Bram Sable-Smith wins Edward R. Murrow Award for coverage of struggling rural Missouri hospitals

Bram Sable-Smith

Reporter Bram Sable-Smith has won a 2018 Edward R. Murrow Award for his continuing coverage of issues forcing rural Missouri hospitals to close during a yearlong reporting fellowship in 2017, Side Effects reports. Sable-Smith collaborated with other reporters at KBIA, KCUR and Side Effects Public Media to write and produce the stories. His fellowship was sponsored by The Association of Health Care Journalists and supported by The Commonwealth Fund.

Sable-Smith's reporting on the questionable billing practices at Putnam County Memorial Hospital was so damning that Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., called for a federal investigation.

"The stories were also recognized with Regional Murrow Awards, which were announced in April, for continuing coverage, news series and investigative reporting. There were more than 4,400 entries for the 2018 awards," Side Effects Media reports. "This is Sable-Smith's second national award that recognizes his reporting on rural Missouri hospitals. His series of stories also won a health policy award from the Association of Health Care Journalists."

Click here for a complete list of Murrow Awards.