For Release: November 8, 2007
Transcript available here.
David Fanning (Photos by Julienne Schaer)
The Media Law Resource Center (MLRC) presented David Fanning, founder and executive producer of FRONTLINE, with its William J. Brennan, Jr. Defense of Freedom Award at the organization’s annual dinner held on November 7 at the Grand Hyatt in New York. Mr. Fanning was honored for his role in creating and sustaining the television documentary series over two and a half decades. Since its creation in 1983, FRONTLINE has had a remarkable place in American journalism. Mr. Fanning has helped the program achieve this role by combining investigatory reporting with narrative storytelling to create documentaries that inform, persuade and inspire people. Between the broadcast series and the website, FRONTLINE has reached audiences of millions with integrity and a dedication to the highest ideals of journalism. It has been a consistent platform for independent, and not infrequently, controversial documentary voices on television.
The dinner also featured a panel discussion entitled “Witnesses to Our Time: Independent Voices of the Documentary.” It was moderated by Judy Woodruff of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and the panelists were FRONTLINE producer Lowell Bergman and documentary filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Alex Gibney.
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Judy Woodruff is a senior correspondent with The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS. She recently completed part two of the PBS documentary series, “Generation Next: Speak Up. Be Heard,” a project to interview young people in America and report on their views.
Lowell Bergman is a producer and correspondent for FRONTLINE and an investigative reporter with The New York Times. He is also the Reva and David Logan Profess
or at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California at Berkeley.
Heidi Ewing is a documentary filmmaker whose film credits include the 2007 Oscar-nominated film, “Jesus Camp,” and “Boys of Baraka.”
Alex Gibney is a documentary filmmaker with more than 40 films to his credit, including the 2006 Oscar-nominated film, “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.”
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MLRC is a non-profit membership organization founded in 1980 by leading American media to provide a wide range of information and support on media law and policy issues, including news and analysis of legal developments, litigation Bergmanresources and practice guides, and national and international media law meetings and conferences. MLRC also works with its membership on responding to legislative and policy proposals and in promoting First Amendment and free expression rights.
The MLRC’s William J. Brennan, Jr. Defense of Freedom Award was established to honor those whose actions have advanced the cause of freedom of expression. First given to Mr. Justice Brennan, and then named in his honor, the award serves as a symbol and celebration of the principles of the First Amendment.
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