David Scholz - San Francisco,
California
As always your programming has been thought provoking and
informative. I only wish programs like these drew a larger
viewer audience. The more I stay tuned to public broadcasting
and keep my eyes on international headlines, the more I
wish this information was everywhere -- to give us all a
better understanding of the daily struggles, and the beauty
and complexity of cultures throughout the world. I love
your programming!
Bernard Knab - Portland, Oregon
I am writing to express my deep gratitude for your superb
Stories From a Small Planet Series, especially the ones
on Lebanon and Liberia. These were, in my view, journalism
at its very finest, something one finds all too infrequently
on television in these "cable talk times.' I have been
a Frontline fan for many years, and your "World Series" is
yet another marvelous spin-off of what is one of journalism's
finest shows. Sincere thanks for your efforts.
Michael Brandes
I think your program is magnificent. I try not to miss an
airing and have subscribed to your newsletter today to reduce
the likelihood of that happening. I was so impressed by
your last show -- the courage, intensity, directness, and
quality of the reporting was truly amazing. I congratulate
all of those involved.
I watch on WETA in D.C. where I'm
a member in the hopes of supporting programs like yours.
Unfortunately, there aren't enough of them.
Heidi Kim
I just started watching your program on KTEH Channel 15
and I have never been so impressed by a show. I am amazed
at the in-depth coverage of very important issues and I
commend everyone who has taken risks to inform the American
public. It's unfortunate that many Americans do not take
the time to get informed of world events -- but your
show
is making an enormous impact in this regard. Thank you
so much for bringing such a wonderful program to public
television!
And thank you also for providing even more in-depth information
on your Web site.
Jay Wong - Mill Valley, California
I am really disappointed by FRONTLINE/World. Recently,
you showed a piece on the Uighurs and called it "China
Silenced: A Reporter's Nightmare." It wasn't the reporter's
nightmare -- what about the person she got in trouble?
Your reporter looked
stupid and irresponsible. The story should not have aired.
As for the other two pieces, stop glorifying the journalist
and just tell the story from the interviewee's perspective.
How many cutaway shots did you have of Amy Costello?
Too
many!
Chantal Betournay - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Keep up the excellent work. I cannot express to you how
refreshing it is to be able to watch honest and factual
reporting. You would think with the technology that we have
today, that finding accurate news reporting on events occurring
around the world would be easier to access. However, all
we have is CNN and I could not express to you how strongly
I dislike their programming. It has become celebrity and
sensationalism. So other than the propaganda that is CNN
and ridiculously inept local news which only airs the greatest
disasters but only at the end of their normal programming,
where else can we turn? So thank you for showing us what
is truly going on in the world.
Tony Natera - Miami Beach, Florida
Excellent show, beautifully written, honest, in-depth, neutral
great journalistic work, the best I have seen in years.
I spent an hour in Iraq and Sudan with you guys and for
that I am thankful.
Tom Jurgens - Libertyville, Illinois
I watched this show and was stunned. This is outstanding
journalism. Thank you Frontline for telling a story that
few network news programs want to tell.
Anonymous - West Monroe, New York
Great program last night. My husband and I were enthralled.
If only more Americans would watch and learn from such great
reporting. Your program puts the big networks to shame.
Thanks.
Anonymous - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Thank you Frontine for restoring my faith in media. Moreover
my faith in the American media.
Anonymous - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Great program. I always find it so interesting and informative.
Jonathan Falk - Gresham, Oregon
This particular show overall (January 11) was one of the
most interesting collection of pieces I have seen on Frontline/World.
The Sudan piece vividly gave one a visual and historical
sense of the Darfur genocide. The Iraq piece was informative
as well, with such memorable footage as the boat landing
and the (apparent) severed head in a bag. In response to
Serene Fang's piece, I would say that while both the U.S.
and China have committed abuses, at least we can discuss
our wrongs.
Audrey Roth-Kraybill - Lancaster,
Pennsylvania
Thank God for [FRONTLINE].
Last night I watched your show featuring
segments about Sudan, Iraq and China. The candid, respectful
and humble attitudes of each reporter comforted me. They
maintained journalistic "distance" while allowing me to
see their inner struggles to make sense of it all. Their
struggles were shown by subtle facial expressions not the
patronizing verbal barrage by people who have been exposed
to such mind-jarring complexities but come away from it
perhaps moved but not transformed. I tire of listening to
journalists who return from developing countries shaking
their heads and saying how sad it was, how "blessed" we
are in America, and how we need to help "unfortunate" people.
