OPB Wins Peabody Award
Posted March 31, 2010
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Oregon Public Broadcasting’s series Hard Times is one of the winners of the 69th Annual Peabody Awards it was announced today. The awarding committee praised the series for its "smart, compassionate radio coverage of the impact of the financial crisis on ordinary folks." The University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication named the 36 winners, chosen by the Peabody board, today.
The oldest prize in broadcasting and international in scope, The Peabody Award is considered among the most prestigious in electronic media and recognizes excellence and meritorious work by radio and television stations, networks, Web casters, producing organizations and individuals.
“OPB is focused on telling the important stories of Oregon and its people. The Peabody is a great honor and is recognition of our commitment to explore the diversity of experiences in our communities," said Steve Bass, president and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting. "A tremendous amount of dedication, investigation and collaboration went into developing a series that put a real face on the economic crisis in Oregon."
Over the course of 2009, OPB followed a dozen Oregonians as they weathered economic challenges. The reports focused on how they were surviving and how their experiences -- some lost jobs, some lost health insurance, some lost their homes -- had changed them. Musicians sharing their versions of Stephen Foster's "Hard Times Come Again No More," were joined with radio features and online conversations to connect Oregonians in this time of challenge.
OPB found some of its participants through the Public Insight Network®, a partnership between OPB and American Public Media that helps us connect with more than 3,000 people who share their experiences and expertise with OPB.
The complete archive of the "Hard Times" series is available at news.opb.org/hardtimes.
OPB has won the Peabody twice in the past; in 1972 for "Conversations with Will Shakespeare and Certain of his Friends," and in 1942 for the war-time exposé, "Our Hidden Enemy, Venereal Disease." Last year, OPB received a DuPont Award for "The Silent Invasion: An Oregon Field Guide Special."
Diane Sawyer, the award-winning anchor of ABC's "World News," will host the awards ceremony on May 17 in New York City.
About OPB
OPB is the largest cultural and education institution in the region, delivering excellence in broadcasting to more than 1.5 million people each week through television, radio and the Internet. Recognized as a national leader in public broadcasting, OPB is a major contributor to the program schedule that serves the entire country. OPB is one of the most used and most supported public broadcasting services in the country with more than 120,000 contributors.