treating a provocative subject with thoroughness and objectivity.
An Incident at Brown's Ferry, WGBH, Boston
An outstanding segment of the consistently excellent 'Nova' series giving exemplary treatment to a highly incendiary subject -- the risks of nuclear energy.
Chinatown: Immigrants in America, Downtown Community Television Center and WNET, New York
A remarkably sensistive portrayal of an ethnic community which revealed its deep roots in the American tradition.
"The Politics of Abortion" and "Guess Who's Pregnant?", WTTW, Chicago
Two of the most controversial probles of twentieth century society given proportion and impact by specific community concerns.
KYW-TV, Philadelphia
For overall service to the community as well as excellence in investigative reporting.
A Human Relations Test, WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee
A three-hour program of impressive weight and pertinence slotted in prime time on the eve of a great civic change for which it helped to prepare the local community.
WBBM-TV, Chicago
An exceptional record of investigative reporting which included the two fine series on 'Slum Landlords' and 'PBB.'
Murder One, Georgia Educational Television, University of North Caroline Television Network, and WNET, New York
One of the most powerful programs of the season, a devastating treatment of premeditated homicide, its perpetrators, and its victims.