We won!! A podcast about the Exxon Valdez oil spill has won a top award from the American Bar Association.
Slick Science podcast tells the story of a community’s fight for justice after the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker owned by the Exxon Shipping Company, spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound.
At the time, in March of 1989, it was the largest, single oil spill in U.S. waters. It covered about 2,000 kilometres of coastline and killed hundreds of thousands of seabirds, otters, seals and whales.
But what happens after marine life dies and beaches are left covered with oil? Who is responsible for footing the cleanup bill? How much will it cost? It ended up in court where Exxon argued a jury shouldn’t be allowed to decide the case because juries are inherently irrational.
The podcast came to Canada’s National Observer through a partnership with Cited Media and is also called, The (ir)Rational Alaskans. It received the Silver Gavel award in the radio category.
The American Bar Association (ABA) recognizes outstanding work that fosters the public’s understanding of law and the legal system. The ABA is one of the largest voluntary associations of lawyers in the world.
The podcast is also shortlisted for the New York Festival Awards in the Education category.
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