Liliana Soto

Investigative Reporting: "Don't Bring Guns to Mexico"
The Murrow Awards are the embodiment of the values, principles, and standards set forth by Edward R. Murrow, a journalism pioneer who set the standards for the highest quality of broadcast journalism.

The Hugh and Jan Harelson Award for Teaching Excellence is given annually by the school to an instructor who exemplifies the highest quality of teaching, based on nominations from students. The winner is chosen by a committee composed of the school director and at least two people from outside the school (the director can provide additional information for the committee, including teacher course evaluation scores).

El Sobador De Maryvale, a potential serial sexual predator went unnoticed for many years until we revealed his alleged sexual crimes and concerning issues Spanish-speaking women face when reporting sexual assault to Phoenix PD. Five women reported a masseur for sexual assault during massage therapy, but he wasn’t questioned by police and fled the country. Our investigation, in English and Spanish resulted in 11 more claims and an investigation by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. An arrest… Show more

El Sobador De Maryvale, a potential serial sexual predator went unnoticed for many years until we revealed his alleged sexual crimes and concerning issues Spanish-speaking women face when reporting sexual assault to Phoenix PD. Five women reported a masseur for sexual assault during massage therapy, but he wasn’t questioned by police and fled the country. Our investigation, in English and Spanish resulted in 11 more claims and an investigation by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. An arrest warrant was issued along with a reward on his whereabouts. We exposed an unfair system that failed several women and let a potential sexual predator go free Show less

Two Phoenix pastors defrauding their parishioners promising easy money while using the name of God to reel them in. I and another reporter received claims from different victims so we joined forces to investigate. We discovered how two pastors, from two different Christian churches, were inviting their congregations to participate in MYTRADERCOIN, a fraudulent company that promotes to invest in bitcoin. Videos, documents, conversations and much more demonstrated that the pastors were receiving… Show more

Two Phoenix pastors defrauding their parishioners promising easy money while using the name of God to reel them in. I and another reporter received claims from different victims so we joined forces to investigate. We discovered how two pastors, from two different Christian churches, were inviting their congregations to participate in MYTRADERCOIN, a fraudulent company that promotes to invest in bitcoin. Videos, documents, conversations and much more demonstrated that the pastors were receiving money from their followers in cash and checks anywhere from $1,000 to $50,000. They promised the victims that the money would multiply while they slept, without doing absolutely anything. Shortly after the story aired, one of the churches took down their name and shut down. There’s currently an investigation by The Phoenix Police Department. Show less

Chaos in Downtown Phoenix
I was in the middle of a mob scene with flash bangs, tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets deployed to dispersed anti-Trump protesters after confrontations with Phoenix police officers. Regardless of the low visibility and the effects of the tear gas and pepper spray in the air I continued reporting live and interviewing witnesses in Spanish to inform our community of the dangerous situation. Throughout the night I did a Facebook live and live shots on the event… Show more

Chaos in Downtown Phoenix
I was in the middle of a mob scene with flash bangs, tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets deployed to dispersed anti-Trump protesters after confrontations with Phoenix police officers. Regardless of the low visibility and the effects of the tear gas and pepper spray in the air I continued reporting live and interviewing witnesses in Spanish to inform our community of the dangerous situation. Throughout the night I did a Facebook live and live shots on the event for TV and Facebook. Show less

A year-long investigation of four Phoenix Police officers and a Hispanic woman involved in a cover up case of abuse of power and discrimination. It took 6 months to obtain this report due to a pending appeal to dismiss the case and 9 months to obtain critical footage and find the victim. This story presents an inappropriate arrest and a current gap between the phoenix police force and the Hispanic communities they serve. The officers were not able to appeal, but received only 40 hours of… Show more

A year-long investigation of four Phoenix Police officers and a Hispanic woman involved in a cover up case of abuse of power and discrimination. It took 6 months to obtain this report due to a pending appeal to dismiss the case and 9 months to obtain critical footage and find the victim. This story presents an inappropriate arrest and a current gap between the phoenix police force and the Hispanic communities they serve. The officers were not able to appeal, but received only 40 hours of unpaid leave and a transfer to a different station. Was justice served?
https://www.univision.com/arizona/ktvw/noticias/abuso-de-autoridad/una-mujer-asegura-que-fue-victima-de-abuso-de-autoridad-por-no-hablar-ingles





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We take you to the border in Naco Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. Our visits happened two weeks before Trump’s immigration speech in Phoenix and the presidential election. Our report presents the opinion about "Trump's wall" from those who live next to the border. You’ll meet John Ladd, a republican rancher in the border voting for Trump, but against the wall. On the other side, you’ll meet the “Border Bedazzlers” a group of children in Mexico painting murals on the wall to change its image… Show more

We take you to the border in Naco Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. Our visits happened two weeks before Trump’s immigration speech in Phoenix and the presidential election. Our report presents the opinion about "Trump's wall" from those who live next to the border. You’ll meet John Ladd, a republican rancher in the border voting for Trump, but against the wall. On the other side, you’ll meet the “Border Bedazzlers” a group of children in Mexico painting murals on the wall to change its image. You’ll learn from two different worlds about American politics and why they say a wall will never work. Show less

