The New York City chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists on Tuesday awarded The Real Deal and ProPublica the Deadline Club Award for digital local news reporting.
TRD‘s Will Parker teamed up with ProPublica reporter Cezary Podkul and research editor Derek Kravitz to produce a report on why Manhattan luxury developers donate millions to political candidates upstate as part of a series of stories on how landlords sidestep tenant regulations. The story was the first of its kind to show how industry players strategically contribute to political candidates across New York State who are likely to vote on issues in their favor.
The analysis identified $21 million in donations to state candidates and party committees since 2000 — mostly made through LLCs. Glenwood Management was the biggest donor, at $9 million, followed by the Durst Organization at $2.5 million and Related Companies at $2.1 million.
The full series by ProPublica, called “The Rent Racket,” also took home the 2016 real estate reporting prize in the medium category from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.
In 2016, TRD took home 12 journalism awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors.
Reporter E.B. Solomont in 2015 also won a Front Page Award from the Newswomen’s Club of New York for her reporting on the scale of Chinese investment in the New York City market. — TRD