December 9, 2004: Headlines: Journalism: Investigative Journalism: Safety and Security of Volunteers: Awards: Center for Public Integrity: In this seven-part series, "Casualties of Peace," Russell Carollo and Mei-Ling Hopgood examine problems in what is often looked upon as an almost sacred institution, the Peace Corps

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Peace Corps Library: Investigative Journalism: December 9, 2004: Headlines: Journalism: Investigative Journalism: Safety and Security of Volunteers: Awards: Center for Public Integrity: In this seven-part series, "Casualties of Peace," Russell Carollo and Mei-Ling Hopgood examine problems in what is often looked upon as an almost sacred institution, the Peace Corps

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-43-253.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.43.253) on Saturday, January 01, 2005 - 8:29 pm: Edit Post

In this seven-part series, "Casualties of Peace," Russell Carollo and Mei-Ling Hopgood examine problems in what is often looked upon as an almost sacred institution, the Peace Corps

In this seven-part series, Casualties of Peace, Russell Carollo and Mei-Ling Hopgood examine problems in what is often looked upon as an almost sacred institution, the Peace Corps

In this seven-part series, "Casualties of Peace," Russell Carollo and Mei-Ling Hopgood examine problems in what is often looked upon as an almost sacred institution, the Peace Corps

2004 Winning Report

Russell Carollo and Mei-Ling Hopgood, Dayton Daily News, United States

In this seven-part series, "Casualties of Peace," Russell Carollo and Mei-Ling Hopgood examine problems in what is often looked upon as an almost sacred institution, the Peace Corps. Their investigation reveals, often in vivid detail, the widespread violence directed at Peace Corps volunteers, who since 1962 have died at a rate of about one every two months. The two also report on how the agency has responded to these incidents.

For 20 months, Carollo and Hopgood traveled around the world, interviewing more than 500 people in 11 countries, to detail the danger of sending volunteers to some of the most dangerous corners of the world. After filing more than 75 Freedom of Information Act requests, the Dayton Daily News ultimately sued the Peace Corps in federal court to free public records that document assaults against volunteers. The agency had never before released its database on assaults, preventing closer scrutiny into the incidents and allowing the agency to hide the real dangers its volunteers often face. The Peace Corps, the reporters found, logs aggression against individuals as "incidents" or "events," not as crimes against individuals. Thus when three female volunteers were raped and two male friends assaulted, the database records it as a single rape "incident."

Following the publication of the series, the Peace Corps redesigned its Web site to include extensive information on safety and security. Hearings were also held in both houses of the U.S. Congress; legislation was introduced to establish a Peace Corps ombudsman to investigate health and safety complaints and asking the agency to detail its safety procedures.

To read the entire series, please go to: To read the entire series, please go to: http://www.daytondailynews.com/project/content/service/peacecorps.



2004 Winner Bios

Russell Carollo, the lead reporter on this year's award winning entry "Casualties of Peace," has been working on special projects with the Dayton Daily News since January 2002. He has done several overseas projects which involve reporting from countries such as Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Japan, Bosnia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Italy, Spain, El Salvador, and many others. He has covered such topics as troop deployment, refugee crises and Peace Corps projects.

Carollo has won countless awards in his field including a Pulitzer Prize in 1998 for National Reporting for his 1997 series entitled, "Flawed and Sometimes Deadly." The series focused on medical malpractice within the military and led to major reforms in the military healthcare system. He has also received the distinguished IRE award and the George Polk award.

Prior to working at Dayton Daily News Carollo served as a special projects reporter at the Los Angeles Times. He also was a journalism professor at Colorado College and worked as a military and projects reporter at The News Tribune in Washington state.

He has a bachelor's in history from Southeastern Louisiana and a bachelor's in journalism from Louisiana State University. He was a journalism fellow at the University of Michigan in 1989-1990.

Mei-Ling Hopgood has been the Washington, D.C., correspondent for the Dayton Daily News since January 2001. After almost four years in the nation's capital, she is moving to Buenos Aires to work as a freelance journalist.

She received recognition for her contributions in "Casualties of Peace" by the Investigative Reporters & Editors and also shared the Edgar A. Poe Journalism award for it. She is the president of the American Asian Journalist Association DC chapter.

Hopgood graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia and also studied at Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico. She has previously worked as the diversity reporter for the Detroit Free Press. She was a fellow at the University of Hawaii focusing on China.





When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Is Gaddi Leaving? Is Gaddi Leaving?
Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

December 4, 2004: This Week's Top Stories December 4, 2004: This Week's Top Stories
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Bellamy addresses mine-free summit 2 Dec
Donna Shalala says Protect families from HIV 1 Dec
RPCV mentioned as candidate to head NAACP 1 Dec
Bill Moyers wins Environmental Citizen Award 1 Dec
RPCV is designer of Humane Trophies 1 Dec
RPCV Chris Matthews interviews RPCV Chris Shays 30 Nov
RPCV Bruce Anderson is town muckraker 30 Nov
Tony Hall calls for more pressure on Sudan 30 Nov
Peace Corps Census up for Second Straight Year 29 Nov
Peace Corps gets chance in Mexico: 28 Nov
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The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference.

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Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate.

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Story Source: Center for Public Integrity

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Journalism; Investigative Journalism; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Awards

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