AJ+ Producers Share Their Favorites from 2020

Amid 2020’s ongoing pandemic, a nationwide uprising against racist policing and a nail-biter of a presidential election, AJ+ producers never stopped creating extraordinary work.

Despite the obstacles of the past year, our colleagues produced thought-provoking videos on everything from the inequalities of our health care system, to Black gun ownership, to Sesame Street's unique role in American life.

We asked producers and presenters to share some of their favorite work from 2020, and a bit about what made those pieces so important to them. Here’s what they had to say.

"Racism at Doctors Without Borders"

“I got a WhatsApp from a contact at Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in July with leaked emails from the board of MSF Italy. ‘I actually want to cry,’ she told me. The email was a reaction to staffers calling out racism within the organization. The board’s response was to say, ‘all lives matter.’ It was the start of an investigation into racism at the NGO – and, it turned out, that was just the tip of the iceberg.” — Sakhr Al-Makhadhi, executive producer

“Billionaires are profiting off American hunger. Here’s how”

“In 2020, ever-growing lines for food pantries highlighted that access to food isn’t guaranteed in the United States, not even during a pandemic. This video explores why hunger is so normalized in the United States and how corporate capitalism denies workers a living wage, thereby fueling our dependence on food banks.” — Adrienne Blaine, producer

“Can Black voters swing the 2020 election?”

“Before the nation waited with bated breath to see how Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Nevada would cast their ballots, we foreshadowed the demographic that would seal the win for the victor. Black women were the defining demo in the primary. They revived Biden's candidacy, and they helped him win Michigan and Georgia. Here's how.” — Imaeyen Ibanga, presenter and senior producer

“Why so many Black people are buying guns”

“When America gets nervous, it gets guns. A pandemic woven together with social unrest brought a surge of gun sales. And Black gun owners were among some of the newest firearm owners. Their path to bearing arms hasn't been the same as their counterparts, and they're ready to showcase how firearm ownership is different for them.” — Imaeyen Ibanga, presenter and senior producer

“Black doctor handcuffed outside his home”

“This video of a Black doctor in Miami being racially profiled by the police is one of our most viewed videos this year. I like this story a lot because what initially seemed like a story of racism put the spotlight on a local hero who was changing his neighborhood as he was going around testing homeless people for COVID. His name was trending for a while on Twitter, and he texted me, overwhelmed by the fact he had become a hero overnight from our video.” — Anna Kook, producer

“Meet the Black Southerners confronting their racist town”

“This was my first field film and a story where I built a special relationship with the interview subject, Bridgette Craighead. I remember during our pre-interviews, she was convinced that she wasn’t worth doing a story on and kept encouraging me to talk to other people. But she eventually trusted me to tell her story, and ever since the video’s been published, thousands of people expressed support for her. As a result, she’s been able to start her own hair salon which has been a dream of hers.” — Anna Kook, producer

“He survived Ebola. Now this doctor is battling coronavirus”

“Produced by our colleague, Isabeau Doucet. In this moving, animated short doc, Dr. Craig Spencer is a New York City ER doctor who gives us a glimpse into what a normal day looks like for him during the pandemic.” — Angie Nassar, senior producer

“The legacy civil rights icon John Lewis leaves behind”

“This story was an emotional one because I had always looked up to John Lewis as an immortal hero. His death was tough to digest for many of us, but putting this piece together really helped me remember his legacy. I feel proud to have worked on this story, and I hope others learn a little about Lewis' fight by watching this video.” — Raji Ramanathan, acting senior producer

“Destruction in 'Black Wall Street' massacre”

“We produced this story after the protests that ensued from George Floyd's murder. Many on social media were comparing the destruction happening in Minneapolis to the destruction of Black Wall Street, so we broke down the comparison. And this piece has rich historical context on how white mobs destroyed the thriving Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, about 99 years ago.” — Raji Ramanathan, acting senior producer

“Why are so many Native Americans dying from coronavirus?”

“This story was special to me because I feel it made a difference. It was widely shared through the Navajo Nation and beyond … The story explains why this reservation was hit so hard during the pandemic, and it probably helped the Navajo and Hopi families in their fundraising effort to help the most vulnerable members in their community. Last I checked they had over $4 million on their GoFundMe page.” — Tupac Saavedra, senior producer

“Why is Florida’s opioid crisis getting worse?”

“This is one of the hardest stories I’ve worked on. To gain access to these stories, it is important to listen, and in the process, I learned a lot about addiction and suffering. Working with the recovery community, I also learned about loss. Several people in their community passed on just in the short time that it took to make the film.” — Tupac Saavedra, senior producer

“Why there will never be another Sesame Street”

“This short doc was the result of a lot of incredible labor by so many people. It was a surreal experience to be able to film on the Sesame Street set and, honestly, I knew as soon as we were done [with] production that my life was only going to be downhill from here on out.” — Sana Saeed, senior producer and host

“Black kids are twice as likely to die by suicide than white kids”

“This piece was, and is still incredibly important. I was drawn to it because it’s something that continually grows worse in numbers and yet somehow is also dangerously undercovered. When we think of mental health, often the first individuals that come to mind are adults, but in the shadows you have kids as young as 6 contemplating a decision that they can never take back.” — Cydney Tucker, former producer

“What happens when a pandemic and poverty collide?”

“The reporter [Cydney Tucker] put so much care into this piece. It highlighted how people are struggling, but also helping and saving each other in the food crisis throughout COVID. Seeing people’s strength in their vulnerability moves me and gives me hope.” — Hangda Zhang, producer