Bill accepted the award at a star-studded Hollywood event.
The Humane Society of the United States rolled out the red carpet at the 22nd annual Genesis Awards. CNN's Anderson Cooper, NBC's Hayden Panettiere and celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck were among the eclectic honorees announced on Saturday, March 29th in Beverly Hills, California.
The Genesis Awards honor the news and entertainment media for showcasing animal protection issues, highlighting emerging concerns or bringing a fresh perspective to long-standing ones.
Hosted by Bill Maher, winners included 60 Minutes, a CNN documentary called "Planet in Peril", a episode of CSI "Lying Down with Dogs," a Paramount film titled "Year of the Dog", and local news features on Cleveland's WKYC, WAGA in Atlanta, and KHOU in Houston.
The WKYC news feature was a no-holds barred look at the appalling abuse inflicted upon pigs in a factory farm. The story launched an in-depth investigation by local and regional authorities.
"We have always believed that animal cruelty need not be exaggerated or embellished, rather it just needs exposure," says Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society.
"As soon as we saw the video, we knew this was a story that had to be told," explained reporter Bill Safos. "We received more email and more phone calls about this series than anything the station has ever done."
PHOTOGALLERY:
*To view more pictures from the event: CLICK HERE
*To see Bill accepting his award at the ceremony: CLICK HERE
*To watch Bill's original report: CLICK HERE (Caution: Video is disturbing)
