The prestigious Peabody Awards have announced their 85th annual winners, honoring outstanding achievements in the fields of entertainment, documentary, news, podcast/radio, arts, children’s and youth programming, immersive and interactive media, and public service. Among the winners are acclaimed projects such as “Baby Reindeer,” “Ripley,” and “Shogun,” adding to their already impressive list of accolades.
A total of 34 winners were selected by the Peabody Awards jury from a pool of 68 nominees, which were originally chosen from over 1,000 entries across all categories. The final winners were unanimously voted on by a panel of 27 jurors, recognizing excellence in storytelling and impactful content.
Leading the pack in terms of wins is streaming giant Netflix, with six Peabody Awards to their name. Following closely behind are HBO/Max with four wins, PBS with three wins, and FX/Hulu and Al Jazeera each securing two wins.
According to Jeffrey Jones, the executive director of Peabody, this year’s winners cover a wide range of important and timely issues, including the war in Gaza, rural healthcare, disabilities, authoritarianism, and sexual violence. These works have been lauded for their ability to enlighten audiences on global issues and bring communities together through thoughtful entertainment.
The winners will be honored at a ceremony hosted by Roy Wood Jr. at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on June 1, with Bob Bain Prods. producing the event and Variety serving as the media partner. Notable honorees at this year’s ceremony include NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell, who will receive the Peabody Career Achievement Award, and the iconic late-night comedy show “Saturday Night Live,” which will be recognized with the Peabody Institutional Award.
In the documentary category, standout winners include “Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story,” “Black Box Diaries,” “Bread & Roses,” “Daughters,” “Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa,” “Night is Not Eternal,” and many more. In the entertainment category, projects like “Fantasmas,” “Mr. Bates vs The Post Office,” “Say Nothing,” and “We Are Lady Parts” were celebrated for their creativity and impact.
Interactive and immersive media winners include “1000xRESIST,” “Inside the Deadly Maui Inferno, Hour by Hour,” “One Day in Gaza | Close Up,” and “What Does Racial Bias in Medicine Look Like?,” showcasing innovative storytelling techniques and engaging user experiences.
In the news category, impactful projects like “Confronting Hate,” “Policing Phoenix,” “Surviving Nova,” and “The Night Won’t End” were recognized for their in-depth reporting and commitment to uncovering important stories.
Public service winners include “The Only Doctor,” a powerful documentary from Reel South on PBS, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of healthcare professionals. In the radio/podcast category, standout winners include “Blindspot: The Plague in the Shadows,” “In the Dark: The Killings in Haditha,” “Pulse: The Untold Story,” and “Yousef, Youmna, Banias, and Majd: Four Lives in Gaza,” showcasing the power of audio storytelling.
The Peabody Awards, based at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, continue to celebrate excellence in media and storytelling, recognizing the impact of diverse voices and important narratives.
