Storytelling on public radio was forever changed since the first Peabody was awarded seventy five years ago. Diversity and eccentricity are two of the mandates for becoming eligible. Telling stories that capture the essence of contemporary American culture is the umbrella under which the other criteria fall. A total of six have been awarded to date. This prestigious recognition has been extended to the art of podcasting, which is still a new media technology. There are quite a few conditions for receiving a Peabody. Here are five things you didn’t know about the Peabody Awards.
1. A Peabody Given was for a piece put together in less than a week
“A Needed Response,” by Sam Stendal and Aaron Blanton is a YouTube video of 26 seconds that went viral. The topic is on sexual assault and it opened a discussion about rape culture. Stendal found that there are volumes of research information available on the internet. She and her partner were able to put together the video in fewer than seven days. Who would have imagined that the quality of the work would win the prestigious award?
2. Peabody is an award that is fairly unknown
The director of the Peabody Awards, Jeffrey P. Jones refers to the Peabodys as “the best awards you’ve never heard of.” Of course, this does not include journalists or storytellers, just the general population. The Peabodys are an obscurity to those who are not in the business of telling stories. The truth of the matter is that the Peabodys are the equivalent of a Pulitzer prize for documentarians and journalists.
3. Electronic media is scanned by a secret group prior to winner selection
Judging is kept as impartial as possible. The board of jurors is independent and there are safeguards built in to ensure that nobody who receives the award was given unfair advantage or preferential treatment. The decisions are made by a collection of sixteen judges who are selected from the most successful media figures in the country. All decisions for awards must be unanimous. This means that everyone who is podcasting or promoting their stories which meet the strict criteria are included in the search. If your video goes viral, you may be under consideration.
4. The process is so secret that nominees don’t know they’re under consideration
The judges really know how to keep a secret. Craig Ferguson of late night television shared that the announcement of his win came as a total shock to him. He was awarded the Peabody for “excellence in broadcasting.”
5. Thirty Peabody awards were given for 2015 in the following year
The fact that thirty awards were handed out gives more people a chance to be recognized for their valuable contributions. The “Peabody 30” as they are referred to, were chosen from a selection of approximately thirteen hundred entries. In some instances, awards are given to shows, but more generally, they go to the individual responsible.
The Peabody awards are something that everyone in the entertainment industry should know about. They spotlight the journalists and entertainers who help to bring useful and insightful information to the public. Citizens who offer enlightenment about current issues indicate a sign that the nation has elements of good health. It is a good thing that there are those who are willing to take action to inform and incite for changes that will improve the lives of real people who struggle to exist within the nation.
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