From the Nominator

“Talking Back,” on physician and photographer John Johnson, is like the Swiss Army knife of stories, working on multiple levels at once. It was one of the anchor stories for our post-COVID-19 mental health special issue. We needed to find an artful way to address the immense additional impact during COVID-19 of racism and George Floyd on Black Americans. The ambitious assignment was to “profile this young medical doctor and his art and activism around mental health and race while deftly weaving in some more substantive general information about the impact of racism on mental and physical health.” The result, by our former student writing intern Ivy Scott, was that, and more, additionally offering readers perspective on the importance of self-awareness and psychological self care as they saw Dr. Johnson model how a successful professional man got through his experience with panic attacks. The Brown Alumni Magazine mission, written in 1900, is to bring the university and its alumni "into closer touch and sympathy." This story not only showcased the art and accomplishments of an alumnus, but illuminated his impact on mental health awareness at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School, and brought readers into a vulnerable, relatable aspect of his personal life. Exploring the important national issue of racism has been a major focus for the magazine since 2020, and this story aims to bring readers who are not Black into “closer touch and sympathy” with a fellow alumnus and his personal struggle with racism.

From the Judges

Brave, resonant, masterful. This entry is a standout for its unflinching look at a Black doctor-artist’s journey through mental illness, creative expression, and the fight against systemic racism in healthcare by offering readers an inside look at personal vulnerability and hope. Rich, immersive storytelling is paired with striking design and a clear strategic focus, making it one of the few submissions to emotionally engage with the reader. Its impact sets a high bar for how institutions can tell authentic, socially urgent stories that resonate with a wide range of audiences.