The 78th Annual Peabody Awards ceremony kicked off on Saturday, May 18 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, and the category was...representation matters!
Among the Peabody’s 30 honorees were FX’s hit show Pose and HBO’s critically acclaimed Random Acts of Flyness. The winners ranged from various mediums within entertainment such as television, documentaries, podcasts, and investigative reporting.
As Variety reported:
[Janet] Mock, executive producer of the FX drama “Pose,” spoke of the importance of television in shining a light on the humanity and dignity of marginalized communities.
Pose has been groundbreaking in its portrayal of transgender characters and struggles in the series from exec producer Ryan Murphy and creator Steven Canals. She said the privilege of working in media “compels each and every one of us to create more spaces where each of us are embraced and applauded for who we truly are.”
Speaking of FX, the cable network will be teaming with Peabody to present Peabody Presents: Stories of the Year, a documentary television special featuring winners discussing social issues and the significance of media representation, roundtable style. Pose co-creator Steven Canals and Random Acts of Flyness creator Terence Nance will appear on the special, with two-time Peabody winner Hasan Minhaj acting as moderator.
“Peabody Awards curate the best in storytelling to promote greater empathy and shift thinking about the world around us,” Peabody executive director Jeffrey P. Jones noted in a statement, via The Hollywood Reporter. “As such, we are uniquely positioned to demonstrate how diverse narratives reflect who we are as people. This television special, in partnership with FX, will showcase award-winning content at a critical time in public discourse, and further social conversation in meaningful ways. ”
Additionally, per Peabody’s official website, Rita Moreno became the first Latinx performer to reach PEGOT status, a feat even rarer than EGOT, having now been honored with at least one Peabody, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
Peabody Presents: Stories of the Year is set to debut this summer on FX. For more information regarding the “Best Stories of 2018" honorees (including a complete list of winners) from the 78th Annual Peabody Awards, head to peabodyawards.com.