PBS Dominates News & Documentary Emmys

NEW YORK -- Television news reports about the war in Iraq and its repercussions took top honors Monday night at the 29th annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards.

Among the pieces recognized was a "60 Minutes'" investigation into the claims by Curveball, an Iraqi defector who provided the bulk of the intelligence the U.S. used in alleging that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, and a story on "NBC Nightly News" that exposed flaws in the body armor used by U.S. troops.

The accolades for reports about the war came as daily coverage of Iraq has greatly diminished on the broadcast networks, overtaken by stories about the 2008 presidential race and the economy.

Other top Emmys went to ABC News for its breaking coverage of the California wildfires, to CBS News for the two years it spent following an Iowa National Guard unit deployed to Iraq and to PBS for "Operation Homecoming," which told the story of military personnel through their own writings.

PBS' "Independent Lens" won best documentary for its piece on composer Billy Strayhorn.

As in past years, PBS won the most Emmys, scoring 10 awards. CBS followed with five, ABC had four, National Geographic won three and both NBC and the History Channel took home two.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Chaparral]

PBS is my primary source of real news; the networks are entertainment. I also agree with PurplePhase who said, "PBS is what the MSM should be." In addition to my daily dose of The News Hour, I also enjoy P.O.V. and Independent Lens. Where else can you find documentaries produced by independent film makers?
After watching PBS, I get so aggravated with the networks because their reporting is so shallow and so narrow. No wonder so many Americans know so little about the rest of the world. The networks do little to keep people adequately informed.

[ella52]

Well I would like to join the chorus; I have learned so much from the news, documentaries, as well as entertainment from cooking to Mystery! Just this year I have donated twice because it is just as important as our government. There seems to be only one place left that maintains some overall objectivity.

It is very difficult to be a journalist and not interject some subjectivity into a story.. Especially if you do your job right. And that involves going out and interviewing the people directly involved and affected by the "story", ....whatever the story.

Fair and balanced is far easier to achieve. Meaning that overall programming seeks to inform, inspire and nourish human beings. PBS excels at fair and balanced.

[glong131]

While I love PBS and trust their journalism above all the others by far, I worry how much longer before corporations start influencing their programing, too. Now that they allow commercials before and after programs, I fear it's just a matter of time before that corporate money is used to manipulate content.

[dillydawg]

They have had a long ride free of corporate interfering. However, going forward, I fear as you do.

[Softnsweet]

I love PBS, it is fair and balanced. If you want to know the truth, watch PBS.

[Sparty1]

PBS is the only news organization with any credibility. They should've won the only news awards. Maybe that would've shown the other MSM how to be credible journalists.

[PumaAnn]

PBS is the only news I watch. The rest have turned into complete PR coverage for one candidate or another.

[RobinSeattle]

If there was an award for media stenography of Republican talking points, then the network news shows would have done better. But there wasn't and PBS showed them how news is supposed to be done.

[leftoflennon]

As well they should.

Only legitimate news channel.

[SpeakSense]

What a surprise? Not really. PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) is the only news organization not owned by corporate interests so they have the freedom to do "real news". Too bad we can't or don't demand the same from the MSM.

[PurplePhase]

PBS is what the MSM should be.