The Society of Professional Journalists honored the local documentary “Running Towards the Fire: A War Correspondent’s Story” with the Sigma Delta Chi Television Documentary, Small Market Station Award during a recent online ceremony.
Journalist Barney McCoy, Gilbert and Martha Hitchcock Professor of Journalism in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln produced and directed the documentary about Omaha-born journalist and Reuters News war correspondent Robert Reuben.
As one of several programs the network will broadcast to recognize Veterans Day, “Running Towards the Fire: A War Correspondent’s Story” will air at 4 p.m. CT on Sunday, Nov. 9 on Nebraska Public Media. It’s also available to stream free anytime on the PBS app.
McCoy collaborated with former Nebraska Public Media producer Christine Lesiak as script consultant and Nebraska Public Media EFP/Editing Manager Ian Edgington. UNL Assistant Professor of Practice Kristian Anderson served as videographer, primary and effects editor.
During World War II, the 25-year-old Reuben witnessed combat for the first time as he parachuted behind enemy lines to report on history’s greatest amphibious assault on the beaches of Normandy, France. He accompanied 13,000 U.S. Army Airborne troops who flew in darkness from England.
In a 2024 interview about “Running Towards the Fire: A War Correspondent’s Story,” McCoy explained that reporting by correspondents like Rueben gave voice to the Allied troops defending freedom. A Reuters News archivist in London led McCoy to the discovery of Reuben’s typewritten manuscript – untitled and unpublished – which inspired the documentary.
Judges choose the winners from entries in categories covering print, radio, television and online. The awards recognize outstanding work published or broadcast in 2024.
Dating back to 1932, the awards originally honored six individuals for contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939, when the Society granted the first Distinguished Service Awards. The honors later became the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.
Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.
More about the Sigma Delta Chi Awards see the 2024 honorees is available here: https://www.spj.org/sigma-delta-chi-awards-2024-honorees/.
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