EMMY®-Winning/Nominated Work
2022 Regional Nomination (Ohio Valley Chapter): Weather (News, Long Form Content): Two Years Later: Memorial Day Tornado Outbreak 2019, Executive Producer: Two years after 2019’s devastating Memorial Day Tornado outbreak, this Storm Center 7 weather investigating revealed most of those impacted by the $1 Billion storms were uninsured. However a lack of data made it impossible to quantify the numbers of people who needed help.
2022 Regional Nomination (Ohio Valley Chapter): Military - News: 9/11 Twenty Years Later: Miami Valley Gold Star Families Reflect on Sons’ Service and Sacrifice.
2021 Regional Win (Ohio Valley Chapter): Weather (News, Long Form Content): Memorial Day Tornado Impact - One Year Later, Executive Producer: One year after the Memorial Day Tornado Outbreak, as hundreds of Miami Valley residents were still struggling to recover, a long from profile of how the pandemic stalled the rebuilding process, including one family’s emotional journey after an EF4 tornado destroyed their home.
2021 Regional Nomination (Ohio Valley Chapter): Investigative -Single Report: The Death Of Takoda Collins, Executive Producer: Oversaw multi-month, long from investigation exposing system communication failures between multiple agencies which, multiple sources say, led to a 10 year old’s child abuse death; Reporting is now the impetuous for a potential law change in how agencies charged with protecting children must share information.
2021 Regional Nomination (Ohio Valley Chapter): News Special: Meeting The Challenge: Dayton Stays Strong, Executive Producer: Produced a documentary-style news special using community members first hand experiences following some of Dayton’s most historic news events. As the community attempts to recover from its’ largest single day tornado outbreak and a mass shooting, they must rely on their history of strength for guidance as the pandemic and demand for social justice reform movement intertwine with the tornado and shooting recovery.
2021 Regional Nomination (Ohio Valley Chapter): Continuing Coverage: Oregon District Mass Shooting: One Year Later, Executive Producer: Oversaw special production of coverage one year after a mass shooting in Dayton’s historic Oregon District killed nine people and injured dozens of others; Community-based coverage, focused primarily on remembering those lost, uncovering untold survivor stories, and investigating the shooter’s past and a possible attack motive.
2020 Regional Win (Ohio Valley Chapter): Breaking News: The Oregon District Mass Shooting, Executive Producer: Primary newsroom manager overseeing mass shooting coverage, which left nine dead, 27 injured, and extensively impacted the community.
2020 Regional Nomination (Ohio Valley Chapter): Investigative Report-Single Story: Parents Question District’s Role In P.E. Teacher Misconduct Case, Executive Producer: Investigation uncovered school district’s role in covering up elementary teacher’s sexual abuse against 88 first grade girls, and a lack of a state law requiring sexual abuse prevention education
On Nov. 7, 2015, The Chicago/Midwest Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts And Sciences recognized Matthew Simon's investigative work on Madison's growing heroin deaths & gang activity influencing Madison's crime trends. After the stories were over he continued his coverage online, facilitating conversations between viewers, recovering addicts & a former gang member. Here, a clip of the reporting work originally nominated for an 'Outstanding Achievement for Media Interactivity' Regional EMMY® on Oct. 6, 2015. The full investigations/conversations are below.
At the base of Madison’s erupting violence, police records show a dramatic increase over the last decade in known gang members charged with committing crimes. (2/3/15)
If you think gangs are not a problem in Wisconsin, we've uncovered some alarming details of new issues, including gang activity in schools and the spread of gang activity throughout the area. We have the rare opportunity to talk to a former gang member who shares his perspective.
As Wisconsin’s heroin epidemic took hold of Dane County, and made it one of the most problematic areas in the state, the number of overdose deaths increased dramatically. That 1,233 percent surge in heroin killing mostly young men in their teens and 20s can be seen by looking at what has happened since the turn of the millennium. Public Health Madison and Dane County numbers show Dane County heroin deaths increasing from three in 2000 to 40 in 2013. Numbers for 2014 have not yet been finalized. (Feb. 16, 2015)
No one thinks they'll become a heroin addict. But the truth is, Dane County's epidemic is one of the worst in Wisconsin. We're talking with Skye Tikkanen, a former addict AND the assistant director at Connections Counseling. What would you like to know about heroin in our community?