Assistant Professor Diane Hodson is part of the creative team that worked on the critically-acclaimed podcast Hysterical, recently announced as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Audio Reporting.
Hodson, who served as senior story editor on Hysterical, coordinates and teaches in the podcasting and audio storytelling program at Hofstra’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication.
Produced by Wondery and Pineapple Street Studios, Hysterical is about a mysterious illness that spreads among a group of high school girls in LeRoy, NY. The incident is believed by some to be the most severe case of mass hysteria since the Salem Witch Trials.
The Pulitzer Prize Board created the category of Audio Reporting for its 2020 competition to recognize a “distinguished example of audio journalism that serves the public interest, characterized by revelatory reporting and illuminating storytelling.’’
Earlier this year, The Podcast Academy, the preeminent professional podcast organization, honored Hysterical as Podcast of the Year at the 5th Annual Awards for Excellence in Audio (The Ambies). Hysterical won two Webby Awards (Documentary – Limited Series & Specials and Best Writing) and a 2024 Signal Award (Documentary – Limited Series & Specials).
Apple named Hysterical 2024’s “Show of the Year.” TIME ranked it first in its listing of the “10 Best Podcasts of 2024.” Spotify named Hysterical among the “Best New Shows of 2024.”
