So-called ‘Creative Community for Peace’ attempt to cow award organisers into withdrawing nomination for Bisan Owda’s documentary fails
Image by AJ+
The organisers of the Emmy awards have rejected a demand by a Zionist lobby group to withdraw the Emmy nomination for Gaza journalist Bisan Owda in the News and Documentary category.
Bisan Owda’s film, It’s Bisan from Gaza and I’m Still Alive documents life in Gaza during Israel’s ongoing genocide against Gaza’s Palestinians, which has killed around 200,000 people so far, mostly women and children, and murdered over 160 journalists. In a letter signed by US Zionist ‘entertainers’, an Israel lobby group styling itself ‘Creative Community for Peace’ (CCFP) had written to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) demanding the withdrawal of the nomination, claiming that Owda was affiliated with left-wing resistance group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which the US and UK consider a terrorist group. She has denied the claim.
In a response to CCFP that puts to shame the many US and UK organisations that have capitulated to Israel lobby demands before and since 7 October, NATAS CEO Adam Sharp rejected the demand, pointing out the careful and independent processes that decide nominees and to the often ‘controversial’ history of the awards over almost half a century – and politely telling the supporters of Israel’s genocide where to go in their attempt to silence and demonise journalism and the Palestinian people:
Thank you for your letter of August 19, 2024, concerning the nomination of “It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive” for a 2024 News & Documentary Emmy Award.
The News & Documentary Emmys have recognized excellence in television journalism for nearly half a century. The honored programs and reports have taken viewers to the front lines of every world conflict, probed political and cultural divides, and sought to illuminate even the darkest circumstances. Some of these works have been controversial, giving a platform to voices that certain viewers may find objectionable or even abhorrent. But all have been in the service of the journalistic mission to capture every facet of the story.
In every case, submissions to the News & Documentary Emmys are judged by experienced journalists from across multiple news organizations, serving in an independent, volunteer capacity. NATAS does not intervene in or countermand the judgment of these journalists except when competition rules have been violated, nor does NATAS determine the eligibility or ineligibility of news reporting based on the political views represented.
“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. It was selected for nomination from among more than 50 submissions in one of the year’s most competitive categories.The piece was also recognized for journalistic achievement by the Peabody Awards and the Edward R. Murrow Awards, each administered by processes and organizations wholly separate from and independent of NATAS and the News & Documentary Emmys.
NATAS is aware of reports, cited in your letter and initially surfaced by a communications consultant in the region, that appear to show a then-teenaged Bisan Owda speaking at various PFLP-associated events between six and nine years ago. NATAS has been unable to corroborate these reports, nor has it been able, to date, to surface any evidence of more contemporary or active involvement by Owda with the PFLP organization.
Most critically, the content submitted for award consideration was consistent with competition rules and NATAS policies. Accordingly, NATAS has found no grounds, to date, upon which to overturn the editorial judgment of the independent journalists who reviewed the material.
Thank you. I appreciate your courtesy in sharing our response with your cosigners.
Sincerely,Adam Sharp, NATAS President & CEO
Broadcaster Al Jazeera, whose AJ+ group produced the documentary, called CCFP’s allegations ‘baseless’ and an ‘attempt to silence’ her journalism as well as to put her life in even greater danger. The statement went on:
The call for the Emmy nomination to be rescinded is nothing more than an attempt to deny an important perspective to the global audience on the war and its devastating impact on innocent civilians.
We urge the international journalistic community to support Bisan and other media professionals, ensuring they can carry out their essential work without fear of being targeted, intimidated or killed.
It’s Bisan and I’m still alive has already received two highly sought-after journalism awards, a Peabody and an Edward R. Murrow Award. She remains in Gaza.
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