PBS NewsHour’s “Desperate Journey” Named News & Documentary Emmy Award Recipient

Arlington, VA (September 29, 2021)— PBS NewsHour’s series “Desperate Journey” was named the recipient of the News & Documentary Emmy for Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a Newscast. NewsHour’s Vice President of Operations Matt Speiser was also recognized as one of the recipients of the Chairman’s Award for his behind the scenes work to ensure the safety of NewsHour’s reporting and production teams during the Covid-19 pandemic. Both awards were presented by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences during the virtual awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 28.

Desperate Journey explores the treacherous journey faced by migrants along the Darien Gap.

PBS NewsHour received four News & Documentary Emmy Award nominations in total for its 2020 reporting.

PBS NewsHour’s Desperate Journey

The Darien Gap, which straddles northern Colombia and southern Panama, is named for the 66-mile long break of the PanAmerican highway. This vast expanse has become the nexus of one of the world’s longest, most dangerous migration routes. As Europe and the U.S. closed their doors to asylum-seekers, thousands were pushed to travel through South America to reach the U.S. But the only way to head north into Panama is by traversing one of the world’s most-hostile jungles – by foot. In this two-part series, NewsHour documented the extraordinary journey of migrants, as they converge in the Darien Gap from many places to tell the larger story of the global migration crisis.

Credits: senior foreign affairs producer Morgan Till; special correspondent Nadja Drost; producers Bruno Federico and Carlos Villalón; cameraperson Bruno Federico; and executive producer Sara Just.

Press Contact: Ella Richardson, erichardson (at) newshour (dot) org