CBS Tops 2025 News Emmy Wins; CNN’s ‘The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper’ and ABC’s ‘World News Tonight with David Muir’ Land Key Program Prizes
CNN led night one of the 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards, with five wins in the news categories — including one for “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper” as outstanding recorded news program. Right behind CNN, scoring four wins apiece were ABC, CBS and Nat Geo.
Winners of the news categories were presented Wednesday by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences at the Palladium Times Square in New York City. On had was “Today” weather and feature anchor Al Roker (also the co-host of the third hour of “Today”), who received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Presenting the award was former “Today” anchor Bryant Gumbel.
Among other big wins, ABC picked up the top live news program Emmy for “World News Tonight with David Muir.” The evening’s presenters included Jason Bellini (Scripps), Morgan Chesky (NBC News), Katie Kingsbury (The New York Times), Leila Molana-Allen (PBS NewsHour), Rhana Natour (Al Jazeera), Abby Phillip (CNN), Deborah Roberts, (ABC News), Julio Vaqueiro (Telemundo) and Bill Whitaker (CBS News).
The documentary portion of the 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards will be awarded on Thursday. Overall, Disney’s National Geographic led all noms this year 46 nominations. Behind Nat Geo was PBS with 37, followed by CNN (33), ABC (including Hulu, that brought it to 30), Netflix (29) and CBS (28). Among Spanish-lingo outlets, Univision led with 13.
“The talents of our journalistic and documentary communities have profoundly shaped our culture and
nation,” said Terry O’Reilly, chair of NATAS. “In the face of an evolving media landscape, their
dedication to truth and storytelling has illuminated critical issues and empowered the public.”
Adam Sharp, president and CEO of NATAS, added: “We are proud to celebrate those who do the brave
work of bringing truth to our nation’s screens. Their commitment sets a high bar for future generations of
journalists and documentarians. We are especially pleased to recognize the contributions of Al Roker and
our 2025 Gold & Silver Circle honorees.”
The Gold and Silver Circle recognizes professionals “who have made significant contributions to television for 50 and 25 years, respectively.” This year’s news inductees in the Gold Circle were Marc Burstein (senior executive producer & mentor, ABC) and Martha Teichner (correspondent & journalist, CBS Sunday Morning). Silver Circle news inductees included Akram Abi-Hanna (veteran cameraman & photojournalist, ABC News), Cater Lee (executive management, Spectrum News and E.W. Scripps), Bill Owens (executive producer, “60 Minutes”) and Deborah Roberts (journalist & co-anchor, “20/20”).
As part of a scheduling realignment at the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences, the 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards moved to the summer, instead of its normal fall dates, this year.
The 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards received more than 2200 submissions from the calendar year of 2024, and nominations were judged by a pool of more than 980 people from across the television and streaming/digital media news and documentary community.
Here are the winners across 41 news categories:
Outstanding Live News Program
** WINNER: ABC World News Tonight with David Muir
ABC
The CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell
CBS
CBS Mornings
CBS
Good Morning America
ABC
NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt
NBC News
Top Story with Tom Llamas
NBC News NOW
Outstanding Recorded News Program
**WINNER: The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper
CNN Worldwide
CBS Sunday Morning
CBS
Dateline NBC
NBC News
In Real Life
Evident | Scripps News
Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller
National Geographic
Outstanding Emerging Journalist
** WINNER: Natasha Zouves
NewsNation
Gerardo del Valle
ProPublica | The Texas Tribune | Univision
Skyler Henry
CBS
Jay O’Brien
ABC News
Katie Polglase
CNN Worldwide
Outstanding Breaking News Coverage
** WINNER: Hurricane Helene Landfall: Tracking Helene
The Weather Channel
Hurricane Milton
CNN Worldwide
Hurricane Milton State of Emergency (ABC World News Tonight with David Muir)
ABC
On the Brink
PBS News Hour
South Korea Declares Marital Law
CNN Worldwide
The Trump Assassination Attempt
The New York Times
Outstanding Continuing News Coverage – Short Form
