What Is 31st News & Documentary Emmy Awards

Overview

The 31st News & Documentary Emmy Awards recognized the most outstanding achievements in American news reporting and documentary filmmaking for content produced during 2009. These awards, presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), highlight excellence in journalistic integrity, storytelling, and production quality across broadcast and cable networks.

The ceremony took place on September 27, 2010, at the Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. Unlike the primetime Emmy Awards, the News & Documentary Emmys focus exclusively on non-fiction programming, celebrating reporters, producers, and documentary filmmakers who contribute to public understanding of critical global and national issues.

• CNN won multiple awards, including for its coverage of the 2009 Iranian election protests, recognized for its real-time reporting and risk-taking journalism under government restrictions.
• PBS received accolades for its documentary series Frontline, particularly for the episode "The War Briefing," which examined U.S. military policy in Afghanistan.
• HBO won the Outstanding Documentary Award for When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, Spike Lee’s powerful examination of Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath.
• ABC News earned recognition in the Breaking News category for its coverage of the 2009 Hudson River plane crash involving US Airways Flight 1549.
• NBC Nightly News won for its series on returning U.S. troops, highlighting mental health challenges and reintegration struggles faced by veterans.

How It Works

The News & Documentary Emmy Awards process involves nominations, judging, and a formal ceremony to honor the year’s best non-fiction television content. Entries are submitted by networks, judged by industry peers, and winners are selected based on journalistic merit, production quality, and impact.

• Eligibility Period: All content must have aired between January 1 and December 31, 2009. International broadcasters could also submit entries if distributed in the U.S.
• Judging Panels: Industry professionals, including journalists and filmmakers, evaluate entries in over 50 categories, ensuring peer-reviewed credibility and technical accuracy.
• Nomination Process: After initial screening, the top five entries in each category become nominees, with winners announced at the ceremony.
• Award Categories: Include Outstanding Investigative Report, Best Long-Form Documentary, and Breaking News Coverage, among others.
• Voting System: Winners are determined by a plurality vote from NATAS-certified judges, with ties broken by a runoff round if necessary.
• Production Requirements: Entries must include original footage, proper sourcing, and adherence to journalistic ethics, with documentaries required to include end credits and production details.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of major networks' wins and nominations at the 31st News & Documentary Emmy Awards:

This table illustrates how cable and public broadcasters dominated the awards, with CNN and PBS leading in both nominations and wins. HBO’s success in long-form documentaries underscored the growing influence of premium networks in serious non-fiction storytelling. The competitive landscape reflected a shift toward in-depth reporting and cinematic documentary production during the late 2000s.

Why It Matters

The 31st News & Documentary Emmy Awards not only honored individual excellence but also reinforced the cultural importance of factual storytelling in an era of rapid media change. These awards validate rigorous journalism and encourage networks to invest in high-quality reporting despite shrinking news budgets.

• Journalistic Standards: Winning programs often set benchmarks for accuracy, fairness, and depth, influencing industry-wide practices in newsrooms nationwide.
• Public Awareness: Award-winning documentaries like When the Levees Broke brought national attention to systemic failures in disaster response and racial inequity.
• Historical Record: Documentaries honored in 2010 serve as primary sources for future historians studying events like the 2008 financial crisis and the Iraq War drawdown.
• Network Prestige: Winning an Emmy boosts a network’s reputation, often leading to increased viewership and funding for future projects.
• Support for Investigative Work: Recognition encourages news organizations to allocate resources to long-term, underfunded investigative efforts.
• Global Influence: U.S.-produced documentaries that win Emmys are often distributed internationally, shaping global narratives on American policy and society.

By celebrating excellence in non-fiction media, the 31st News & Documentary Emmy Awards helped preserve the role of truth-telling in television, ensuring that impactful stories continue to reach wide audiences.