Lauren Brown, host and producer of St. Louis Public Radio’s We Live Here podcast, received a 2021 RTDNA National Murrow Award for her role as host and a producer of the audio documentary, “Black at Mizzou: Confronting Race on Campus.” The award was given for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Network Radio category.
The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has honored outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Murrow set as a standard for the profession of electronic journalism.
The documentary “Black at Mizzou” is framed within Brown’s personal recounting of her experience at Mizzou, which she described in part as “culture shock.” Most of the students at her high school were Black. Most of the students at the University of Missouri-Columbia were white. However, after the 2015 student-led protests in response to a series of racist incidents, she saw a thriving Black community, known as “Black Mizzou,” that Black students have built over decades to make Mizzou a more inclusive and welcoming place.
“I have always valued storytelling and its ability to change the hearts and minds of others. I think that Black at Mizzou: Confronting Race on Campus did just that. It gave people an inside look at the pain but also the beauty of coming together to make a difference. To receive a National Murrow Award so early in my career is a true blessing. I owe all of the success of this documentary to my ‘Black Mizzou’ family and ‘Concerned Student 1950’ organizers who had the courage to stand up,” Brown said.
Jade Harrell, Director of On-Demand Content & Community Partnerships shared her thoughts about Brown’s achievement. “Nationally recognized Lauren Brown deserves all those accolades and more. She is a diligent, hard worker. She always upholds the positive even while she keeps it real. She is as genuine as the words on her pages. I wish her all the very best success in every endeavor. And I’m certain she will accomplish it all.”
Listen to the We Live Here bonus episode “Making of Black at Mizzou” for more on Brown’s experience producing and hosting the documentary.
