Nat Geo, PBS, Discovery take multiple News & Documentary Emmys

September 27, 2011 by Barry Walsh

National Geographic Channel, PBS and Discovery Channel emerged as multiple winners at the 32nd annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards held last night in New York City.

Discovery Channel’s First Life with David Attenborough from Atlantic Productions claimed the award for outstanding nature programming, as well as nods for writing and graphic design and art direction.

PBS strands ‘POV’ and ‘Independent Lens’ brought in several honors for the public broadcaster, with Robert Kenner’s Food Inc. named best documentary and also getting the prize for outstanding informational programming – long form.

Presumed Guilty from filmmakers Roberto Hernández and Geoffrey Smith, also airing on ‘POV,’ received the award for outstanding investigative journalism – long form, while another ‘POV’ doc, Landon von Soest’s Good Fortune, was honored for outstanding business and economic reporting – long form.

National Geographic Channel’s Restrepo: Afghan Outpost, directed by Sebastian Junger and the late Tim Hetherington, took awards for outstanding continuing coverage of a news story – long form, and a craft award for editing. NGC’s epic natural history series Great Migrations (pictured) took the honors in cinematography for a nature program, and for music and sound. Nat Geo’s Witness: Katrina from Siskel/Jacobs Productions was honored for outstanding historical programming – long form.

Here’s a look at select winners from the evening. For a complete list, click here:

Outstanding coverage of a breaking news story in a news magazine

60 Minutes “The Blowout” (CBS)

Outstanding continuing coverage of a news story in a news magazine

Dateline “America Now: Friends and Neighbors” (NBC)

Outstanding feature story in a news magazine

60 Minutes “Football Island” (CBS)

Outstanding investigative journalism in a news magazine

60 Minutes “21st Century Snake Oil” (CBS)

Outstanding business and economic reporting in a news magazine

Dan Rather Reports “The Mysterious Case of Kevin Xu” (HDNet)

Outstanding news discussion and analysis

The Rachel Maddow Show “Good Morning, Landlocked Central Asia” (MSNBC)

Outstanding live coverage of a current news story: long form

Anderson Cooper 360 “Crisis in Haiti” (CNN)

Outstanding continuing coverage of a news story: long form

Restrepo: Afghan Outpost (National Geographic Channel)

Outstanding investigative journalism: long form

‘POV:’ Presumed Guilty (PBS)

Outstanding historical programming: long form

Witness: Katrina (National Geographic Channel)

Outstanding business and economic reporting: long form

‘POV:’ Good Fortune (PBS)

Outstanding arts and culture programming

‘Independent Lens:’ Art & Copy (PBS)

Outstanding science and technology programming

HBO Documentary Films: Google Baby (HBO)

Outstanding nature programming

First Life with David Attenborough (Discovery Channel)

Best report in a news magazine

60 Minutes “The Blowout” (CBS); 60 Minutes “The Lost Children of Haiti” (CBS)

Best documentary

‘POV:’ Food Inc. (PBS)

New approaches to news and documentary programming: documentaries

LAtimes.com: Caught in the Crossfire – Victims of Gang Violence (Los Angeles Times)

New approaches to news and documentary programming: arts, lifestyle and culture

NYTimes.com: 14 Actors Acting (New York Times Magazine Online); NPR Music’s Project Song: Moby (NPR.org)

Outstanding individual achievement in a craft: writing

First Life with David Attenborough (Discovery Channel)

Outstanding individual achievement in a craft: research

Can the Gulf Survive? (National Geographic Channel)

Outstanding individual achievement in a craft: cinematography – nature

Great Migrations (National Geographic Channel)

Outstanding individual achievement in a craft: cinematography – news coverage, documentaries

Lost Mummies of New Guinea (National Geographic Channel)

Outstanding individual achievement in a craft: editing

Restrepo: Afghan Outpost (National Geographic Channel)

Outstanding individual achievement in a craft: editing- quick turnaround

60 Minutes “Haiti” (CBS)

Outstanding individual achievement in a craft: graphic design and art direction

First Life with David Attenborough (Discovery Channel)

Outstanding individual achievement in a craft: lighting direction and scenic design

Hindenburg: The Untold Story (Smithsonian Channel)

Tags: Discovery Channel, First Life with David Attenborough, Food Inc., Great Migrations, National Geographic Channel, News and Documentary Emmy Awards, PBS

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