KNAU eNews: Pulitzer Prize Awarded to This American Life, Herd Immunity and more

The most coveted award in journalism, the Pulitzer Prize, has been awarded to public radio’s long-running series This American Life. The award, announced earlier this week, was for excellence in the new category of Audio Journalism, the first category created by the Pulitzer Board in 20 years.

The Prize was given to staff of This American Life and their collaborators Molly O’Toole of the Los Angeles Times and Emily Green, a freelancer for Vice News.

The Pulitzer Board said the entry was a “revelatory, intimate journalism that illuminates the personal impact of the Trump Administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy.

The judges called it “a distinguished example of audio journalism that serves the public interest.”

The program that won the award was “The Out Crowd.” You can hear it here.

According to series creator Ira Glass “I guess they decided audio journalism is finally here to stay.”

This American Life is heard three times each weekend on Arizona Public Radio: Saturday at noon on KNAU News/Talk, again Saturday afternoon at four on Classical KNAU and finally Sunday evening at six on KNAU News/Talk. Online at KNAU.org.

Public health experts say the end of the coronavirus pandemic is tied to an idea called “herd immunity.” That’s when a large number of people are able to resist the disease, because they’ve already recovered from it or because they’ve had a vaccine. Learn more at KNAU.org.

It’s been exactly one month since the music world lost legendary singer-songwriter John Prine to COVID-19 at the age of 73. He wrote hundreds of songs over his lengthy career, often from a humorous perspective. Learn more at KNAU.org.

As states begin measures to reopen, business owners are weighing their options for how to reopen safely, or even at all. Staci Martin opened a yoga studio in Flagstaff 2 years ago. She’s not eligible for any relief funding, as is the case for many small fitness businesses who hire independent contractors to teach classes. So, she’s been teaching Zoom yoga classes and writing poetry in her empty studio. Learn more at KNAU.org.

The Colorado Plateau is home to the largest stand of ponderosa pine trees in the world. They dominate upland watersheds and are a crucial provider of ecosystem services, including contributing to clean water supplies, providing wildlife habitat and wood products, as well as storing a lot of carbon. Learn more at KNAU.org.

The live music industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. With virtually all shows and tours cancelled revenue has come to a halt for thousands of promoters across the country. One of northern Arizona’s biggest music venues, the Orpheum Theater, was having a banner year with sold out shows and packed calendar. But the economic shutdown forced managers to layoff dozens of full and part-time employees. Learn more at KNAU.org.