Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1520149
sagaftra.org | Spring 2024 | SAG-AFTRA 33 NHPR Reporter Lauren Chooljian receives First Amendment Award S AG-AFTRA New England Local member and New Hampshire Public Radio senior reporter/producer and host of the podcast The 13th Step, Lauren Chooljian, was honored as a 2024 recipient of the Radio Television Digital News Association Foundation's First Amendment Award. Chooljian was one of 13 individuals and organizations recognized on March 9 at the Watergate Hotel black-tie event in Washington, D.C. The RTDNA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Radio Television Digital News Association, bestows First Amendment awards to those across the country whose efforts brilliantly and bravely promote, protect and defend the First Amendment. RTDNA selected Chooljian for her persistent reporting in the podcast The 13th Step, which chronicles allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse by the owner of one of New England's largest providers of addiction treatment. Chooljian, her parents and NHPR News Director Dan Barrick were subjected to several acts of vandalism, including broken windows and threatening graffiti, and a libel lawsuit in retaliation for Chooljian's reporting. In her acceptance speech, Chooljian expressed gratitude in receiving the honor and mentioned the importance of mental health for journalists. "We reporters … we're always going to run towards the conflict. So, we have to take care of ourselves to be able to tell other people's stories well," said Chooljian. The 13th Step podcast comes from New Hampshire Public Radio's Document team, an award-winning longform investigative podcast series that aims to tell nuanced narrative-driven stories about New Hampshire, its communities and beyond. The 13th Step has received the pinnacle of national recognition since its release in June 2023, including a 2023 national Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting and a 2024 duPont-Columbia Award. The New Yorker, Vogue and New York magazine called The 13th Step one of the best podcasts of 2023. On March 26, Chooljian won Best Reporting for The 13th Step at the Podcast Academy's 2024 Awards for Excellence in Audio. Listen to the full podcast series at 13thsteppodcast.org. NHPR Senior Reporter/ Producer and host of the podcast The 13th Step, Lauren Chooljian, accepts a RTDNA Foundation First Amendment Award on March 9. BP MILLER/CHORUS PHOTOGRAPHY KPBS Reopens Bargaining On Feb 28, SAG-AFTRA members at KPBS in San Diego reopened bargaining for their fourth collective bargaining agreement. Shop leaders are seeking improvements in wages, benefits and protections around unit work. Their current contract extends through July, and they hope to have a new contract in place before then. Union to Attend National Broadcast Conferences SAG-AFTRA will be attending these upcoming conferences: Public Media Journalism, June 5–7, Washington, D.C. National Association of Hispanic Journalists, July 9–13, Hollywood National Association of Black Journalists, July 31–Aug 4, Chicago Asian American Journalists Association, Aug. 7–11, Austin NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, Sept. 5–8, Hollywood Email news&broadcast@sagaftra.org to let us know if we'll see you there!