The series' findings prompted hearings in the U.S. Congress and provoked an overdue review of Peace Corps policy on the safety of its volunteers. The results could well save lives in the years ahead.



The series' findings prompted hearings in the U.S. Congress and provoked an overdue review of Peace Corps policy on the safety of its volunteers. The results could well save lives in the years ahead.

2004 Commendation Letter

We chose "Casualties of Peace" because it illuminates an important institution that seemed beyond scrutiny and has seldom if ever commanded negative headlines.

It is this kind of reporting that is often the hardest, requiring the commitment of editors and reporters despite the possibility that nothing of interest will materialize and an enormous amount of time and money will have been wasted. It is a risk. But it is a risk that reporters Russell Carollo and Mei-Ling Hopgood, along with their editors at the Dayton Daily News, took last year. The result is a brilliant series on the Peace Corps titled "Casualties of Peace."

But much as there is to admire in the courage exhibited in taking on an institution like the Peace Corps—an organization that holds such great promise and that has seemed unassailable in its simple purpose and effectiveness—it is the project's execution that makes this story the clear winner of the ICIJ Award for Outstanding International Investigative Reporting this year.

Carollo and Hopgood took a few nuggets of information available to almost anyone and dove beneath the surface, launching a 20-month, 11-country investigation. By weaving together a series of compelling narratives, bolstering the stories with commanding and often troubling facts, writing with grace and authority, and devoting as much time to the subject as was needed, the reporters and editors presented a complicated institution clearly, fairly and incisively. The result was a revealing and surprisingly negative assessment of the Peace Corps.

The series' findings prompted hearings in the U.S. Congress and provoked an overdue review of Peace Corps policy on the safety of its volunteers. The results could well save lives in the years ahead.

"Casualties of Peace" proves that world-class investigative journalism isn't the purview of just the national dailies or magazines with deep pockets. Carollo and Hopgood have demonstrated that size need not determine ambition. And we wish to demonstrate that excellence in international investigative reporting need not focus on global terrorism to be a model of what the profession can do.

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

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.

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December 4, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Correction: PC to get 3.6% Budget increase 3 Dec What if Chris Matthews interviewed Bob Dylan? 3 Dec 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 more top stories...

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The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers 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. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

Read the stories and leave your comments.