Arise News, the emerging global news and entertainment channel, yesterday won its first Emmy award in New York, USA, for the documentary, “Game Changers: How the Harlem Globetrotters Battled Racism”.
According to Thisday, in a statement by the network’s management, ARISE said the documentary won in the Nostalgia Programme category.
On winning the Emmy, Executive Producer, Alan Weiss, sent a simple note to the Chairman/CEO of ARISE News and Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Newspapers, Nduka Obaigbena, stating: “Thank you Nduka, I’m glad we made you proud!”
In a congratulatory message to ARISE, Obaigbena said: “Congratulations to all founding members of the ARISE News channel in NY, London and Africa who made this feat possible even before the formal launch of ARISE News!”
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences nominated the documentary produced by ARISE News for the 58th Annual Emmy Awards, New York, which was held at the Marriott Hotel, Times Square, New York City on Saturday night.
The documentary “Game Changers: How the Harlem Globetrotters Battled Racism” – produced by ARISE News – got nominated in the Nostalgia Programme category.
Former LA Lakers owner Don Sterling’s explosive comments exposed the undertone of racism that still exists in professional basketball. No player is more aware of this pernicious bias than those who played for the Harlem Globetrotters in the 1940s and 1950s.
Long after Jackie Robinson hit his first ball as a Dodger, the NBA was still a “whites only” league.
This Arise News special took a historical look at the early days of professional basketball and how the Harlem Globetrotters not only dealt with racism but helped change the world of sports.
“The story of the Harlem Globetrotters mirrors the civil rights struggle in America. It’s important that these often overlooked heroes – lionized around the world, but treated as second class citizens at home – receive the recognition they deserve,” said Weiss after the nomination.
Hosted by ARISE News anchor Julian Phillips, the documentary included interviews with former Globetrotters: Wilt Chamberlain, Meadowlark Lemon, Marques Haynes, William “Pop” Gates, Gene Hudgins, Andy Johnson, Charlie Hoxie and Carl Green.
Members of the Arise Team who contributed are: Executive Producers: Nduka Obaigbena and Alan J. Weiss; Host: Julian Phillips; Writer: Deborah Gobble; Producer: Marilou Yacoub; Graphics and Animation: Pierre Vilmenay; Studio Director: Larry Michaels; and Studio Director: Jack Niesi.
This is the first win for ARISE News since its soft launch in 2013.
ARISE News, a THISDAY sister news and entertainment channel, was launched on the Multichoice platforms of DSTV Channel 416 and GOTv Channel 44 on January 27, 2015.
