Honored: 2024 Edward R. Murrow Awards (National & Regional) — He Said, She Said, They Said
Proud to share that KFI AM 640’s He Said, She Said, They Said won both Regional & National Edward R. Murrow Awards in 2024, for Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion — work I contributed to not just as Associate Producer, but by identifying, coordinating, and ensuring LGBTQIA+ people and allies were fully represented in the conversations.
What the Award Means
The Edward R. Murrow Awards, presented by the RTDNA (Radio Television Digital News Association), are among the highest honors in broadcast, digital, and radio journalism. They acknowledge work that reflects the highest standards of ethics, storytelling, technical skill, and impact — especially stories that serve the public.
In 2024, He Said, She Said, They Said (KFI AM 640) earned the Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion award... both regionally (Region 2: CA/Hawaii/Nevada/Guam) and nationally.
My Role
As Associate Producer on this special, I helped shape the editorial direction, assisted in segment structuring, contributed to sourcing voices and perspectives, and supported the production workflow needed to deliver sensitive and inclusive content. Working with the team to ensure the story both met high journalistic standards and truly reflected the values of equity and inclusion was a deep responsibility — one I’m honored to have been part of.
While the title “Associate Producer” appears in the official credits, the work extended far beyond typical duties. For this special piece, I:
- reached into my network of LGBTQIA+ individuals and advocacy organizations,
- identified and connected with every single person interviewed who is LGBTQIA+ or an ally,
- coordinated schedules, interviews, and logistics with them, ensuring their voices were included authentically,
- worked to ensure the piece had breadth and balance among perspectives, guiding story elements to reflect real lived experiences.
This ground-level sourcing and coordination was essential to the special’s depth and authenticity.
Why This Project Matters
- Authentic representation: The special features guests ranging from educators and faith-based leaders through drag queens and advocates. These voices are not “side notes” but core to the narrative.
- Impact across scale: Winning first Region 2 (covering California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam) meant the piece stood out among strong regional submissions. Winning National placed it in the top tier across the whole U.S. media landscape.
- Team + trust: The success depended on many contributors — producers, editors, reporters, technical staff — but also on trust with community members who agreed to share their stories. I’m proud that this collaboration helped those voices be heard.
What I Learned
- It’s one thing to write “diversity & inclusion” — it’s another to actively build the connections, do the outreach, and bring people in safely and respectfully.
- Being intentional about representing LGBTQIA+ people means listening, being flexible, and doing the work of trust-building.
- Coordination of people (scheduling, prep, sensitivity to context) is as much a creative & editorial act as writing or editing — it shapes what the audience sees and hears.
Full official announcements: RTDNA 2024 National Winners & Region 2 Winners