Dear All,
Last night was a spectacular night for NBC News, as we took home four awards at the News & Documentary Emmys. The awards reflect our commitment to vibrant, high quality journalism – whether covering international conflicts, reporting major breaking news, or telling important human stories. NBC News won more hard news awards than our competition combined. It is a huge tribute to each and every person working at NBC News and we should all feel very proud.
Richard Engel’s exclusive reporting for Nightly News from inside the besieged Syrian town of Kobani was awarded “Outstanding Hard News Report In A Regularly Scheduled Newscast.” The team were the first Western network journalists to enter the town- an assignment that took a great deal of preparation, experience, and even more courage. The result was world-beating coverage that was dramatic, revelatory and deeply poignant.
Richard and his team were also rewarded for their extraordinary coverage of the Ukraine conflict as it unfolded on the streets of Kiev and beyond. They received the award for “Outstanding Coverage Of A Breaking News Story In A Regularly Scheduled Newscast” because Richard not only delivered powerful eyewitness reporting from the clashes on the streets, but also went beyond the barricades to tell the story from compelling and unique angles.
When Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 fell from the sky over Ukraine, the NBC News Specials unit worked seamlessly with the TODAY show team to deliver what the Emmys judged to be the best breaking news coverage of the year. With Matt and Savannah in the anchor chair, NBC News delivered “Outstanding Live Coverage of A Current News Story-Long Form” to take the Emmy home.
Kate Snow’s disturbing and revelatory reporting of America’s heroin epidemic for our series “Hooked” was honored with the Emmy for “Best Story In A Regularly Scheduled Newscast.” The series aired on Nightly News and the TODAY show, and also featured Mark Potter’s reports from Columbia’s poppy fields. This gripping series brought depth and humanity to an underreported national crisis and delivered true and lasting impact.
I also want to congratulate our partners at MSNBC for their win of “Outstanding News Discussion and Analysis.” Chris Hayes and Maria Shriver were deservedly honored for their groundbreaking special about the changing face of poverty in this country.
And it was a great night for NBC’s local stations too – the only two regional awards both went to NBC stations: KFOR for their coverage of the devastating tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, and KNTV for their investigative reporting on a corporate scandal in the food industry.
These Emmy awards—along with the many nominations we also received—represent the very best of NBC News and all of you. They demonstrate what sets us apart from the rest of the field and recognize our relentless pursuit of world-beating journalism, vibrant storytelling and exclusive content.
It is a true honor to have our work rewarded by our peers, at a time when our viewers are also showing their appreciation for the work we do. I could not be more proud to be part of this great organization.
Thank you and congratulations to you all.
Deborah
