Rochester Reporters Won Two New York Emmy Awards
The investigative reports examined critical failures at a local nursing center and the county medical examiner's office.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Jennifer Lewke and Deanna Dewberry of News10NBC earned recognition at the 69th annual New York Emmy Awards for investigative reporting. Their winning reports exposed severe neglect at the Waterview Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and a misidentification error by the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office.
Why it matters
These awards highlight the critical role of investigative journalism in uncovering systemic operational and regulatory failures. For local operators, such reporting serves as a reminder that public scrutiny of health and nursing facilities often precedes significant institutional change or closure.
News10NBC secured two awards at the 69th annual New York Emmy Awards, as documented on page 25 of the official ceremony records. The wins follow investigative reporting that identified major regulatory lapses in local healthcare and forensic services.
The players
Jennifer Lewke
An investigative journalist for News10NBC known for covering local government and health service issues.
Deanna Dewberry
An investigative reporter for News10NBC recognized for exposing failures in local healthcare and nursing facilities.
Waterview Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
A nursing and rehabilitation facility in New York that faced investigation for severe resident neglect.
Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office
A county forensic agency responsible for death investigations that was the subject of a report regarding body misidentification.
The details
The investigative reports utilized public records and site-specific inspections to document service failures. Deanna Dewberry's work detailed severe abuse and neglect at the Waterview Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, while Jennifer Lewke and Jeff Hamson exposed a misidentification error at the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office. These disclosures underscored the risks associated with operational oversight in medical and long-term care environments.
Timeline
May 2025: Jennifer Lewke's report on the medical examiner was published.
October 2026: Waterview Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center was scheduled for closure.
Market Landscape
The awards represent a continuation of the industry trend toward recognizing deep-dive investigative journalism in the regional health sector. This development aligns with the established standards set by the 69th annual New York Emmy Awards for excellence in health and medical reporting.
Operators in the healthcare and nursing space should note that public investigations often trigger rigorous state oversight and potential facility insolvency. Maintaining strict compliance with health safety protocols is critical to preventing the type of operational breakdown that led to the closure of Waterview Heights.
The takeaway
Investigative scrutiny of health operations often precedes regulatory action or facility closures. Owners should regularly conduct internal audits of patient care records to ensure compliance with standards and mitigate the risks identified in recent reporting.
Further reading
For more on the operational standards of care, see the latest updates in Nursing Jobs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WHEC.
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