Witness (2006 TV programme)
Encyclopedia
Witness is a documentary
television programme that airs on Al Jazeera English. Presented by Ghida Fakhry
, 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." The show occasionally features interviews with the filmmakers.
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 2010. While the scheduling has changed over the years, currently there is at least one new episode each week which premieres on Tuesdays at 22:30 GMT (for half-hour episodes) or Wednesdays at 20:00 GMT (for one-hour episodes) and is re-aired throughout the week.
The show has won multiple documentary awards and has received two International Emmy Award nominations.
, who was recruited from the BBC
. Fakhry took over as presenter in 2010.
In 2008, Witness was made available on U.S. channel Link TV
. Al Jazeera English is not widely available on U.S. television service providers.
shortly before a government siege
garnered an International Emmy Award nomination in 2008. A special on two schools in the West Bank
under Israeli occupation, Return to Nablus, received an International Emmy nomination in 2009.
16 other documentaries featured on Witness have won awards at various international film festivals.
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
television programme that airs on Al Jazeera English. Presented by Ghida Fakhry
Ghida Fakhry
Ghida Fakhry is a Lebanese journalist and is one of the primary broadcasters for the news channel Al Jazeera English at the network's Doha broadcast headquarters. Since January 2010, she has also been the host of Witness, an award-winning documentary program.-Early life and education:Fakhry was...
, 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." The show occasionally features interviews with the filmmakers.
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
Rageh Omaar
Rageh Omaar , is a Somali born British journalist and writer. His latest book Only Half of Me deals with the tensions between these two sides of his identity. He used to be a BBC world affairs correspondent, where he made his name reporting from Iraq...
from 2006 to 2010. While the scheduling has changed over the years, currently there is at least one new episode each week which premieres on Tuesdays at 22:30 GMT (for half-hour episodes) or Wednesdays at 20:00 GMT (for one-hour episodes) and is re-aired throughout the week.
The show has won multiple documentary awards and has received two International Emmy Award nominations.
History
Witness premiered in November 2006 when Al Jazeera English was first launched and was presented by Rageh OmaarRageh Omaar
Rageh Omaar , is a Somali born British journalist and writer. His latest book Only Half of Me deals with the tensions between these two sides of his identity. He used to be a BBC world affairs correspondent, where he made his name reporting from Iraq...
, who was recruited from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. Fakhry took over as presenter in 2010.
In 2008, Witness was made available on U.S. channel Link TV
Link TV
Link TV is a non-commercial American satellite television network providing "diverse perspectives on world and national issues." It is carried nationally on DirecTV and Dish Network. Link TV was launched as a daily, 24-hour non-commercial network in 1999...
. Al Jazeera English is not widely available on U.S. television service providers.
Awards
Witness coverage of the Red Mosque in IslamabadIslamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
shortly before a government siege
Siege of Lal Masjid
The siege of Lal Masjid was a confrontation in July 2007 between Islamic fundamentalist militants and the Government of Pakistan led by General Pervez Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz Administration, then Prime minister of Pakistan...
garnered an International Emmy Award nomination in 2008. A special on two schools in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
under Israeli occupation, Return to Nablus, received an International Emmy nomination in 2009.
16 other documentaries featured on Witness have won awards at various international film festivals.