Erica Proffer

Erica Proffer of KRGV-TV won a Showcase Silver Award for Enterprise and Innovation in Journalism for her story, “Trafficked: Web of Despair.” The story focuses on women and children as victims of two human trafficking trades between Latin America and the United States: sex and labor. Erica’s coverage worked to equip viewers with knowledge of “red flags” that could be passed along to authorities to help identify victims of these trades. The broadcast aired not only in English, but also in Spanish, as well as on local English-Spanish radio to educate the public and raise awareness on the issue. As a result of the year-long investigation and corresponding stories, the Texas Department of Public Safety has created a human trafficking unit along with a coalition of local, state, and federal authorities in the Rio Grande Valley. In this interview, the Foundation’s Mark Morrison interviews Erica on her work to bring this issue out of the shadows and into the public spotlight.