Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda won a short-form award at News Emmy for her outstanding hard news feature story for AJ+.
A young Palestinian from Gaza, Bisan is a journalist, and story-teller, who has been documenting the visuals of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which started last year. Her documentary titled “It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive”, showcased the plight of her family and other Gazans fleeing deadly airstrikes and bombings from Israel in Gaza.
The documentary secured the Outstanding Hard News feature story award in the short form category at the 45th Annual News & Documentary Emmys.
Earlier efforts were made to discredit her work and rescind her nomination in the category. Calls were made by the non-profit organization Creative Community for Peace, an organization that stands against antisemitism and cultural boycotts of Israel.
The group alleged had Owda has links to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, an organization that the United States and European Union have declared a terrorist group. However, Emmy defended her nomination in the category.
In response to the criticism, NATAS president/CEO Adam Sharp writing in a letter said that “It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive” was “reviewed by two successive panels of independent judges, including senior editorial leadership from each significant U.S. broadcast news network.” The documentary has also been recognized by the Peabody and the Edward R. Murrow Awards.
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The 45th Annual News & Documentary Emmys, organized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, were held on Wednesday in New York City. The first day of the News & Documentary Emmys awarded news stories while the second day will award documentaries.
A score of journalists from Gaza are risking their lives, reporting the catastrophe unleashed by Israel on the Gaza Strip since October 8th, 2023. Owda’s award win represents a significant step forward in advancing the global narrative of Palestinians and Gazans.