vanguard blog | March 31, 2010 | 16 comments

Champagne In Corn Cups: Thank You From Vanguard

Vanguard celebrates winning a Peabody Award

Correspondent Mariana Van Zeller and producers Darren Foster and Cerissa Tanner were honored today with a Peabody Award—electronic journalism's most distinguished prize—for their work on the Vanguard documentary "The OxyContin Express."

This morning we learned that "The OxyContin Express" will be the recipient of a Peabody Award. It’s one of the highest acheivements in our field and we’re deeply honored for being recognized and in such esteemed company.

But we don’t want to let this moment pass without acknowledging the tremendous debt we owe to the people who helped us make the film. Journalism is a strange business. We sometimes ask people to share deeply personal parts of their lives in exchange for a very idealistic notion: that somehow their personal story will help to serve a greater good.

Maureen and her son Tod took that brave leap of faith. And their cooperation and incredible honesty provided the emotional heart of this piece.

In addition, there are many people who shared their valuable time and expertise to help us understand prescription drug abuse and what was going on in Florida and Kentucky. Several of them appeared in the documentary, many did not, but their contribution was no less valuable.

In Florida, we’d like to thank Sgt. Lisa McElhaney, Sgt. Richard Pisanti and the Broward County Sheriff’s Department; Representative Kelly Skidmore; Dr. Sanford Silverman and the Task Force for Prescription Drug Abuse; Joel Kaufman and the United Way of Broward County; Pastor John Ramseur and Calvary House.

In Kentucky, Greenup County Sheriff Keith Cooper was all southern charm and hospitallity. He opened the doors to everything, including the prison where Dawna, Jessica, Holly, Tiffany, Tim and Terry graciously shared their stories.

Thanks also to Lt. Govenor Dan Mangiardo, Dr. John Morgan and Valerie Campbell at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead. And next door in West By God Virginia, Dr. Carl Rolly Sullivan at the home of the Mountaineers provided incredible insight into addiction and recovery.

This story would have never make it off the ground without the support and care of the people who are living it everyday. We owe this incredible honor to them. And hope that in some way the piece made a difference.

Thank you!

—Mariana, Darren and Cerissa

Watch "The OxyContin Express" here (or here if you're in the UK)

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