CFA’s 2024 Betty Furness Consumer Media Honors

Death by Delay

In this excellent series, Suzy Khimm and Elizabeth Chuck of
NBC expose how regulatory hurdles and industry pushback delay important consumer product safety rules. That delay is a deadly threat to children. Suzy and Elizabeth’s reporting gives voice to families who have experienced unimaginable tragedy and underscores the need for transparency in product safety.

– Courtney Griffin, Director of Consumer Product Safety

4 Ways a Settlement Could Change the Housing Industry

This groundbreaking article by Debra Kamin of The New York Times, was the first to report on how the influential National Association of Realtors agreed to make several changes to its policies to settle class-action lawsuits brought by home sellers who say they were forced to pay inflated commissions to real estate agents. This story sparked widespread media attention, and helped educate consumers on how the real estate market and the home buying process would forever be changed.

– Nicholas Rubando, Communication & Membership Outreach Manager

How Florida let a Top Insurer Abandon Homeowners in Their Time of Greatest Need

In this excellent article, Brianna Sacks of The Washington Post details how the insurance company United Property and Casualty exploited consumers before going insolvent. The insurer cut insurance adjusters’ damage estimates, and underpaid and then ignored increasingly desperate homeowners. At the same time, the company paid top executives millions of dollars in dividends—while state regulators, despite warning signs, failed to take action and protect consumers.

– Michael DeLong, Research and Advocacy Associate