Robert Riggs received the highest awards of broadcast television for investigative reporting including the George Foster Peabody Award and three Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Journalism Awards.
Riggs’ stories impacted millions of people during thousands of hours of reporting on television and in online media. During some assignments, his reporting literally occurred under fire while I was embedded with the U.S. Army during the invasion of Iraq.
Among the three Alfred I. duPont Columbia Journalism Awards for Investigative Reporting, judges described his Gulf War report about the censorship of religious services for U.S. soldiers, “as the story every other news organization missed.”
Riggs journalistic ethos is to illuminate important public issues, right wrongs, speak truth to power, change flawed public policy, and in some cases save people from harm by violent criminals. Serial killers were caught and terrorist networks exposed. Corrupt public officials did time in federal prison behind his reporting.
Riggs belongs to the FBI’s North Texas Chapter of InfraGard which was formed in response to the 9/11 terror attacks. He is a longtime member of the Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE). It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving investigative reporting around the world.
During his broadcast news career, Riggs covered the White House, Capitol Hill, The Pentagon, New York State Legislature, and the Texas Legislature.
He reported from the “eye of the storm” at the scene breaking news stories of historical proportions including the mass murder at a Luby’s Cafeteria in Texas, the 51-day Branch Davidian siege in Waco, the Oklahoma City bombing, the siege by Republic of Texas separatists, and three wars.
Robert Riggs reports have appeared on WFAA-TV Channel 8 News, KTVT-TV CBS-11, CBS Evening News, CBS 60 Minutes, ABC Nightline, CNN, and ESPN.
Texas A&M University bestowed an Outstanding Alumnus Award on Riggs in 2001.