Brandon Rittiman

About

Whether providing lifesaving information during disasters or uncovering facts the powerful wish to conceal, Brandon makes important events and issues clear to the audience. He's created prize-winning reporting of breaking news, investigations, science, politics, government, and disinformation. Brandon's most extensive reporting began as breaking news on November 8, 2018 when he made it into the town of Paradise, California during the Camp Fire. Drawing on his own experience of escape, Brandon launched the FIRE - POWER - MONEY reporting project. The reporting played an "integral role" in the successful conviction of PG&E, the nation's largest power monopoly. PG&E Corporation pleaded guilty to felony reckless arson and 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths it caused in the Camp Fire. Despite this, the state government came to PG&E's rescue. Brandon's investigations revealed the governor's office hired PG&E's longtime law firm to craft legislation to protect the company from the financial consequences of its crimes. After two years of court battles, he also obtained and published the 5,300-page grand jury investigation of the Camp Fire crimes. Sadly, the coverage continues. PG&E power lines went on to spark new large fires year after year, including the 2020 Zogg Fire. Shasta County prosecutors charged PG&E with felony manslaughter counts for the four deaths in that fire. Brandon's reporting in FIRE - POWER - MONEY has been honored with the duPont-Columbia Award, the National Edward R. Murrow Award, a Peabody Award nomination, and numerous regional Emmy and Murrow Awards. Prior to coming to KXTV in Sacramento, Brandon spent seven years on the politics beat for leading Colorado news station KUSA (9NEWS.) He broadcast the first report from the Aurora Theater Shooting in the predawn hours of July 20, 2012, anchoring the first 20 minutes of coverage solo from the field. His work was recognized with an Emmy award and he later covered the mass murderer's trial. Brandon was twice honored with the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism for his work in Colorado. Brandon also factchecked hundreds of political ads in his time at KUSA, winning the inaugural Cronkite/Jackson Prize for Factchecking after the 2012 election-- and again in the 2014, 2016, and 2018 cycles. Brandon's prior experience includes serving as the News Director for KUNR, the Reno NPR affiliate. He also reported for Reno-based KTVN and KGNS in Laredo, Texas, where he covered cartel wars on both sides of the US-Mexico border.