Denver, May 14, 2021 - Colorado Public Radio today announced a new audio documentary that takes an innovative look at people working to reform policing from inside and outside the system. “Systemic,” hosted and reported by CPR podcast producer Jo Erickson, will be released in four parts starting May 19.
Produced in the wake of George Floyd's death and 2020’s racial justice protests, “Systemic” follows Black Americans working in Colorado, Minneapolis and around the country to create change at an extraordinary time. Listeners will hear from activists, civil rights attorneys, lawmakers, the families of victims of police violence, and several Black officers working to change policing from within the system.
“I wanted this series to reflect the struggles of a group of people who have put everything on the line to make real changes to policing,” said Jo Erickson. “When it comes to storytelling, I believe it’s important to know who tells the story as much as what the story is about. So I handed the mic to police officers and activists within the African American community so that they could tell their unfiltered stories on the frontlines of this conflict of race and police culture.”
Erickson joined the CPR Audio Innovations Studio in 2020 and has worked as a producer for CPR’s “On Something” and “Back from Broken.” Before joining CPR, she worked for Minnesota Public Radio and the BBC as a producer and journalist.
“Once in a while we get a pitch for a podcast that’s too compelling to ignore,” said Brad Turner, executive producer of CPR’s Audio Innovations Studio. “Jo came to me with the concept in her first week on the job last fall. It was so exciting to watch her develop their stories and find more voices for the project as ‘Systemic’ took shape.”
“Systemic” joins CPR’s line-up of award-winning podcasts, including “Back from Broken,” “On Something,” and “Since Columbine.” “Back from Broken” recently concluded its second season of interviews with people in recovery with a conversation with Hunter Biden. “On Something” dropped the first episode of its third season, which focuses on cannabis and social equity, on May 11. And “Since Columbine” recently released its first new episode in nearly two years in the wake of the mass shooting in Boulder, Colo.
The “Systemic” trailer is out now. Episodes will be available starting May 19 wherever podcasts are found.
For media kit, interview requests or questions, contact Carrie Horn at [email protected].
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About Colorado Public Radio
Colorado Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization delivering meaningful news, music, and cultural experiences to everyone in Colorado using the power of the human voice in all its forms. Roughly 95 percent of CPR’s funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses and foundations. For more information, visit www.cpr.org.
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