** WINNER: Myanmar’s Civil War
BBC News
Clarissa Ward: The Fall of Damascus
CNN Worldwide
Gang-Fueled Unrest in Haiti
CNN Worldwide
Inside Syria: Assad Overthrown
ABC News
Nick Paton Walsh Covers the War in Ukraine
CNN Worldwide
Outstanding Continuing News Coverage – Long Form
** WINNER: Border Coverage (60 Minutes)
CBS News
Abortion in America: Fallout from the Dobbs Decision (Nightline)
ABC
Donie O’Sullivan: MisinfoNation Trilogy
CNN Worldwide
Sudan’s Civil War (PBS News Hour)
PBS News Hour
A Week in Israel & The Pager Plot (60 Minutes)
CBS News
Outstanding Light Feature – Short Form
** WINNER: Face to Face (CBS Sunday Morning)
CBS
African Migration: The Deadly Atlantic Route (ABC News Nightline and ABC News Prime)
ABC
Empty Rooms (CBS Sunday Morning)
CBS
How Tyson Captured All The Pork You Eat (And Made Billions)
More Perfect Union
Return to Normandy (ABC World News Tonight with David Muir)
ABC
Outstanding Light Feature – Long Form
** WINNER: The Man Who Feeds Gaza’s Children
Business Insider
Bhutan (60 Minutes)
CBS News
The Cap Arcona (60 Minutes)
CBS News
Last Lands: Central Africa (ABC News Live and Global Conservation)
ABC
The Moses Videos (In the Shadows with Jason Bellini)
Scripps News
The Playing Field (The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper)
CNN Worldwide
Outstanding Hard News Feature – Short Form
** WINNER: She Survived an Airstrike that Killed Her Entire Family in Gaza
The New York Times
Haiti: Inside the City Ruled by Over 100 Gangs (World News America)
BBC News
How Indiscriminate Israeli Fire Killed Half a Family in Gaza
CNN Worldwide
A Mother’s Tragic Tale from War-Torn Gaza
CNN Worldwide
Nowhere to Call Home: The Working Homeless (Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien)
Hearst Television
Sde Teiman: Israeli Whistleblowers Detail Abuse
CNN Worldwide
The Walking Route
CNN Worldwide
Outstanding Hard News Feature – Long Form
** WINNER: Children of the Darien Gap (Fault Lines)
Al Jazeera International USA
All That Remains (Fault Lines )
Al Jazeera International USA
Caught in a Coup (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
A Hidden War (In Real Life)
Evident | Scripps News
On the Front Lines of Sudan’s Forgotten War
The Wall Street Journal
Outstanding Investigative News Coverage – Short Form
** WINNER: Europe’s Migration Crisis
BBC News
Dealing the Dead (NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt)
NBC News
Grandmother Shot and Killed Fleeing Gaza
CNN Worldwide
Hospitals in Peril, The Looting of Steward Health Care
CBS News
Maine Shooting: Missed Warnings (Scripps News Investigates)
Scripps News
Outstanding Investigative News Coverage – Long Form
** WINNER: Targeting Americans (60 Minutes )
CBS
Baby Heaven: The Buried Stories of Camp Lejeune
NBC News NOW
Documenting Police Use of Force (Frontline)
PBS
The Drug Mule Scam (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
How ‘Trophy’ Videos Link Paramilitary Commanders to War Crimes in Sudan
The New York Times
Missed Warnings (Scripps News Investigates)
Scripps News
Outstanding Live News Special
** WINNER: 2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA
NASA+
CNN Presidential Town Hall with Vice President Kamala Harris
CNN Worldwide
Decision 2024: Election Night
NBC News
Special Report: Assassination Attempt
NBC News
Total Eclipse of the Heartland
CBS
Your Voice Your Vote: The 2024 Election
ABC News
Outstanding Recorded News Special
** WINNER: Jimmy Carter: A Full Life (20/20)
ABC
Exodus: Global Migration (ABC News Live)
ABC
Growing Broke: Forever Chemicals in America’s Heartland (NewsNation Prime)
NewsNation
Hostages: The Road Home (The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper)
CNN Worldwide
Surviving Nova (Vice Special Report)
VICE News
Outstanding News Discussion & Analysis
** WINNER (TIE): America First: A Fareed Zakaria Special
CNN Worldwide
** WINNER (TIE): Elliott County Voted for Democrats For 144 Years. Then Came Trump…
More Perfect Union
American Autocracy: It Could Happen Here (Deadline | White House)
MSNBC
Independent America (In Real Life)
Evident | Scripps News
Israel-Hamas War (Face the Nation)
CBS
Outstanding News Discussion & Analysis – Editorial and Opinion
** WINNER: Two Weeks Inside Gaza’s Ruined Hospitals (The New York Times Opinion)
The New York Times
Deadlock: An Election Story
PBS
Grab Your Calculators. We’re Going to Jail. (The New York Times Opinion)
The New York Times
How Tennessee Keeps Nearly Half a Million People From Voting (The New York Times Opinion)
The New York Times
I Put Him on Death Row. He Shouldn’t Die. (The New York Times Opinion)
The New York Times
