KYUK won a national journalism award for a video honoring the legacy of a Yup’ik dance legend. KYUK received the 2020 National Edward R. Murrow award for Excellence in Video for Small Market Radio on Oct. 10 for the short film “The Legacy Of Maryann Sundown And Agnes Aguchak.” KYUK produced the video in collaboration with Alaska Public Media.
The story follows the Scammon Bay dancers returning to the 2019 Cama-i stage for the first time since their Elder, Maryann Sundown, passed away in 2011. She was well known as a Dance Diva, and her performances connected people through laughter. Maryann and her sister, Agnes Aguchak, left behind a unique comedic legacy in Yup’ik dance using subtle motions, deadpan facial expressions, and slapstick humor.
Watch KYUK’s national award winning video: “The Legacy Of Maryann Sundown And Agnes Aguchak”
The Murrow Awards are awarded by the Radio Television Digital News Association and are considered to be among the most respected journalism awards in the world. The RTDNA describes the awards as "the embodiment of the values, principles and standards set forth by Edward R. Murrow, a journalism pioneer who set the standards for the highest quality of broadcast journalism."
The 2020 awards are given to work produced the year prior. The National Edward R. Murrow award culminates a rich award season for KYUK. For work produced in 2019, KYUK also won a national first place award from the Associated Press Television and Radio Association, two 2020 Regional Edward R. Murrow awards, and 13 statewide Alaska Press Club awards.
We share these awards with the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Every story is a collaboration between the people involved in the story, the reporting team, and the audience. Quyana for supporting KYUK, and for sharing your experiences, questions, insights, and stories with us.
