Earlier this month, NAMIC announced the winners of the 30th annual NAMIC Vision Awards, honoring original programming that best reflects the increasingly diverse, multi-ethnic, and multicultural viewing audience.
For 44 years, NAMIC has been the premier organization that educates, advocates, and empowers for multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry.
This year, OWN, Disney+, CNN, ESPN, Nat Geo WILD, and Peacock were among the Vision Award winners, for programming ranging from documentary series to an animated children’s show.
OWN
The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), founded by Oprah Winfrey in 2011, has sought to empower women and Black creators and audiences over the last 13 years. This year, two OWN programs were recognized by NAMIC.
- “OWN Spotlight: Oprah, Courtney B. Vance & Dr. Robin” won in the Reality – Social Issues category.
- The special conversation focuses on the mental health crisis facing Black men, with Vance discussing his father and godson’s death by suicide and expert Dr. Robin providing expertise on the subject.
- “OWN Spotlight: Oprah & Kerry Washington” won in the Variety/Talk Show category.
- The TV star talks about her recent memoir and opens up about her childhood trauma, struggles with her own body image and mental health, and a family secret that changed her life.
Disney+
- “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder: Juneteenth” won in the Animation category.
- The show, originally running on Disney Channel from 2001-2005, follows Penny Proud, a 14-year-old Black teenager navigating family, school, and adolescence in a multi-ethnic community. In 2022, Disney+ rebooted the popular show, this time with 14-year-old Penny navigating all the same issues but set in 2022 with a community and challenges unique to modern day.
- “American Born Chinese: What Guy Are You” won in the Children’s category.
- The series, which premiered in 2023, follows Jin Wang, a tenth grader struggling to fit in with his peers. When Jin, the son of Chinese immigrants, helps welcome a new exchange student, Wei-Chen, to his high school, Jin sees himself and his family through a different perspective.
CNN
- “See it Loud: The History of Black Television” won in the Documentary category.
- Executive produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, the CNN series is a five-part docuseries celebrating the achievements of Black actors and creators, examining the historical impact Black culture has on all culture. The series looks back on decades of Black stories and personalities on screen, from Star Trek to Atlanta to Family Matters.
- “Homebirth Journey: Saving Black Moms” won in the News/Informational category.
- From “The Whole Story With Anderson Cooper”, CNN anchor Abby Phillip explores the rise in home births among Black women due to distrust in hospital care.
ESPN
- “SC Featured: The Lone Wolves” won in the Sports category.
- The SportsCenter special recounts the story of the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) basketball team to ever make the NCAA Final Four. In 1982, the Cheyney State Lady Wolves made history when they advanced to the Final Four, making them the only team, male or female, to do so from an HBCU. The team later would be nominated for the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Nat Geo WILD
- “CritterFixers: Country Vets: Ready, Vet, Go!” won in the Reality category.
- At Critter Fixers Veterinary Hospital in rural Georgia, longtime friends Dr. Hodges and Dr. Ferguson own and operate a busy veterinary clinic that treats animals of all shapes and sizes. The Doctors, both Black men, are noted members of the community, at times teaching fish surgery at Tuskegee University.
Peacock
- “Shooting Stars” won in the Original Movie or Special category.
- The movie tells the story of how basketball superstar LeBron James and his childhood friends became the #1 high school team in the country, which launched James’s career as a four-time NBA Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.