Emmys Defends Palestinian Journalist Bisan Owda's Nomination

The News and Documentary Emmy Awards have defended their decision to nominate Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda for her report from Gaza, following criticism from the Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), a nonprofit opposing antisemitism and cultural boycotts of Israel.

Read More: Palestinian Journalist Bisan Owda Nominated for Emmy

The organization published an open letter on Monday urging the Emmys to rescind Owda's nomination, alleging her affiliation with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is designated as a terrorist organization by several Western countries—a claim that Owda has firmly denied.

The CCFP’s letter expressed concern that Owda's nomination could legitimize the PFLP and compromise the integrity of the Emmy Awards. “Choosing to elevate someone with clear ties to the PFLP not only legitimizes a terrorist organization, it undermines the integrity of the awards,” the letter stated. The letter garnered over 150 signatures, including notable figures in music, film, and television, such as Selma Blair and Debra Messing.

In response, Adam Sharp, President and CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, defended the nomination, highlighting the rigorous selection process conducted by panels of seasoned journalists. Sharp emphasized that the Academy found no evidence of Owda’s current affiliation with the PFLP and underscored the importance of representing diverse perspectives in journalism. “Past nominees 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,” Sharp stated.

Owda's eight-minute report, titled "It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive," produced by AJ+, offers a raw look into her life and the lives of fellow Gazans during a tense period in late October.

The report, which has already earned prestigious accolades like the Peabody and Edward R. Murrow Awards, is nominated in the category of Outstanding Hard News Feature Story: Short Form. It competes alongside reports from CNN, The Guardian, The New York Times, and PBS.

The Emmy Awards for news and documentary will be announced next month in New York, where Owda’s work will be in the spotlight amid ongoing debate over the intersection of journalism and political sensitivities.

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