USA TODAY and The Tennessean have been recognized with a Peabody Award in the Public Service category. For 84 years, The Peabody Awards honor excellence in storytelling across television, radio and online media. The USA TODAY Network was awarded for a “States of America” episode, “The Post Roe Baby Boom: Inside Mississippi’s Maternal Health Crisis.”
“States of America,” USA TODAY’s flagship news and politics series, amplifies local journalism and provides viewers with an in-depth look at pressing issues facing our communities across the country with exclusive interviews and unique coverage.
The award-winning episode explores the restrictive abortion bans in Mississippi and the lack of maternal healthcare in rural areas in the state. The USA TODAY Network team traveled to the Mississippi Delta to understand how an increase in pregnancies is impacting women in a state that is already one of the most high-risk places in the country for pregnant women and babies.
“Congratulations to USA TODAY, The Tennessean and all the talented journalists and creators who collaborated on “States of America” to earn this prestigious Peabody Award,” said Kristin Roberts, Gannett Chief Content Officer. “This distinction recognizes the importance of local journalism and the work of the USA TODAY Network to uncover truth and tell the untold stories.”
This episode was a collaboration between the USA TODAY Video Series and Special Projects team with The Tennessean. The program was supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.
“States of America” episodes are available on YouTube and USA TODAY Streaming Channels, available on multiple platforms online, smartphones or smart TVs.
