GMA’s 24 Oras and I-Witness, only Asian nominees in this year’s Emmys

Widely regarded as the Philippines’ most awarded broadcast news organization, GMA News and Public Affairs brings pride to the country anew with two nominations in this year’s International Emmy Awards. GMA’s flagship primetime newscast 24 Oras and longest-running public affairs program I-Witness, which are both broadcasted worldwide via GMA’s flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV, were among the eight international nominees for the News and Current Affairs categories.


24 Oras’ in-depth coverage of Typhoon Pablo, considered as the world’s deadliest natural disaster in 2012, received a nomination in the News category. Led by anchors Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez, GMA News and Public Affairs’ ace team of reporters covered the deadly typhoon that whipped Mindanao a few weeks before Christmas. 24 Oras’ coverage of the heartbreaking loss of lives after the typhoon was cited for being “a catalyst for public debate regarding the effectiveness of the country’s emergency preparedness”.
Kara David’s I-Witness documentary on children’s rights titled “Alkansiya” earned a nomination in the Current Affairs category. “Alkansiya” tells the story of a 12-year-old boy from Eastern Samar who dives and scours the seabed every night in search of sea cucumbers. Hoping to finish his studies, he eagerly deposits his measly income from selling his daily haul to his “alkansiya” or piggy bank. The documentary also received the prestigious UNICEF Child Rights Award in October of last year in Seoul, Korea.
Entries from GMA Network are the sole nominees from the Philippines and even Asia in the News and Current Affairs categories. The eight nominees come from five countries including Brazil, Germany, Romania, Philippines, and United Kingdom. GMA Network and Brazil’s TV Globo are the only international entries to have earned a nod in both categories.
“The 2013 Nominees reported on subjects ranging from war to politics to human triumph and tragedy,” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the organization conferring the Emmys, in a news release announcing the nominees last August 14.
Winners will be announced at the Lincoln Center in New York on October 1.
For details on how to subscribe to GMA Pinoy TV as well as GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International, visit the GMA International website www.gmanetwork.com/international, Facebook pages www.facebook.com/GMAPinoyTV, www.facebook.com/gmalifetv, and, www.facebook.com/gmanewsinternational, or Twitter pages @GMAPinoyTV and @GMA_LifeTV. GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International can be seen in the US, Canada and in countries the Middle East, North Africa and Asia Pacific.