The Erik Barnouw Award—also known as the OAH Erik Barnouw Award—is named after the late Erik Barnouw

Erik Barnouw

Erik Barnouw was a U.S. historian of radio and television broadcasting.According to the Scribner Encyclopia of American Lives, Erik Barnouw was born in Den Haag in the Netherlands, the son of Adriaan , and Ann Eliza Barnouw...

, a Columbia University historian and professor who was a specialist in mass media. The OAH -- Organization of American Historians

Organization of American Historians

The Organization of American Historians , formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. OAH's members in the U.S...

-- gives one or two awards annually recognizes excellent programs in the mass media or in documentary film that relates to the subject of American history or which furthers the study of history. The award was first presented in 1983.