Diane Orson
Special CorrespondentDiane Orson is a special correspondent with Connecticut Public. She is a longtime reporter and contributor to National Public Radio. Her stories have been heard on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Here and Now; and The World from PRX. She spent seven years as CT Public Radio's local host for Morning Edition.
Diane received a regional 2024 Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Writing by the Radio Television Digital News Association. She was awarded a 2023 New England Emmy for CUTLINE | Antisemitism Rising: Bearing Witness Then and Now, which she co-produced and hosted.
Her radio story about an 83-year old atomic veteran placed first in the Public Media Journalists Association 2021 national arts awards. She is the co-recipient of a 2021 Edward R. Murrow Award for a video based on that story.
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The heated 2024 campaign is more than a race between candidates and parties. Polls indicate that the preservation of democracy is among the top concerns for many voters. As we approach Election Day, we wanted to hear how young people view this moment. -
The New England Air Museum exhibit highlights the story of the first Black military aviators in the U.S. armed forces. -
Connecticut is home to many famous actors — including four-legged ones. They have names like Sandy from the show "Annie" and Bruiser from the musical "Legally Blonde." Most are rescues from animal shelters. Their trainer is Bill Berloni, who's helped them become showbiz stars. -
Indigenous and Black people tell their own seafaring stories at Mystique Seaport Museum -
Durante décadas, la mayoría de la historia marítima de naciones negras e indígenas pasaron desapercibidas en Mystic Seaport el museo marítimo más grande del país. “Entwined” tiene como objetivo cambiar eso al presentar esa historia desde una perspectiva negra e indígena americana. -
Slavery has deep roots in Connecticut. Today on Where We Live, we listen back to a panel discussion about that hidden history featuring Connecticut Public’s Diane Orson. Diane is the host of the podcast, “Unforgotten: Connecticut’s Hidden History of Slavery.” -
For decades, most Black and Indigenous maritime histories were missing at Mystic Seaport, the country’s largest maritime museum. “Entwined” aims to change that – by presenting those histories through Native American and Black perspectives.
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Sawney Freeman may be America's first Black composer. He was likely enslaved in Connecticut, and his music has been performed there for the first time in two centuries.
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For centuries, stories of northern slavery were not easy to find. Understanding slavery in this project involves learning the stories of those enslaved — and bearing witness.
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In our fourth episode, reporter/producer Diane Orson and editorial consultant and curator Frank Mitchell highlight how Sawney Freeman’s music challenges the way most people think about the lives of the enslaved.
