Scott Anger is a documentary filmmaker and journalist who tells stories about human rights, foreign policy, and the natural environment. His work has garnered multiple awards from the Overseas Press Club, Columbia University, the Emmy Awards, the George Foster Peabody Awards, and has been recognized in film festivals worldwide. Assignments have taken him to more than 50 countries over the past 30 years.
His most recent project, China, The U.S. & The Rise of Xi Jinping, tells the story of China’s leader, his vision, and his impact on relations around the world.
Scott started his career as an independent photojournalist working on assignment for publications such as TIME, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, National Geographic Traveller, US News & World Report, The Washington Post, The Associated Press, and The Fresno Bee. Along with his photography he produced audio stories for KQED, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
In 1998, Scott served as the Voice of America radio bureau chief in Islamabad from where he covered news and events in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia. While based in South Asia, he established and staffed one of only five foreign news bureaus that operated full-time under the first Taliban regime in Kabul.
After the attacks on the United States in 2001, Scott started working with public television’s premiere documentary program, FRONTLINE. Since then, he has helped make 23 films for the program, including three that have been awarded the Alfred I. duPont Award for Excellence in Journalism, television’s highest journalism award presented by Columbia University.
In addition to his current affairs television work, Scott has filmed and co-produced eight feature-length documentary films: Home Front (SHOWTIME), Greensboro; Closer to the Truth (PBS/theatrical), Witnesses to a Secret War (PBS), Life in Limbo (independent/theatrical), The Lost Bird Project (independent/theatrical), The Return (independent/theatrical), Elephant Path (independent/theatrical), and True Hearts (independent/theatrical). He has also directed, produced, filmed and edited non-fiction work for clients such as The International Rescue Committee, Starbucks Coffee, and the Open Society Foundations.
Scott was the first director of video at The Los Angeles Times, where he developed editorial video strategy for the organization and led a staff of full-time video journalists. After leaving the newspaper, he served as the managing director of The Lost Bird Project, an art-focused, environmental nonprofit organization based in New York City.
Scott has taught storytelling and documentary production workshops organized by the National Press Photographers Association, Western Kentucky University, Syracuse University, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He consults with businesses and non profit organizations on media strategy, audience engagement and content distribution. Scott has been a panelist and lecturer at a number of industry gatherings including the TriBeca Film Festival, NPPA’s annual Convergence Conference and the British Broadcasting Corporation’s annual conference in London.
Scott is an FAA Part 61 instrument-rated private pilot, a Part 107 commercial sUAS remote pilot with more than 180 flight hours, and FAA-certified ground instructor. He lives in Southern California and is a studio artist at the Angels Gate Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
Awards
2024 George Foster Peabody Award
America and the Taliban (PBS FRONTLINE)
2024 Overseas Press Club - The Peter Jennings Award - Citation
America and the Taliban (PBS FRONTLINE)
2023 Scripps Howard - Excellence in National/International Investigative Reporting, the Ursula and Gilbert Farfel Prize
Putin's Attack on Ukraine: Documenting War Crimes (PBS FRONTLINE)
2023 Robert F. Kennedy Book and Journalism Award - International Television Award and Grand Prize Award
Putin's Attack on Ukraine: Documenting War Crimes (PBS FRONTLINE)
2022 Overseas Press Club - Roy Rowan Award for Investigative Journalism
Putin's Attack on Ukraine: Documenting War Crimes (PBS FRONTLINE)
2021 Overseas Press Club - The Peter Jennings Award - Citation
The Jihadist (PBS FRONTLINE)
2019 George Foster Peabody Award
Separated: Children at the Border (PBS FRONTLINE)
2019 Alfred I. duPont - Columbia University Award (Gold Baton)
The Gang Crackdown & Bitter Rivals: Iran & Saudi Arabia (PBS FRONTLINE)
2016 George Foster Peabody Award
Confronting ISIS (PBS FRONTLINE)
2016 Emmy Award - New Approaches: Current News Coverage
The Dead Unknown (Center for Investigative Reporting)
2015 Emmy Award - Outstanding Business Reporting
China Pork (Center for Investigative Reporting)
2014 Emmy Award - Public/Current/Community Affairs Program/Special
Hunger in the Valley of Plenty (KQED and the Center for Investigative Reporting)
2012 Best Cinematography - Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
The Lost Bird Project
2010 Jury Award for Cinematography - Archaeological Film Festival
Life in Limbo
2010 Overseas Press Club - The Edward R. Murrow Award
Obama's War (PBS FRONTLINE)
2004 Alfred I. duPont - Columbia University Award (Silver Baton)
Truth, War and Consequences (PBS FRONTLINE)
2003 Award of Excellence - Royal Television Society, London
Behind Enemy Lines (BBC)
2002 Alfred I. duPont - Columbia University Award (Gold Baton)
Saudi Time Bomb (PBS FRONTLINE)