Cox Media Group Wins Service to America Award for ‘Real Estate Racket’ Investigative Reporting

Cox Media Group Wins Service to America Award for 'Real Estate Racket' Investigative Reporting

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 16, 2024 - The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that CMG's Investigative Journalism team has won a Service to America award for its investigative report, "Real Estate Racket."

CMG's Service to America award recognized the company's commitment to journalistic excellence and its significant contribution to informing and protecting consumers in local markets.

"We're incredibly honored to receive this prestigious award from the NAB Leadership Foundation," said Marian Pittman, CMG's President of Content.[FJ(A1] "This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our investigative teams, who tirelessly pursue stories that matter to our communities. It's our privilege and responsibility to shed light on the problem and encourage lawmakers and state officials to take action to protect consumers while holding those in power accountable for their actions."

"Real Estate Racket" was a collaboration by CMG's investigative reporting teams across its stations that resulted in a series of stories involving MV Realty, a Florida-based company. CMG revealed that for many years, MV Realty had been offering quick cash to unsuspecting homeowners across the country in exchange for a contract ensuring homeowners would use the company as their realtor if they later decided to sell their house. Many failed to realize the contract was secured with a 40-year lien on their home. When some homeowners attempted to sell their homes using other realtors, the company then demanded many thousands of dollars - much more than the terms of the quick cash originally offered.

To date, nine attorneys general have filed lawsuits against MV Realty, and 17 states passed new laws to limit or ban MV Realty's business model. Following CMG's stories, U.S. Senators, led by Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, called for investigations into MV Realty by the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, citing CMG's work.

The collaboration was made possible by a CMG investigative initiative created in 2022 to facilitate coordination among news teams, monitor trends affecting viewers in each of the markets, and help produce news stories with a larger, national impact. CMG added new journalists dedicated solely to elevating the company's focus on results-driven investigative reporting that makes a difference in viewers' lives.

The Service to America awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. The event will celebrate the outstanding achievements of broadcasters across the country and highlight the essential role of local broadcasters in serving their communities.

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About Cox Media Group CMG Media Corporation (d/b/a Cox Media Group) is an industry-leading media company with unparalleled brands, award-winning content, and exceptional team members. CMG provides valuable local and national journalism and entertainment content to the people and communities it serves. The company's businesses encompass 15 high-quality, market-leading television brands in 9 markets; 50 top-performing radio stations delivering multiple genres of content in 10 markets; a Washington, DC news bureau; and numerous streaming and digital platforms. CMG's TV portfolio includes multiple primary affiliates of ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo and MyNetworkTV, as well as several valuable news and independent stations. For more information about CMG, visit www.coxmediagroup.com.