Peabody Awards Sound Alarm on Threats to Democracy and Social Progress
The 85th annual Peabody Awards, held in Beverly Hills, saw a multitude of journalists, documentarians, and media personalities come together to celebrate excellence in storytelling and investigative journalism. The awards, administered by the University of Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism and Mass Communication, recognised a diverse range of programmes and individuals for their outstanding contributions to the world of media.
According to a report by Variety, the Peabody Award winners expressed concerns about the threats to democratic norms, criminal justice reform, and progress in diversity and inclusion goals. The ceremony, emceed by Roy Wood Jr., an alum of “The Daily Show” and co-host of CNN’s “Have I Got News for You,” saw numerous calls for support of public media and opposition to the Trump administration’s efforts to gut federal funding for PBS, NPR, and other public media and arts programmes.
One of the highlights of the evening was the Institutional Award presented to Lorne Michaels, creator and executive producer of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL). Michaels, 80, received the sixth Peabody Award for the long-running NBC sketch comedy series. As reported by Variety, Michaels spoke from the heart, referencing the “SNL50” specials that aired in February, saying, “All those people coming back from the first season on, all being in one room performing and applauding was one of the most moving experiences of my life.”
Michaels also made a veiled comment about the speculation surrounding the long-term plan for SNL, stating, “I’m not planning a 60th. Getting to do what I get to do is sort of everything that makes me happy. Also makes me angry.” He closed his acceptance speech with a shout-out to the Peabody Awards, saying, “When you come to the Peabodys, unlike other award shows, you know you’re in the right room. It’s really an honor to be here, so thank you.”
The ceremony also recognised the work of investigative journalists, including Dave Biscobing, chief investigative reporter for the ABC affiliate in Phoenix, who was honoured for his 32-part series “Policing Phoenix,” which uncovered systemic police brutality and racism in local policing. Variety reported that Biscobing’s work was praised for its impact, with Biscobing stating, “They can retract the report, they can erase their words but they’ll never erase what we did. Not as long as all of us are here. Not as long as there are people like us to tell stories that matter.”
Other notable winners included Matthew Hashiguchi, journalist behind the in-depth report “The Only Doctor” for Reel South public media station, which highlighted the growing crisis in rural healthcare. The report, as per Variety, earned a standing ovation, with Dr. Karen Kinsell, the subject of the report, in attendance. Hashiguchi emphasised the importance of access to healthcare, saying, “If Medicaid is cut, we’re going to need more people like her.”
The power of television to effect change was also highlighted with the award presented to “Mr. Bates Vs. the Post Office,” a British narrative drama that exposed the scandal surrounding the UK’s Post Office system. Variety reported that the show’s producer, Patrick Spence, accepted the award, saying, “Such is the power of television. Such is the power of a nation brought to rage by such a naked abuse of power. May that be an inspiration to all of us.”
The ceremony also saw a call to action from Al Jazeera’s Kavitha Chekuru, producer/director/writer of “The Night Won’t End,” a documentary that follows three families in Gaza as they endure regular Israeli military bombing campaigns. Chekuru urged journalists and documentarians to speak out against injustice, stating, “Our news industry has been far too silent. That silence is complicity — something the people of Gaza cannot afford for one more minute.”
NBC News veteran Andrea Mitchell received the Peabody career achievement honour, which was presented by her NBC News colleague Jacob Soboroff. Mitchell, as reported by Variety, urged the next generation of journalists to be “fearless” and emphasised the importance of strong journalism in a democratic society, saying, “It’s no exaggeration to say that strong journalism is critical to the very survival of our democracy.”
The Peabody Awards recognised a diverse range of programmes and individuals, including scripted series such as FX’s “Say Nothing” and “Shogun,” Peacock’s “We Are Lady Parts,” Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” and “Ripley,” and HBO’s “Fantasmas.” As reported by Variety, the awards ceremony served as a testament to the impact of storytelling and investigative journalism in shaping public discourse and promoting social change.
The 85th annual Peabody Awards saw a strong emphasis on the importance of public media, with Roy Wood Jr. praising the journalists and artists who produced this year’s honorees, saying, “You do one of the boldest things you can do in these times — that’s straight-up tell the truth.” The ceremony highlighted the significance of the Peabody Awards in recognising excellence in media and promoting a more informed and engaged public.
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