Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Responds to Request to Withdraw Bisan Atef Odeh’s Emmy Nomination

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has responded to a request from more than 150 entertainment industry leaders to withdraw Bisan Atef Odeh’s 2024 Emmy nomination for News and Documentary.

Bisan Atef Odeh’s Nomination

Awda, along with the media platform AJ+, was nominated in the category of Outstanding Hard News Short Story for “I am Bisan from Gaza and I am still alive.” The document recounts her family’s ordeal as they flee the bombing of their home in Beit Hanoun to the area the occupation has described as safe, namely Al-Shifa Hospital.

Background

Bissan is known for documenting the Israeli occupation’s attacks on Gaza since Operation Flood of Al-Aqsa, and the non-profit organization “Creative Community for Peace” claims that Bissan Odeh is affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which the United States considers a “terrorist organization.”

Letter from Creative Community for Peace

The letter was signed by a number of actors and producers, including Debra Messing, Selma Blair, Sheri Lansing, Rick Rosen, Jaime Saban, Michael Rothenberg, and others.

Academy’s Response

“The Academy must decide — it can either condone the killing of innocent civilians or it can listen to the entertainment community and stand up against hate and violence,” David Renzi, co-founder and president of the Creative Community, said in a statement.

In a letter to Ari Engel, executive director of Creative Community for Peace, NATAS CEO Adam Sharp acknowledged that some documents considered for Emmys in the past “have been controversial, giving a platform to voices that viewers may find objectionable or even hateful. But all were in service of the journalistic mission to capture every aspect of the story.”

Academy’s Policy

The Emmys for News and Documentary have recognized excellence in television journalism for nearly half a century. The programs and reports honored have taken viewers to the front lines of every global conflict, plumbed political and cultural divides, and sought to shed light on even the most difficult circumstances. Some of these works have been controversial, giving a platform to voices that some viewers might find objectionable or even hateful. But all have served the journalistic mission of capturing every side of the story.

In each case, entries submitted to the Emmys for News and Documentary are judged by experienced journalists from multiple news organizations, who work in an independent volunteer capacity. The Academy does not interfere with or overrule the judgment of these journalists except in the event of a violation of the competition rules, and we do not determine the eligibility or ineligibility of news stories based on the political views represented.

Conclusion

The Academy has found no reason to date to overturn the editorial judgment of the independent journalists who reviewed the material. The Academy’s decision to stand by its nomination is a testament to its commitment to upholding the highest standards of journalism and its dedication to recognizing excellence in television news and documentary programming.

FAQs

Q: Why did the Academy receive a request to withdraw Bisan Atef Odeh’s Emmy nomination?

A: The request was made by over 150 entertainment industry leaders who claimed that Bissan Odeh is affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a “terrorist organization” according to the United States.

Q: What is the Academy’s policy on controversial content?

A: The Academy does not interfere with or overrule the judgment of independent journalists who review entries for the Emmys for News and Documentary. The Academy’s policy is to recognize excellence in television journalism, regardless of the political views represented.

Q: What is the status of Bisan Atef Odeh’s nomination?

A: The Academy has found no reason to date to overturn the editorial judgment of the independent journalists who reviewed the material. The Academy’s decision to stand by its nomination is a testament to its commitment to upholding the highest standards of journalism and its dedication to recognizing excellence in television news and documentary programming.

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