“Quality can conquer and this is the big proof today,” “ABC World News” anchor Diane Sawyer said as she began her hosting duties at the 2010 Peabody Awards in Manhattan. Journalists, documentary-filmmakers, and entertainers gathered for the 69th iteration of the event, which seeks to recognize “distinguished achievement and meritorious public service” in the media.
CBS’ “60 Minutes” took home two awards for two separate segments, both of which were reported by Steve Kroft: “Sabotaging the System” and “The Co$t of Dying.” In his two acceptance speeches, Kroft took a somber tone and explained that the reports concerned two major problems of which the public should remain mindful.
ABC News was recognized for a story reported by Sawyer, “Hidden America: Children of the Mountains,” about families in Central Appalachia. Producer Claire Wienraub accepted the award and said, “[The story] was two years in the making and is a real testament to ABC’s commitment to long-form journalism.”
“BBC World News America” also picked up two awards. One for Lyse Doucet’s reporting on maternal mortality in Afghanistan and another overall for the program’s international coverage.
Among the non-news winners today were the primetime shows “Glee” and “Modern Family,” the casts for both of which were also in attendance at the Waldorf Astoria.
We caught up with Sawyer before the event and she told us it was a “great honor” to both host and receive an award. We also asked her if the recent restructuring at ABC News would have an effect on in-depth stories like the one ABC was recognized for today: