Illuminator wins national Murrow Award for reproductive health reporting

The Radio Television Digital News Association announced Thursday that the Louisiana Illuminator has earned a prestigious national Edward R. Murrow Award for its coverage of reproductive health care policy in the state. 

The reporting that’s being honored was led by New Orleans-based freelance journalist Lorena O’Neil and overseen by Illuminator Editor-in-chief Greg LaRose. It was made possible with support from the Pulitzer Center’s Story Reach fellowship.

In October 2024, Louisiana became the first state to designate the pregnancy care drugs mifepristone and misoprostol Schedule IV controlled dangerous substances. The medications were targeted because they are used in abortions, but they also have other medical applications.

O’Neil’s reporting included accounts from doctors, pharmacists and other health care providers who aired concerns about how the new law would impact their ability to provide timely and, in some cases, life-saving care.

New Orleans offers help to doctors fearful of new drug law; Murrill says ‘problem doesn’t exist’

Earlier this year, the Illuminator reported on the nation’s first attempt to criminally prosecute a doctor for prescribing abortion medication. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is leading the case against Dr. Margaret Carpenter, a New York doctor who reportedly sent the drugs to a Louisiana woman for her pregnant minor daughter. Carpenter and the mother, who the Illuminator is not identifying to protect her daughter’s identity, are charged with breaking state law that prohibits the mailing of medication used to illegally terminate a pregnancy.

O’Neil also followed the approval of another law this spring that added more restrictions to the state’s definition of a “coerced abortion.” 

Winners of the RTDNA’s Edward R. Murrow Awards will be recognized Oct. 13 during a ceremony in New York City. The Illuminator is being honored in the Small Digital Organization category.

Since 1971, RTDNA has honored outstanding broadcast and digital journalism with the Murrow Awards. They recognize local and national news stories that “uphold the RTDNA Code of Ethics, demonstrate technical expertise and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community,” according to the organization. 

The awards honor legendary broadcaster Edward R. Murrow, who reported live from Europe throughout World War II and confronted U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s for his “Red Scare” campaign.