2016 Recipient
John Merrow PBS News Hour/Learning Matters
Since beginning his career with National Public Radio in 1974, Dr. Merrow has raised awareness of salient and timely education issues, drawing on empirical research to open a national dialogue on issues in K–16 education. Known for his work on The Merrow Report and the MacNeil/ Lehrer News Hour on PBS, in 1995 he established Learning Matters, an independent, nonprofit corporation that produces television, radio, and Web-based programming focused on education. Throughout his 41-year career, his documentaries have been research-informed as he interviewed prominent scholars to illuminate key issues and to bridge education research and practice. Dr. Merrow’s reporting has informed the national conversation on education, made research accessible to the public and decision makers, and made a lasting imprint in investigative journalism for the public good, directly aligning with the 2016 Annual Meeting theme: “Public Scholarship to Educate Diverse Democracies.”
The Excellence in Media Reporting on Education Research Award is presented to an individual in the media who has demonstrated excellence in raising awareness, knowledge, and understanding of education research.