NATAS Defends Emmy Nomination for Bisan Owda Amid Controversy

The National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) has defended its decision to nominate Bisan Owda, a contributor for AJ+, for an Emmy award. This comes after a pro-Israel nonprofit organization, Creative Community for Peace, issued a letter criticizing the nomination.

Owda, 25, has been nominated in the Outstanding Hard News Feature Story category for her documentary titled ‘It’s Bisan from Gaza and I’m Still Alive.’ The documentary chronicles her experience of being displaced multiple times from her home in Gaza City amidst ongoing conflict.

The letter from Creative Community for Peace alleged that Owda had affiliations with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which she has denied. The PFLP is recognized as a terrorist organization by several Western nations, including the United States.

Adam Sharp, president and chief executive of NATAS, responded by stating that two independent panels, consisting of experienced journalists, were involved in the nomination process. He emphasized that there was no evidence supporting the claims of Owda’s affiliation with the PFLP.

Sharp further noted that previous nominees have often sparked controversy, providing a platform for voices that may be deemed objectionable by some audiences, yet serving the journalistic mission to present every angle of the story.

Al Jazeera, the media network under which AJ+ operates, expressed its unwavering support for Owda. They characterized her as a ‘renowned journalist and influencer’ whose work has significantly shed light on the realities faced by civilians in Gaza.

The allegations against Owda were labeled as ‘baseless’ by Al Jazeera, asserting that the push for the Emmy nomination to be rescinded was an attempt to silence essential reporting from the region.

Owda has gained attention for her impactful videos on social media that document the harsh living conditions in Gaza since the start of the conflict. Recently, her documentary received recognition by winning both a Peabody Award and an Edward R. Murrow Award.