ABC World News Report on COK Investigation Wins Genesis Award

This past weekend the Humane Society of the United States hosted the 27^th annual Genesis Awards, a star-studded event that honors news and entertainment media for its role in raising awareness about animal protection issues.

Among the esteemed winners in several news categories is ABC World News with Diane Sawyer for its hard-hitting and exclusive report — “Plant Closed by USDA Supplied Beef for In-N-Out Burger” — featuring Compassion Over Killing’s undercover investigation inside a dairy cow slaughter plant in California.  After reviewing COK’s footage, the USDA shut the facility down citing “egregious inhumane handling and treatment of livestock.”  ABC’s investigative news team, including Producer Cindy Galli (pictured here with COK’s Erica Meier), was at the event to accept the award.

Other big winners of the night included pop singer Kesha for using her celebrity status to speak out for animals, The Colbert Report for its segment tackling dog fighting, and ABC’s Nightline for its expose on the cruelties endured by Tennessee walking horses. Read the full list of award winners.

COK is thrilled to have been a part of the 2013 Genesis Awards, and it now marks the second time that a news report featuring one of our undercover videos has won an award. At the 2011 Genesis Awards, KTLA-TV in Los Angeles was honored with the News Feature award for its eye-opening special feature story “Hatchery Hell” reporting on COK’s undercover investigation inside Cal-Cruz Hatcheries, a chicken and duck hatchery in Santa Cruz, California. This hatchery has since closed its doors and ceased all animal operations.

COK’s undercover investigators need your support to continue shining a bright light on the cruelties kept hidden behind the closed doors of animal agribusiness. And the animals need your voice – please join our efforts today.