New Docu Chronicles Radio Reporter's Voice Loss

Washington Correspondent Jamie Dupree’s incredible story of perseverance and triumph is captured in a new documentary, Voice of Reason – now available online at wsbradio.com. His journey has been recognized by the Radio Television Digital News Association and Atlanta Press Club, earning WSB and Cox Media Group an Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Innovation and News Innovation Award.

A radio reporter for more than 30 years with Cox Media Group, Dupree lost his voice in 2016 and was diagnosed with tongue protrusion dystonia, a rare neurological condition with no cure to date.

Jamie Dupree

“During his ordeal, Jamie never took a day off,” says Pete Spriggs, director of branding and programming for News WSB 95.5 FM / 750 AM. “Instead, he found new ways to continue his decades of reporting with his blog and through social media. His spirit and determination inspire us all.”

In 2018, Cox Media Group identified a new, pioneering approach to return Dupree’s voice to radio. Working with CereProc, Dupree and WSB Radio sent hours of his archived radio reports to Scotland where engineers and audio specialists digitized and recreated Dupree’s voice. Now when Dupree writes a script for a report the text is converted into an audio file that sounds nearly identical to his natuarl voice. WSB Radio and CMG refers to the computer synthesized version as Jamie Dupree 2.0.

“Our support for Jamie is unwavering,” says Marian Pittman, executive vice president of content, digital strategy, research and technology for Cox Media Group. “As we wait for a cure, CMG was delighted to partner with CereProc to return Jamie to radio with Jamie Dupree 2.0.”

“My health is fine, but my voice is not – and I honestly don’t know if I will ever speak normally again,” says Dupree.  “I’ll be forever grateful to my WSB and CMG family for getting me back on the air with Jamie Dupree 2.0.”

View Dupree’s emotional journey with this new documentary can be viewed here. Voice of Reason was directed by WSB Radio Videographer Jesse Brooks and produced by Cox Media Group Digital Content Manager Zac Morgan.