John Johnson Reporting Wins Documentary Honors in 47th Annual Telly Awards

Austin, Texas – June 18, 2026 – John Johnson Reporting, a documentary produced by latakoo about the trailblazing New York City journalist, has been named a winner in the Documentary category in the 47th Annual Telly Awards.

Produced by latakoo Co-founders Jade Kurian and Paul Adrian, John Johnson Reporting is narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg.

The project is executive produced by Ann Yih Johnson and Brian Calfano through their respective production companies, BlueBird Productions and History’s Heart Productions. Calfano directs the documentary, which enjoyed cooperation from ABC and Disney. The production team is pursuing distribution agreements for the film.

Amid both the racial barriers of mid-century America and a turbulent family environment, Johnson emerged from adversity to become part of a transformative generation of New York City journalists who altered how urban America — particularly Black America — was seen, reported, and understood on television. Johnson remains the only person ever to be a permanent anchor at all three of New York’s legacy network flagship stations: WABC. WCBS, and WNBC. Through archival materials, historical analysis, and reflective narration, the documentary traces Johnson’s personal and professional evolution during a period when television news itself was undergoing profound transformation.

The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens and are judged by leaders from television networks, streaming platforms, production companies, and digital media organizations worldwide. Winners were selected from more than 13,000 entries.

Representatives from latakoo attended the 2026 Festival de Cannes and Tribeca Film Festival as the company expands its presence within the entertainment industry. The Telly win reflects latakoo’s commitment to supporting and celebrating quality journalism through a focus on original content.

“John Johnson’s story reflects the very best of what journalism and documentary storytelling can accomplish,” said Paul Adrian, CEO and co-founder of latakoo.

“John helped change how television news represented communities and human experience at a transformational moment in American media history. We’re honored that John Johnson Reporting has received this recognition from The Telly Awards, and we’re proud to support projects that combine powerful storytelling with historical and cultural significance. As media continues evolving across platforms and audiences worldwide, we believe compelling stories—and the technology that helps creators bring them to life—matter more than ever.”

In addition to John Johnson Reporting, latakoo is producing the forthcoming documentary Tokyo in 33 RPM, directed by Tanmay Srivastava, underscoring the company’s continued move into original content production.