Submitted by Lauren Reynolds, 10News Reporter.

Before my husband and I arrived at the La Costa Resort & Spa for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Pacific Southwest Chapter Emmy Awards, he asked, “How many Emmys do you have to win tonight to come away happy?”

I thought about it, and told him four. I was nominated in 7 categories, and I figured winning 7 out of 7 would be totally unrealistic. I was totally surprised and thrilled that night to win 6! To put it in perspective, I’ve worked for 10 News for the past 12 years, and had earned 3 Emmys during the first 11 of those years. To win 6 for my work over the last year alone shows that we’re doing something right.

I say “we”, because I work with the I-Team, a group of 9 dedicated producers, researchers, and reporters who have the privilege of doing “investigative” journalism, under the direction of Managing Editor JW August. He’s a true pro, with 3 decades in the news business.

The I-Team is a privilege because so many stations have cut investigative stories to improve the bottom line. Investigations take time, money, and resources. They get much more attention before air than what’s called a “daily” news story, something shot, written, and edited all in one day. While major networks still conduct investigations, many local stations have abandoned investigative teams in the face of shrinking advertising revenue and profits. 10News has bucked that trend, putting more resources into investigations over the last 2 years.

Our investigative pieces take months to produce, with good reason. We start with a complaint, or an idea, then track the details and look for the “bad guys”, if there are any. When people ask what I do for a living, I often joke and say, “I chase bad guys,” because we shine a light on suspected crooks or swindlers who take advantage of people for financial gain. Several times in the past year those suspected bad guys have run away from us, literally. Exposure is not good for their businesses.

On Emmy night, the various members of the I-team took home more than 20 Emmy’s, including one for creating a documentary program based on our best stories from last year.

The subjects of the stories I earned Emmy’s for last year include exposing controversial and allegedly “fake” Nelson Mandela Art being sold in La Jolla, an investigation into the deadly early years of Sea World’s attempts to trap and keep killer whales, plus a story about an Orange County woman who was driving without a license, hitting and injuring people, without facing any real consequences. Those are just a few examples. With several projects in the works right now, I hope to earn at least as many Emmy’s next year.

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