INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY TEAMS WITH NBC NEWS’ PEACOCK PRODUCTIONS AND EMMY-WINNING JOURNALIST TONY HARRIS TO PRODUCE NEW SPECIAL “HATE IN AMERICA”
Harris Probes Modern-Day Racism in a New Special Premiering on Investigation Discovery in 1Q 2015
July 9, 2014
(Beverly Hill, Cal.) - Despite being a nation founded on "liberty and justice for all," some Americans argue that our country faces an ongoing double standard of equality. Hate groups like the New Black Panthers and Neo Nazis are experiencing a resurgence among post-Civil Rights Era generations, and inequalities within the justice system have sparked major debates across the country, while hate speech - like that of former NBA franchise owner Donald Sterling - is becoming more common place. In HATE IN AMERICA, a new special greenlit by Investigation Discovery (ID), Emmy-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, and Al Jazeera America anchor Tony Harris pulls back the curtain on modern-day racism, coming face to face with both the criminals and victims of hate, to examine the current realities of race relations and explore the so-called "rational roots of irrational behavior." The one-hour special, produced by NBC News' award-winning production arm Peacock Productions, will premiere on ID in early 2015.
"It is both shocking and disheartening in this day and age - let alone, in this country - that people still experience extreme prejudice and, indeed hatred, often preventing them from being able to pursue their fundamental rights to a normal life," said Henry Schleiff, Group President, Investigation Discovery, Destination America, American Heroes Channel and Discovery Fit & Health. "Armed with tenacious passion and a unique worldly perspective on American race relations, ID is thrilled to welcome Tony Harris' journalistic approach to the network along with our partners at NBC News' Peacock Productions."
HATE IN AMERICA is produced for Investigation Discovery by NBC News' Peacock Productions with Sharon Scott as President and GM and Elizabeth Fischer as Executive Producer. For Investigation Discovery, Lorna Thomas is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, Destination America, American Heroes Channel, and Discovery Fit & Health.
About Tony Harris
Tony Harris is a news anchor, television correspondent, and filmmaker currently anchoring Al Jazeera America's (AJAM) 4pm and 6pm newscasts from Al Jazeera's US headquarters in New York City. Previously, Harris anchored the flagship Al Jazeera Newshour from the company's global headquarters in Doha, Qatar becoming the first African-American anchor to be based outside the U.S. for a global news network.
Before his current position, Harris anchored CNN Newsroom with Tony Harris for CNN and was a member of the teams that earned CNN George Foster Peabody Awards for coverage of the British petroleum oil spill and Hurricane Katrina, and an Alfred I. duPont Award for coverage of the Southeast Asia tsunami.
About NBC News' Peacock Productions
Peacock Productions is a nonfiction production company that combines the editorial expertise, technical resources, and seasoned talent of NBCUniversal to create series, events, and live specials for global audiences. Peacock Productions reaches more than 300 million people worldwide every year across broadcast, cable, syndication, and emerging platforms with its award-winning specials and series. Sharon Scott is the President and General Manager.