“Sombras del desamparo” highlights the social issues among the senior homeless community in Arizona. It opens your eyes to a heartbreaking reality about the more than 1500 homeless dying in our streets in the last decade. The story not only humanizes a current issue, but also shows how homeless and those without family or whose bodies were never claimed die with dignity with the help of a group of… Show more

“Sombras del desamparo” highlights the social issues among the senior homeless community in Arizona. It opens your eyes to a heartbreaking reality about the more than 1500 homeless dying in our streets in the last decade. The story not only humanizes a current issue, but also shows how homeless and those without family or whose bodies were never claimed die with dignity with the help of a group of inmates.

https://www.univision.com/arizona/ktvw/noticias/indigentes/el-triste-destino-final-de-los-indigentes-video

https://www.univision.com/arizona/ktvw/noticias/indigentes/bajo-la-sombra-del-desamparo-video Show less

An investigation in partnership with the Austin American Statesman. Winners:
James Barragán, Liliana Soto, Ricardo Brazziell, Deborah Cannon, Kelly West, Andrew Chavez, staff.

" In a time when Austin is listed on numerous “Top Cities” lists for innovation, job creation, growth, and the best places to live, the plight of the extremely poor and chronically homeless in the city is often forgotten.

“Casualties of the Street” put a human face on the chronically homeless men and… Show more

An investigation in partnership with the Austin American Statesman. Winners:
James Barragán, Liliana Soto, Ricardo Brazziell, Deborah Cannon, Kelly West, Andrew Chavez, staff.

" In a time when Austin is listed on numerous “Top Cities” lists for innovation, job creation, growth, and the best places to live, the plight of the extremely poor and chronically homeless in the city is often forgotten.

“Casualties of the Street” put a human face on the chronically homeless men and women who are dying on the streets of our city while it is touted as model of economic success. Photographer Ricardo Brazziell visited several times with homeless people living the harsh conditions we described in our story and captured in photographs and an audio slideshow the wide-ranging scope of their experience: their makeshift tent homes in the middle of wooded areas in the city, their comradery and even their panhandling.
Deborah Cannon traveled to the sites of several deaths we reported in the piece, capturing the quotidian nature of the places where the deaths occurred: a park, a lake, an offramp on a state highway – that brought home for the reader the near invisibility of this population that is dying around us.

In perhaps the most effective demonstration of the problem, our data team created a database of the 77 death records so reporters from both the Statesman and a local Univision affiliate could collectively report on the circumstances of each death within the 2-year span captured. Each news organization then went on to produce their own reports.

The database was used in an online visualization to help readers understand the scope of the deaths by geography, the cause of death and other contributing factors.

The database and the entire series was easily accessible in English and Spanish and could be changed with a quick toggle of a button.

This reporting helped kickstart discussions by city officials and homeless advocates on how to better serve the homeless community."

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"Atrapado en la deuda" takes an in depth look at title loans in Arizona. It provides information about what title loans are, the annual percentage rate they offer, hidden fees, as well as testimonies from those who were trapped in debt due to these loans. Experts talk about the risks and benefits, as well as the abuses by some lenders and the rights consumers have. Atrapado en la deuda educates the viewer about the differences and similarities between title and payday loans as well as the laws… Show more

"Atrapado en la deuda" takes an in depth look at title loans in Arizona. It provides information about what title loans are, the annual percentage rate they offer, hidden fees, as well as testimonies from those who were trapped in debt due to these loans. Experts talk about the risks and benefits, as well as the abuses by some lenders and the rights consumers have. Atrapado en la deuda educates the viewer about the differences and similarities between title and payday loans as well as the laws to regulate them in AZ. Show less

"Victimas de las calles" (Casualties of the Streets) Our nine-month investigation reveals a disproportionate number of homeless deaths by homicides, suicides, and traffic related accidents in Travis County between 2013 and 2014. Our story highlights the leading killer among this population and how they are at a higher risk of premature death than the general public. We also humanize homelessness providing heartbreaking testimonies from homeless and their families. But what is more shocking… Show more

"Victimas de las calles" (Casualties of the Streets) Our nine-month investigation reveals a disproportionate number of homeless deaths by homicides, suicides, and traffic related accidents in Travis County between 2013 and 2014. Our story highlights the leading killer among this population and how they are at a higher risk of premature death than the general public. We also humanize homelessness providing heartbreaking testimonies from homeless and their families. But what is more shocking throughout this investigation is the discovery of what happens to their remains after they die. Show less

"Madre a los 15" covers teen pregnancy in Arizona throughout the stories of two young mothers who got pregnant at the age of 14-years old and had a baby at the age of 15.The story provides resources for teen mothers to continue their studies, find shelter, clothing, and counseling. Both mothers conclude the story with an inspirational message to other teen mothers to continue fighting for their dreams.