WRAL-TV wins national award for 'The Journey Alone' documentary

The Journey Alone

According to the award announcement, “The program is well-shot and well-paced, and expertly tackled a humanitarian and political issue of both national and local importance.”

“We knew this was a building, national story that had significant implications for North Carolina,” said WRAL News Director Rick Gall. “Leyla and Zac did an amazing job in Texas and back here, capturing the many layers and perspectives surrounding children crossing alone into the U.S.”

“At the core of what we do is to inform, enlighten and educate our viewers,” said WRAL-TV Vice President and General Manager Steve Hammel. “I am pleased the judges recognized the excellent journalism of our team. Our viewers expect this quality and we strive to deliver it daily.”

The duPont Awards ceremony will be Jan. 19, 2016, at Columbia University’s Low Memorial Library in New York.

WRAL staffers also credited for the award include: WRAL.com reporter Kelly Hinchcliffe, WRAL News Director Rick Gall, WRAL Assistant News Director Aysu Basaran and graphic artist Steve Loyd.

Leyla was born in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. She is bilingual, and her fluency in Spanish was an asset in reporting from the border. She is a University of Florida graduate and has been recognized for her work by The Associated Press and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Zac has been in broadcast news for 10 years. He won two Emmys for his last documentary, When Kern Burned, and another Emmy for news editing. He is from Virginia and has also lived in Alaska and California.