The Public Health Watch serial podcast “Fumed,” which profiles two politically conservative residents of a Texas community besieged by pollution, has won a Barlett and Steele award for investigative business journalism.
The award is sponsored by the Reynolds Center for Business Journalism at Arizona State University. “Fumed” received the bronze award in the local/regional category.
“This is a compelling story of two unlikely activists trying to save their small community from the growing hazards of one of the largest petrochemical hubs in the world, the nearby Houston Shipping Channel,” Barlett and Steele judges said. “Today, Channelview, Texas, is in the 99th percentile nationwide for cancer risk from petrochemical facilities. The powerful reporting by Public Health Watch shows not only the impact of grassroots activism but of investigative reporting: Fumed’s podcasts received hundreds of thousands of listens, the story’s main antagonist was arrested for environmental crimes and the city of Houston recently changed its permitting process to protect residents from industrial encroachment.”
“Fumed,” released in March, is Public Health Watch’s first podcast. “This award validates our team’s tireless work to produce a gripping narrative that bridges the political divide,” said Jim Morris, the organization’s executive director and editor-in-chief.
David Leffler is the host and lead reporter on Season 1 of the podcast, which will feature several more episodes this year. Research for Season 2 will begin in early 2026. Other team members involved in production are Susan White, Jordan Gass-Poore, Salina Arredondo, Savanna Strott, Jana Cholakovska, Mark Bush, Michael Ramos and Morris. Here is the full list of Barlett and Steele winners.
“Fumed” is also a finalist in the Signal Awards, which recognizes “the most potent, meaningful and unprecedented audio projects being made.” Winners will be announced October 15.
To vote for “Fumed” for the contest’s Listeners Choice Award, go to this website.