We are thrilled to announce that The Moth Radio Hour is the winner of a 2010 Peabody Award, the highest honor in broadcasting. “Storytelling, likely the oldest art, is revered and reinvigorated by this hour for everyday raconteurs,” wrote the Peabody judges.
On behalf of The Moth staff and board of directors, I want to extend our thanks to all of you who make our work possible. A very special thanks to our incredibly talented radio partners: Jay Allison and Viki Merrick at Atlantic Public Media and Public Radio Exchange (PRX), and to our hosts and storytellers, whose work is at the heart of the radio show.
Since its 2009 debut, The Moth Radio Hour has been an extraordinary success, reaching millions of listeners across the United States. This spring the fourth season of The Moth Radio Hour debuts on April 30, and features stories by the Reverend Al Sharpton, Olympic Athlete Aimee Mullins, former Blues Clues star Steve Burns and students from the recent MothSHOP Community workshop in New Orleans.
“Receiving a Peabody Award in an incredible honor. The Moth is not just a show, it’s a community, and this award is shared by many who have given their blood, sweat and tears to the organization over the years,” said Catherine Burns, The Moth’s Artistic Director. “We’re particularly grateful to our storytellers whose stories are the heart and soul of the radio hour.”
“I love the feeling of The Moth. You can feel the risk each storyteller takes, getting up before us to recount something spellbinding and real. It makes you recognize how rare it is to hear truly honest, vulnerable voices on the airwaves,” says Jay Allison, a veteran radio producer now with six Peabodys to his credit.
“Public radio at its best connects compelling stories to communities to make a difference. We are incredibly proud that Peabody recognizes The Moth Radio Hour‘s excellence, and can’t wait to bring more of it to millions of listeners,” says Jake Shapiro, CEO of PRX.
Earning a Peabody award attests to The Moth’s status as a significant player in public radio across the country, heralding expectations for its continued growth.
The Moth Radio Hour is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Moth, Atlantic Public Media, and PRX congratulate all the winners of this illustrious prize.