Julie K. Brown Reflects on Epstein Investigation at 2026 Nellie Bly Award Event
By Dinella Femia | November 10, 2026
“The victims.”
That was investigative journalist Julie K. Brown’s answer when asked what kept her pursuing the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, even as the story involved powerful people and the possibility of resistance from those connected to him.
The Museum of Political Corruption honored Julie K. Brown with the 10th Annual Nellie Bly Award for Investigative Reporting on Oct. 21 at the Times Union Hearst Media Center in Albany. The event brought together university students and Capital Region community members to hear about Brown’s reporting, the challenges of investigative journalism, and the importance of holding powerful people accountable.
A handful of University at Albany students attended the event, with some having the opportunity to speak directly with Brown. Her discussion offered students an opportunity to hear from a journalist whose reporting brought national attention to allegations of abuse and the institutional failures surrounding Epstein.
The Nellie Bly Award for Investigative Reporting was established in 2017 by Albany’s Museum of Political Corruption to recognize journalists whose work exposes corruption, challenges those in positions of power and keeps the public informed. The award is named after pioneering investigative journalist Nellie Bly, who traveled to Albany undercover in 1888, posing as a lobbyist to investigate whether state legislators could be bribed. Her reporting exposed corruption within the New York State Legislature.
Julie K. Brown, an investigative reporter for the Miami Herald, became widely recognized for her reporting on Epstein, exposing allegations that he had sexually abused and trafficked underage girls. Her investigation also raised questions about how Epstein, despite the allegations against him and his extensive connections, had managed to avoid significant consequences for so long.
When discussing what motivated her to continue reporting after the story first broke, Brown pointed to the people at the center of the investigation.
“I felt that they had been wronged,” Brown said. “And I felt that that was something that could be corrected.”
For Brown, the investigation did not end once the initial reporting gained national attention. She continued receiving tips about Epstein’s activities, including information that he was still flying his plane into an airport and allegedly bringing young women with him.
The additional information suggested unanswered questions remained about Epstein and his activities. Rather than treating the initial investigation as the end of the story, Brown continued following leads and examining whether the alleged behavior was ongoing.
Her focus remained on accountability. Brown described wanting Epstein “off the radar” and, ultimately, in jail.
“That’s basically what drove me,” Brown said. “I wanted him in jail.”
Brown’s reporting demonstrated the importance of following a story beyond its initial public attention, particularly when the people involved have significant wealth and powerful connections. Her explanation also placed the victims, rather than the case's notoriety, at the center of her work.
The discussion at the Times Union Hearst Media Center offered a closer look at the persistence required in investigative journalism. While major investigations often receive widespread attention when they are first published, Brown's experience illustrated the work that continues behind the scenes, including following new information and pursuing accountability.
For University at Albany students studying journalism, the event also provided an opportunity to engage with the profession beyond the classroom. Hearing directly from Brown offered insight into the decisions and responsibilities that come with ethical reporting on powerful individuals and sensitive subjects.
The Nellie Bly Award recognizes investigative reporting that serves the public interest. Brown's coverage of Epstein's abuse and the failures that allowed it to continue reflects the importance of journalism in bringing overlooked stories to public attention.
Throughout the discussion, Brown returned to the reason she continued pursuing the investigation in the first place. Despite the attention surrounding Epstein and the powerful figures connected to him, her motivation remained with the people whose experiences brought the story to light.
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