Outstanding Live Interview – Short Form
** WINNER: Interview with Jake Larson (Amanpour)
CNN Worldwide
Breaking News: The Assassination Attempt of Donald Trump
BBC News
Interview with Oklahoma School Superintendent Ryan Walters (Newsroom with Pamela Brown)
CNN Worldwide
Interview with the Parents of Breonna Moffett (NewsNight with Abby Phillip)
CNN Worldwide
Interview with Vice President Kamala Harris (Anderson Cooper 360)
CNN Worldwide
Outstanding Live Interview – Long Form
** WINNER: President Biden Exclusive (NBC News Specials & Nightly News)
NBC News
Interview with JD Vance (State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash)
CNN Worldwide
Interview with the Parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin (Anderson Cooper 360)
CNN Worldwide
Interview with Trump Advisor Stephen Miller (The Beat with Ari Melber)
MSNBC
One on One with President Biden (Good Morning America)
ABC News
Outstanding Edited Interview
** WINNER: Pope Francis (60 Minutes)
CBS News
Celine’s Story: An NBC News Special with Hoda Kotb (NBC News Special Report)
NBC News
The Democratic Ticket (60 Minutes)
CBS News
Ketanji Brown Jackson (CBS Sunday Morning)
CBS
Prisoner in Russia: The Brittney Griner Interview (20/20)
ABC
Outstanding Science and Technology Coverage
** WINNER: Quantum Arms Race (The Future with Hannah Fry)
Bloomberg
Darwin’s War (In Real Life)
Scripps News
Farming the Water (Hope in the Water)
PBS
Growing Broke: Forever Chemicals in America’s Heartland (NewsNation Prime)
NewsNation
The Promise (60 Minutes)
CBS News
Sextortion (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Outstanding Climate, Environment and Weather Coverage
** WINNER: Maui’s Deadly Firestorm (Frontline)
PBS
Apes (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Last Lands: Indonesia and Ecuador (ABC News Live in Partnership with Global Conservation)
ABC
Relief, NC (60 Minutes)
CBS News
Toxic Trifecta (PBS News Hour)
PBS
Warning to the World: Australia’s Climate Disaster (The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper)
CNN Worldwide
Outstanding Health or Medical Coverage
** WINNER: Body Parts (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Black Market Meds (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Lie to Fly (The New York Times Presents)
FX | Hulu
Master of the Mind (60 Minutes)
CBS News
Starving Gaza (Fault Lines)
Al Jazeera International USA
Twice Harmed: Asylum Seekers Face Sexual Violence & Abortion Bans (Alex Wagner Tonight)
MSNBC
What’s My Life Worth? (The New York Times Opinion)
The New York Times
Outstanding Arts, Culture or Entertainment Coverage
** WINNER: Illegal Gambling (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
10 Million Names (ABC News Live)
ABC
Bruce Springsteen: Backstage and Backstreets (ABC News Studios)
ABC
Finding His Voice (CBS Sunday Morning)
CBS
The Last Heroes of Normandy (ABC World News Tonight with David Muir and Nightline)
ABC
Netflix is Betting Big on Latin America (The Circuit with Emily Chang)
Bloomberg
Outstanding Business, Consumer or Economic Coverage
** WINNER: The True Cost of Mining Electric Car Battery Metals (True Cost)
Business Insider
Migrant Smugglers (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Raising the Stakes: America’s Growing Sports Gambling Addiction (CBS Reports)
CBS
Trashed: The Secret World of Plastic Exports (ABC News Live)
ABC
The Trustbuster (60 Minutes)
CBS News
Outstanding Crime and Justice Coverage
** WINNER: Hash Smugglers (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Assassins (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Breakdown in Maine (Frontline)
PBS
How Russian Hackers Stole Millions from U.S. Investors — Putin’s Trader
CNBC
Sins of the Parents: The Crumbley Trials (ABC News Studios)
Hulu
Outstanding News Program in Spanish
** WINNER: Noticiero Univision
Univision
Conclusiones
CNN Worldwide
Noticias Telemundo con Julio Vaqueiro
Telemundo
Noticiero Univision Edicion Digital
Univision
Outstanding Journalist in Spanish Language Media
** WINNER: Julio Vaqueiro
Telemundo
Damià Bonmatí
Telemundo
Albert Martínez
The Weather Channel en Español
Pau Mosquera
CNN Worldwide
Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in Spanish
** WINNER: Harris o Trump: Batalla Final Decision 2024 (Noticias Telemundo)
Telemundo
Atentado Contra Donald Trump (Noticiero Univision)
Univision
Eclipse Total (Noticias Telemundo)
Telemundo
Outstanding Investigative News Coverage in Spanish
** WINNER: NarcoFiles: Tren de Aragua (CNN Worldwide)
CNN Worldwide
Cada Vez Más Migrantes Viajan Encerrados en Tráileres por México Rumbo a EE.UU.
