In this episode of On Assignment, Nadine Ajaka, The Washington Post’s senior producer for visual forensics, talks about her team’s reconstruction of the crackdown on peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square in Washington D.C which won a 2021 duPont-Columbia award. By analyzing visual evidence, Ajaka and her team meticulously recreated the moments leading up to Donald Trump’s infamous “bible photo-op” in front of St. John’s church.

In this conversation with duPont Awards Director Lisa R. Cohen, Ajaka explains how she and her team gather evidence for visual forensic investigations, the advantages of this type of reporting, and her belief that focusing on what visual evidence reveals can combat the spread of misinformation about major news events. She also started the interview by learning the good news that the team had won a Silver Baton.

To watch the 2021 duPont Awards ceremony and to learn more about other 2021 duPont winners and finalists, visit duPont.org. You can also watch the ceremony on PBS digital channels.

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