News Beat, which expertly blends hard-hitting journalism with hip-hop music, has snagged a top honor in the 2018 New York Press Club Journalism Awards.
The podcast, which is reported on by esteemed journalists and produced, engineered and hosted by Manny Faces, mixes interviews with academics, thought leaders, authors and activists regarding major issues involving social justice and civil liberties. Guest voices include Dr. Cornel West, Rosa Clemente, Chris Hedges and other prominent figures in the issues being examined.
(Manny Faces is the directing founder of The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy.)
A highly-produced soundtrack lays underneath each episode, broken up by the wordplay of independent hip-hop artists invited to craft original lyrics that punctuate the topic.
The result is a unique and compelling mix of journalism and music.
As per the News Beat statement:
‘Why We Riot,’ News Beat’s season one finale, features passionate insights from renowned intellectual and Harvard University professor Dr. Cornel West; activist and former Green Party vice presidential candidate Rosa Clemente; University of Baltimore professor Elizabeth Nix; and lifelong activist and chairman of the Newark-based People’s Organization for Progress Lawrence “Larry” Hamm. Punctuating all this is an original musical score by hip hop artist Silent Knight and genre-bending fusion outfit The Band Called FUSE, which he fronts.
Listen to the winning episode here.
Subscribe to News Beat here, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.