Telemundo
China Inc: Un Negocio Criminal de Aduanas (N+ Focus)
VIX | TelevisaUnivision
Deportación Infantil: el Muro Mexicano (N+ Focus)
VIX | TelevisaUnivision
El Darién, Cementerio Sin Cruces (Noticiero Univision)
Univision
La Lucha por Salvar las Últimas 8 Vaquitas Marinas del Mundo (El Último Refugio de la Vaquita Marina)
VICE News
Outstanding Feature Story in Spanish
** WINNER: Nacer Sin Extremidades: la Vida de Carlos Candelario Tras la Exposición a Pesticidas de su Madre
Univision
El Camino Correcto: el Largo Viaje Para Pedir Asilo de Una Familia Venezolana
ProPublica | The Texas Tribune | Univision
Más y Más y Más Flores
The New York Times
Nuestro Planeta: Voces del Cambio Climático
Telemundo Station Group
To Live in a Wild Sea
The New York Times
Outstanding Writing – News
** WINNER: CBS Sunday Morning: Empty Rooms (CBS Sunday Morning)
CBS
Dr. Kuznetzov (60 Minutes)
CBS News
Elephant V. Man (The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper)
CNN Worldwide
Growing Broke: Forever Chemicals in America’s Heartland (NewsNation Prime)
NewsNation
A Mother’s Tragic Tale from War-Torn Gaza (CNN Worldwide)
CNN Worldwide
Apes (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Outstanding Research – News
** WINNER: The Hidden Autopilot Data That Reveals Why Teslas Crash
The Wall Street Journal
Apes (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Breakdown in Maine (Frontline)
PBS
The Cap Arcona (60 Minutes)
CBS News
Documenting Police Use of Force (Frontline)
PBS
K File Investigation in North Carolina Governor’s Race (CNN Worldwide)
CNN Worldwide
Starving Gaza (Fault Lines)
Al Jazeera International USA
Outstanding Direction – News
** WINNER: ABC News Your Voice Your Vote (The ABC News Presidential Debate)
ABC
Assassins (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Caught in a Coup (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
The Drug Mule Scam (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Election Night
NBC News
Surviving Nova (Vice Special Report)
VICE News
Outstanding Video Journalism
** WINNER: A Hidden War (In Real Life)
Evident | Scripps News
Caught in a Coup (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Hash Smugglers (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Migrant Smugglers (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
On the Front Lines With Ukraine’s Killer Drone Pilot
The Wall Street Journal
Outstanding Editing – News
** WINNER: Children of the Darien Gap (Fault Lines)
Al Jazeera International USA
Assassins (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
The Drug Mule Scam (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Illegal Gambling (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Notes of Protest: Afghanistan’s Orchestra in Exile
NBC News NOW | NBC News
Outstanding Graphic Design – News
** WINNER: You’re Being Lied To About Voter Fraud. Here’s the Truth. (The New York Times Opinion)
The New York Times
AFP Videographic : The International Criminal Court
AFP
Four Gazans Show How War Devastated Their Coastline
Business Insider
The Hidden Autopilot Data That Reveals Why Teslas Crash
The Wall Street Journal
The Price of Money (Bloomberg News Spotlight)
Bloomberg
Rohingya Hijras Facing Transphobic Abuse and Sexual Violence
CNN Worldwide
Outstanding Show Open or Title Sequence – News
** WINNER: Election Night Live with Brian Williams
Prime Video
2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA
NASA+
Assassins (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Migrant Smugglers (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Total Eclipse of the Heartland
CBS News
What Happened to Karen Silkwood: The Lost Tapes (Impact x Nightline)
ABC | Hulu
Outstanding Lighting Direction – News
** WINNER: Illegal Gambling (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Assassins (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Hash Smugglers (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Sextortion (Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller)
National Geographic
Technical Excellence – News
** WINNER: NBC News: Election Night Coverage
NBC News
America Decides, Election ’24
CBS News
CNN Presidential Debate: President Joe Biden & Former President Donald J. Trump
CNN Worldwide
Telemundo Decision 2024
Telemundo
Trafficked: Underworlds with Mariana van Zeller
National Geographic
Outstanding Promotional Announcement – News
** WINNER: No Fear (ABC World News Tonight with David Muir)
ABC
Election Night
ABC News
I’M IN (Image Campaign) (Good Morning America)
ABC
Sins of the Parents
ABC News Studios | Hulu
Steve Kornacki Brand Campaign (Decision 2024)
MSNBC
Outstanding Regional News Story: Breaking/Spot News
** WINNER: Jet Crash on I-75
WINK News
Deadly Tornado Coverage
KCCI
Lakewood Church Shooting
KPRC
North Texas Tornadoes
WFAA
This is not Normal
KUSA
Outstanding Regional News Story: Investigative
** WINNER: In Plane Sight
WANF-TV
Coroner’s Criminal Past
WWL-TV
Disabled in Danger
WFAA
Double Injustice
WVUE
KARE 11 Investigates: Nowhere to Turn
KARE-TV
Spit Hoods Can Be Deadly. Police Still Use Them Anyway
WTSP-TV
