Investigative MEDIA

Archives for 2013

Investigative Media’s “Cyanide Beach” win’s 2013 Yosemite International Film Festival Award

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InvestigativeMEDIA is pleased to announce that its documentary film “Cyanide Beach” has been named “Best Educational Film” in the 2013 Yosemite International Film Festival.

The Yosemite festival awards recognition for some of the world’s finest and most visionary independent films made by many of the leading contemporary artists and creative minds working in cinema and screenwriting today.Yosemite Film Festival Logo

In a release announcing the awards, Easton Stuart, Executive Director of the Yosemite International Film Festival said, “we are very fortunate to have received such a variety of quality films from all over the world. The Festival is significant in the development of fostering the talents of independent filmmakers.” [Read more…]

Yarnell Hill Fire Investigation Ignored Major Mistakes by the State

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The following story and videos were produced and reported by InvestigativeMEDIA and appeared in the Phoenix New Times.
By John Dougherty
Published Wed., Oct. 16 2013 at 12:00 PM
Yarnell-Cover-10.17.13.jpg
Illustration by Justin Renteria.

Former Yarnell Fire Chief Peter Andersen sat under a tree in his front yard having his morning coffee on Sunday, June 30, when the Granite Mountain Hotshots drove past his Glen Ilah home.

“At 8:03, [their] two buggies went by,” Andersen says. “Right after they went by, the leaves started to blow. I shook my head. [The state] didn’t listen to me.”

Andersen, who resigned as Yarnell chief in 2011 after 12 years of service, was aggravated because he had warned an Arizona Forestry Division fire manager the night before that it was crucial to attack the steadily expanding fire in the hills above Yarnell at dawn, before prevailing southwesterly winds picked up about 8 in the morning. [Read more…]

State releases Yarnell Hill Fire investigation on the deaths of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots

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The Yarnell Hill Fire Serious Accident Investigation Report was released on Sept. 28, 2013 during a press conference in Prescott, AZ.

InvestigativeMEDIA is continuing to investigate the events that led up to the deaths of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots during the June 30 wildfire.

Videos of the entire press conference and an interview with lead investigator, Florida State Forester Jim Karels, are posted below.

Opening statements by the Serious Accident Investigation Team:

[Read more…]

Prescott Wildlands Division Chief Darrell Willis demands retraction of Granite Mountain Hotshot story

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After refusing to answer written questions or to be interviewed before publication of the New Times August 22 cover story, “Lambs to Slaughter,” about the deaths of 19 Granite Mountain firefighters, Prescott hotshots boss Darrell Willis sent New Times a letter containing what he claims are 22 inaccuracies in the article.

InvestigativeMEDIA’s editor John Dougherty wrote the story for Phoenix New Times and the article also appears on this website. The New Times responded to Willis’ claims with an extraordinary Sept. 10 story published on its website. Dougherty contributed to the New Times’ article responding to Willis’ claims.

The New Times story corrects three minor errors in the Aug. 22 article and New Times rejected Willis’ request for a sweeping retraction of the conclusions and opinions expressed in the story. InvestigativeMEDIA appreciates New Times continued support and confidence in the reporting. [Read more…]