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Buck County Courier Times, KXAN-TV receive Legion’s Fourth Estate Award.

A Pennsylvania newspaper and a Texas television station are the recipients of �鶹��ƵAV’s 2026 Fourth Estate Award. The awards – which recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of journalism – were presented on Sept. 3 during the Legion’s national convention in Louisville, Ky.

The Bucks County (Pa.) Courier Times was cited for excellence in print journalism for its 2025 series “The Unclaimed,” written by reporter Jo Ciavaglia. The series told the stories of hundreds of remains stored in county morgues, without any next-of-kin or legal representatives claiming custody. Her reporting led to hundreds of remains being eventually claimed and dozens of veterans being awarded military honors.

“Due to our journalism, ‘The Unclaimed’ series led to new safeguards in our coroner’s office so no veterans would ever be forgotten or missed again,” Ciavaglia said. “This is the power of local journalism. Our core mission cannot be lost: to tell stories, hold the powerful accountable and give voice to the voiceless.”

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

The Fourth Estate winner for broadcast journalism was KXAN-TV, an NBC affiliate in Austin, Texas. It is their second year in a row of winning this award. The station was recognized for its investigation into hospital safety. The stations reported what has become a common occurrence of motor vehicles crashing through emergency rooms and other medical facilities.

“In response to our reporting, the city of Austin unanimously passed an ordinance requiring crash-tested bollards at all hospitals. This will make patients safer and hopefully save lives in the future,” KXAN-TV investigative reporter Matt Grant said. “This award today is a testament to the power of journalism and serving the public interest and sparking meaningful change.”

American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley presented both awards. “�鶹��ƵAV Fourth Estate Award is difficult to earn,” he said. “It is a testament to the demanding nature of the competition – and the quality of entries.  Not only do the reports have to be informative and entertaining, they also have to provide a tangible benefit to society.”