MacNeil/Lehrer Productions

Nancy Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:36:17 +0000

One of America’s most politically-involved first ladies, Nancy Reagan held a powerful role in her husband’s administration – one that often went unnoticed during his presidency, but which historians recognize greatly affected his policies and helped ensure his success. Nancy Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime examines her influence, which had an impact on everything from Reagan’s cabinet appointees to the creation of the “Just Say No” campaign. The program also explores Nancy Reagan’s personal life, from her early life to her advocacy for Alzheimer’s research in the 2000s.

Online, the documentary site features a complete script of the show, annotated with references and links. Visitors can view photo essays on Nancy Reagan’s life, her time in Hollywood, and the Reagan family’s state dinners and travels around the world. The site also features additional information about Nancy’s influence on the AIDS crisis in the 80s and links to information about her Alzheimer’s disease advocacy.

Betty Ford: The Real Deal

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:33:07 +0000

Narrated by award-winning actress Jane Alexander, Betty Ford: The Real Deal explores the life of one of the most influential first ladies. The program traces Mrs. Ford’s outspoken life in the White House and her public battles with cancer and addiction that captivated and changed the lives of millions.

From her diagnosis through her intervention and recovery, to the establishment of the treatment facility bearing her name, Betty Ford: The Real Deal features never-before-seen photos and film footage, interviews with Mrs. Ford, her four children, close friends and many others, including former White House photographer David Hume Kennerly and presidential historians Michael Beschloss and Richard Norton Smith.

Lady Bird

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:29:12 +0000

Lady Bird

MLP’s first entry in what would become the First Ladies series, Lady Bird follows the life of Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson from her birth, through meeting Lyndon Johnson, to her growth from a shy wife to a bold campaigner and adviser for her husband. A political figure in her own right, Lady Bird launched her own legislative campaign for the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 – the first ever by a first lady – and in doing so forever changed the role of a first lady to include participation in the political process.

Online, the Lady Bird site contains a complete history and biography of the first lady. It also features in-depth information on several key topics in her life, both political and personal. The documentary, hosted by presidential historian Michael Beschloss, features exclusive interviews, excerpts from taped White House conversations and Johnson home movies.

MacNeil/Lehrer Productions

admin — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:42:51 +0000

For thirty years, MacNeil/Lehrer Productions has been synonymous with trustworthiness, depth, creativity, and innovation in broadcast journalism. MacNeil/Lehrer Productions produces the PBS NewsHour, one of the most trusted institutions in news, as well as award-winning documentaries, non-fiction television programming, civic forums, and e-books. MLP also produces coverage of national elections, the State of the Union address, national political conventions, and other major events for PBS.

The Muslim Americans

admin — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:15:45 +0000

Produced as part of the America at a Crossroads series, The Muslim Americans explores Muslim communities’ experiences in post-9/11 America, compared to Britain and across Europe.

Reported by veteran NewsHour journalists including Robert MacNeil, Ray Suarez, Judy Woodruff, Fred de Sam Lazaro and Spencer Michels, the program examines critical issues facing American Muslims including assimilation, discrimination, the role of religion in politics and the challenges facing the next generation growing up Muslim.

Making Democracy

admin — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:06:28 +0000

In Making Democracy, a 10 half-hour part series, we follow the presidential campaign of 2012 through the eyes of the people who are new voters, staffers in the campaigns, candidates for elective office, such as a school board or for the US Congress, and people who are hired by the campaigns such as pollsters and advertising marketers. As much as possible we included Arab-Americans who are playing a role in the election. While capturing the excitement and work of a presidential campaign, we also use the programs to help explain what democracy is and how it works in real-life. The series final two programs focus on what it is like to be a new member of the congress and the presidential inauguration.

Do You Speak American?

admin — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 23:22:34 +0000

In this follow-up to his Emmy award-winning series The Story of English, Robert MacNeil travels across America to explore the dynamic state of American English, a language rich with regional variety, global impact, and cultural controversy. From the effects of immigration to the way technology is changing the way we speak, Do You Speak American? finds how the reshaping of the English language is as rich and diverse as Americans themselves.

The Do You Speak American? website features a variety of interactive elements, including numerous quizzes, such as identifying regional dialects and slang. The site also includes dozens of exclusive essays and activities, and a wide selection of educational materials for both high school and college classrooms. The Center for Applied Linguistics also designed a guide for using Do You Speak American? in teacher preparation and professional development sessions.

Among the Righteous

admin — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 23:20:19 +0000

Lost Stories from the Holocaust in Arab Lands

Narrated by Robert MacNeil, Among the Righteous follows the journey of Robert Satloff, who set out to uncover eyewitness stories to combat the problem of Holocaust denial in the Arab world. Satloff’s goal was to find Arabs who, in the face of the German occupation of North Africa, risked their lives to save their Jewish neighbors. This mission took him across four continents and eight years as he sought to challenge the deeply ingrained denial prevalent in the region.

In addition to the documentary and a companion book, Among the Righteous features online a viewer’s guide available in English, French and Arabic, a timeline of the Holocaust, additional stories and extended interviews, and educational resources including lesson plans and a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum teacher’s guide.

Free Speech

admin — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 22:17:51 +0000

Ben Bradlee – irreverent, charismatic, and in a league of his own – has played a key role in some of journalism’s landmark events, including coverage of the Watergate scandal and the recent revelation of the identity of “Deep Throat.”

Against the background of Bradlee’s amazing career, Jim Lehrer and Ben Bradlee take a candid and often witty look at current issues facing journalism, such as anonymous sources, journalistic integrity and balance, professional malfeasance and correcting mistakes, celebrity journalism and how to regain the public’s trust.

Teacher Town Hall

admin — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:51:09 +0000

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s American Graduate initiative seeks to help communities find and carry out solutions to the nation’s high school dropout crisis. As part of this initiative, 11 town hall events were held across the country. In each location, over 100 teachers met to discuss and overcome the challenges in their classrooms.

MacNeil/Lehrer Productions provided support to each local station involved in producing the town hall events for television. In addition, NewsHour correspondents including Ray Suarez and Gwen Ifill moderated several of the discussions.