Downloads: Press Release
First-person Remembrances of the Human Toll of the Sept. 11, 2001 Attacks Told Through a Series of Radio Broadcasts and Animated Television Shorts
New York, NY – Dec. 19, 2012 – StoryCorps, NPR and POV (Point of View) have been honored with an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for the series StoryCorps 9/11, it was announced today by Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. StoryCorps’ tireless work recording, preserving and sharing the stories of those who were affected by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 occurred across multiple platforms: radio, television and print. POV aired three animated StoryCorps 9/11 shorts on PBS in September 2011: “John and Joe,” “Always a Family” and “She Was the One.”
This is POV’s 11th duPont-Columbia Award. POV, produced by American Documentary Inc., and now in its 25th season on PBS, is the longest-running showcase on American television to feature the work of today’s best independent documentary filmmakers.
The Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards honor excellence in broadcast and digital journalism. The 14 winning programs appeared on air, online or in theaters between June 30, 2011 and July 1, 2012. Christiane Amanpour and Byron Pitts will host the awards ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, at Columbia University’s Low Memorial Library.
Since 2005, StoryCorps, the national oral-history project, has worked with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to record more than 1,000 interviews with people who were affected by the events of that day: those who lost a loved one, those who survived and those who helped with rescue and recovery. An inspired series of animated shorts aired on POV and brought these moving personal stories to visual life for StoryCorps 9/11:
- “John and Joe”: John Vigiano Sr. is a retired New York City firefighter whose two sons followed him into service–John Jr. was a firefighter and Joe was a police detective. On Sept. 11, 2001, both Vigiano brothers responded to the call from the World Trade Center, and both were killed while saving others. Here, John Sr. remembers his sons and reflects on coping with his tremendous loss.
- “Always a Family”: On the morning of Sept. 11, Michael Trinidad called his ex-wife, Monique Ferrer, from the 103rd floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower to say goodbye. In the wake of his death, Monique tells the story of Michael’s lasting legacy: the family they built together.
- “She Was the One”: When Richie Pecorella met Karen Juday, she captured his heart and changed his life. They were engaged and living together in Brooklyn when Karen was killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, where she worked as an administrative assistant. Here, Richie remembers Karen, his love and inspiration.
Credits: NPR, POV, StoryCorps, National September 11 Memorial & Museum, YouTube, Penguin Press, producing organizations. StoryCorps: Dave Isay, Donna Galeno, executive producers; Michael Garofalo, senior producer; Eve Claxton, Isaac Kestenbaum, Katie Simon, Vanara Taing, producers; Lizzie Jacobs, Mike Rauch, producer/editor/director; Tim Rauch, director. NPR: Ellen McDonnell, Madhulika Sikka, executive producers; Audie Cornish, reporter; Barry Gordemer, Eric Nuzum, Kerry Thompson, Jim Wildman, producers. POV: Simon Kilmurry, executive producer; Cynthia López, co-executive producer; Chris White, vice president of programming and production; Yance Ford, series producer; Andrew Catauro, coordinating producer.
Hailed by critics as among the most important and relevant programming on television, POV films have won numerous awards, including 32 Emmy Awards®, 15 George Foster Peabody Awards, three Academy Awards®, two Independent Documentary Association Best Continuing Series Awards, the Prix Italia and the Webby.
POV (www.pbs.org/pov)
Produced by American Documentary, Inc. and now in its 25th season on PBS, the award-winning POV series is the longest-running showcase on American television to feature the work of today’s best independent documentary filmmakers. Airing June through October with primetime specials during the year, POV has brought more than 365 acclaimed documentaries to millions nationwide and has a Webby Award-winning online series, POV’s Borders. Since 1988, POV has pioneered the art of presentation and outreach using independent nonfiction media to build new communities in conversation about today’s most pressing social issues.
Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the desJardins/Blachman Fund and public television viewers. Funding for POV’s Diverse Voices Project is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Special support provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Boston and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG.
American Documentary, Inc. (www.amdoc.org)
American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia company dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media outlets. AmDoc is a catalyst for public culture, developing collaborative strategic engagement activities around socially relevant content on television, online and in community settings. These activities are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation.
Contacts:
POV Communications: 212-989-7425. Emergency contact: 646-729-4748
Amanda Nguyen, anguyen@pov.org; Cynthia López, clopez@pov.org
POV online pressroom: www.pbs.org/pov/pressroom
