Gaza documentary wins News Emmy despite calls to disqualify it
What's the story
Palestinian journalist and activist, Bisan Atef Owda, has triumphed at the 2024 News and Documentary Emmy Awards. She secured the Emmy for Outstanding Hard News Feature: Short Form for her project It's Bisan From Gaza and I'm Still Alive. This victory follows a failed attempt by certain groups to have her nomination withdrawn. The Television Academy rejected this campaign just five days before her win.
Award-winning work
Owda's project sheds light on Gaza conflict
Owda's Emmy-winning project provides a glimpse into her daily life in Gaza, amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. This conflict has wreaked havoc on the region since the Hamas attack on October 7 last year. Earlier this year, Owda's work also earned her a Peabody Award. She shares her experiences through social media platforms like Instagram (4.7M followers) and TikTok (1,91,500 followers).
Nomination dispute
What was the controversy surrounding Owda's Emmy nomination?
Owda's nomination for the News & Documentary Emmys was met with backlash from Jewish nonprofit Creative Community for Peace (CCFP). The organization accused her of affiliating with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a group recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States. CCFP claimed to have evidence of speeches she allegedly delivered at PFLP rallies and events she organized to honor Palestinians injured or killed in violent confrontations with Israeli soldiers.
Academy's stance
Television Academy defended Owda's nomination
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) defended Owda's nomination, stating that all documented links between her and PFLP were from "between six and nine years ago," when she was a teenager. NATAS also mentioned that it was unable to find any evidence of more recent or active involvement by Owda with the PFLP organization. They asserted that the content submitted for award consideration adhered to competition rules and NATAS policies.