Witness (2006 TV programme)

Witness

Title card
Presented by Ghida Fakhry (2010–present)
Former:
Rageh Omaar (2006–10)
Broadcast
Original channel Al Jazeera English
Original run November 2006 – present
External links
Website

Witness is the flagship documentary television programme that airs on Al Jazeera English. The programme showcases documentaries commissioned from independent filmmakers around the world. The films focus on stories that receive less international coverage and "people at the margins of society."[1]

Witness was one of the first programmes on Al Jazeera English, and has been airing since the channel's inception in November 2006. It was presented by Rageh Omaar from 2006 to 2009 and Ghida Fahkry from 2009 until 2011. The primary broadcast windows are Sundays for their half hour programmes and Wednesdays for their hour-long programmes with repeats appearing throughout the week.[2]

The show has won multiple documentary awards including the Peabody and has received two International Emmy Award nominations. The programme team has also served as the creative staff behind other Al Jazeera English series including Viewfinder Latin America(2012-2015) and Viewfinder Asia (2012-2014), Artscape(2009–2014), Wildlife Warzone (2013) and in 2014 Rebel Architecture.

History

Witness premiered in November 2006 when Al Jazeera English was first launched and was presented by Rageh Omaar, who was recruited from the BBC.[3][4] Fakhry took over as presenter in 2010.[5]

In 2008, Witness was made available on U.S. channel Link TV. It is now shown on Al Jazeera America.

Awards

Witness‍ '​ coverage of the Red Mosque in Islamabad shortly before a government siege garnered an International Emmy Award nomination in 2008.[6] A special on two schools in the West Bank under Israeli occupation, Return to Nablus, received an International Emmy nomination in 2009.[7]

16 other documentaries featured on Witness have won awards at various international film festivals.[8]

References

  1. ↑ . Al Jazeera English. 2010-08-02 http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/witness/2010/01/201011491213274215.html. Retrieved 2011-11-13. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ "Coming soon on Witness". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  3. ↑ Abou-Alsamh, Rasheed (2006-11-17). "Al Jazeera in English a Welcome Voice for the Third World". Arab News. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  4. ↑ Crossley-Holland, Dominic (2006-11-13). "Dominic Crossley-Holland on Broadcasting". The Independent. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  5. ↑ "Biography: Ghida Fakhry". Al Jazeera English. 2010-08-02. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  6. ↑ Triplett, William (2008-08-13). "Al Jazeera English earns Emmy noms". Variety. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  7. ↑ Blobaum, Heidi (2009-07-27). "Al Jazeera English Nominated Again for International Emmy Awards". Link TV. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  8. ↑ "Witness Awards". Al Jazeera English. 2010-11-08. Retrieved 2011-11-13.

External links