Philippines' network snags Int'l Emmy nods

NEW YORK — The Philippines' GMA Network has received two International Emmy nominations in the Current Affairs and News categories.

GMA's "I-Witness - Alkansiya" (Piggy Bank), about a boy in remote Eastern Samar who earns a measly living catching fish, collecting seashells and diving for sea cucumbers, were nominated in the Current Affairs category. Also nominated were "Banaz: An Honour Killing" (Britain), "Jornal Nacional" (Brazil) "ZDFzoom - The Fukushima Lie" (Germany) .

The nominees in the News category included Brazilian TV Globo's "Jornal Nacional" for its coverage of the deadly January 2012 collapse of three buildings in downtown Rio de Janeiro and GMA's "24 Oras" (24 Hours) for its reporting on Typhoon Pablo.

The other News nominees were Romania's "ProTV News" for its reports on a massive snowstorm that buried the country and Britain's Channel 4 News for its broadcasts on the battle for the Syrian city of Homs.

Bruce L. Paisner, President and CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, noted that the Channel 4 programs paid tribute to Sunday Times reporter Marie Colvin of the U.S. and French photographer Remi Ochlik, who were killed in the fighting in Homs.

"We join in honoring their memory and in recognizing the courage of so many journalists who brave danger on a daily basis," Paisner said in a news release announcing the nominees on Wednesday.

The international winners will be announced in New York on Oct. 1 as part of the ceremony presenting the News and Documentary Emmy Awards to their American counterparts.