WDET Wins National Edward R. Murrow Award for COVID Diaries
The Radio Television Digital News Association recognized WDET and Documenting Detroit for “Excellence in Innovation.”
Since 1971, the Radio Television Digital News Association has been recognizing achievements in journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards.
This year, the RTNDA has awarded WDET and Documenting Detroit with its national award for Excellence in Innovation for the COVID Diaries project.
Created in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, COVID Diaries was a ten-week multimedia introspective that supported the local arts community and tapped into our shared experience of the pandemic.
The project showcased the work of five photographers and one creative writer as they navigated the ever-changing landscape of the pandemic, on-going protests for social justice and more. Through photography, audio diaries and written commentary, the artists illustrated the moments that bonded us as we cared for ourselves and each other.
View the full project »
Meet the Artists:
Erik Paul Howard is a photographer and co-founder of Inside Southwest Detroit, Young Nation, and The Alley Project in Southwest Detroit. Through cultural, place-based, and media projects, he has been building with neighbors and youth for over 20 years. Erik’s photography documents human interest and themes of community formed around shared passions and intersecting needs.
Courtney Wise Randolph, host of “COVID Diaries,” is a native Detroiter with a heart for people and their stories. She writes for nonprofits and individuals through her small business Keen Composition. These days, she is elated to expand her storytelling skill set through podcasting and radio.
Amy Sacka is a documentary photographer who is passionate about celebrating the beauty of people and culture in Detroit and the Midwest. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, HuffPost, TOPIC, BuzzFeed, The Guardian, Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News and PBS World News Hour. She is a 2019 Knight Arts Challenge winner.
Rachel Elise Thomas is a Detroit-based documentary photographer and collage artist who obtained her BFA in Photography at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. Her work centers around identity, womanism and prevalent issues that have affected black Americans for several years. She is known for facilitating and inspiring others within the art and photography community in Detroit.
Darryl DeAngelo Terrell is a BLK queer artist, digital curator and writer. They received a Master of Fine Art in Photography from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Their work explores the displacement of black and brown people, femme identity and strength, the black family structure, sexuality, gender, safe spaces, and personal stories, all while keeping in mind the accessibility of art.
Rosa María Zamarrón was born in Midwest City, Okla., but raised primarily in Detroit. She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a B.A in Photography, focusing primarily on Documentary/Photo Journalism. Zamarrón has exhibited in various cities such as Grand Rapids, Detroit, Austin, New York City and Rome, Italy.
Related:
WDET Wins 10 Awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters
WDET Wins 15 Awards from the Michigan Associated Press Media Editors
WDET Receives 21 Excellence in Journalism Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