I feel that there is so much we need to learn from those
in developing nations: the United States should sit at their
feet and listen. I was a missionary kid in Somalia in the
early 1970s, four hours into the bush from the capital.
The sights, sounds, smells and memories of those years constantly
make me uncomfortable with my life in the states. But if
I am blessed by anything, it is that discomfort that I am
blessed by. It was reassuring to watch your show and know
that I am not alone in that blessing. Thank you.
Anonymous - Mesquite, Texas
Very powerful program tonight. It's amazing what people
of different nations go through on a day-to-day basis just
to survive.
Anonymous - La Jolla, California
Bravo...wonderfull TV
Anonymous - Bedford, Nova Scotia
Just watched your Jan 11 broadcast.....outstanding! Very
well crafted in every respect.
Anonymous
The World gives perspectives on culture and politics that
will continue to go unnoticed and unappreciated. Please
keep it up.
Matt Salomon - Gering, Nebraska
To any staff member of FRONTLINE/World: I am a teacher in
Gering, NE. Myself and other teachers love what you are
doing but have NO ACCESS to your TV programs on our local
NETV station, Channel 13 in Scottsbluff, NE. Are you still
running TV episodes? Can you make a plug for our state station
to run your programs?
FRONTLINE/World responds:
FRONTLINE/World is set to return to the air on January
11, 2005 with our first episode of our new season. We hope
to produce four episodes between January and June. As usual,
they will all appear on the weekly series, FRONTLINE,
which now airs Tuesday nights at 9 pm (check
local listings).
If for some reason your local
station is not broadcasting FRONTLINE and FRONTLINE/World,
you can always watch our stories in streaming
video on our Web site. Also, teachers can purchase
tapes of any of our programs through TeacherSource. For
links to purchase an episode go to our Purchase
a Tape page.
Normally, all PBS stations air FRONTLINE and
FRONTLINE/World, but if your local station is not,
we encourage you to lobby them.
You might also be interested in
the FRONTLINE/World teacher activities, in our
Educators
section. These are one to two class period guides built
around various FRONTLINE/World stories, tied to
national standards but designed to be adapted to your
curricular and classroom needs.
Carlos Pulido - Park Ridge, New
Jersey
Man, when I see the garbage that constitutes most of television's
output these days it is downright depressing. Your program,
however, is a beacon in the darkness. If only more of the
viewing public had the desire and interest in learning about
the stories you cover, rather than slavishly tuning in to
the latest "reality" crap program and mindless sitcom. Yes,
there is a time and place for escapism. But shouldn't that
be balanced with some time spent ingesting new information
and enlarging one's world view? Your program SHOULD be required
viewing for students in middle and high school, college
students, and most adults as well. But I fear that the corporate
and political powers that be prefer to keep the masses as
the ignorant flocks of sheep that they are. Just keep'em
spending, and not worrying about anything else of substance!
Yeah, I'm just a little angry.
Kindall Carleton - College Station, Texas
I had no idea any of the stories that I saw tonight even
existed. Frontline showed me my ignorance of areas outside
of the US. I believe that great art is disturbing and I
have never felt so compelled by any story on television.
I hope to see much more in the future. Thank you.
Joe McCloskey - Brooklyn, New
York
I was glad -- and a bit surprised -- to see a variety of
reactions to the Mexican piece from other viewers -- people
who are obviously informed by a wider set of information,
thoughts, and values than those of the producers of the
segment. It is good that people with such views also feel
genuine sympathy for the people involved in this situation.
All three segments last night were
well produced and dealt with valid subjects, albeit with
obvious bias (for example, the politically correct language
of the Indian piece -- prostitutes no longer exist.) The
problem is that those subjects reflected the concerns of
only one small segment of our society: those of the activist,
antiglobalist left.
Meatier reporting would better serve
the need to help people in our society develop an informed
worldview. For example, instead of a young, self-indulgent
writer in China who writes about sex and drugs, why not
produce a piece about the many Chinese scholars and writers
who are wrestling with basic problems of freedom and economy,
all the while under the thumb and scrutiny of the world's
largest authoritarian regime? China is the world's largest
country: The writers must be among the world's most interesting
minds.
Nightline [FRONTLINE] should focus
less on supplying the demand of movement followers for soft
matter that conforms to their already formed views. Last
night's selection and treatment of subject calls into question
their objectivity when it comes to more important topics.
Preeti - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Hello, I am a Canadian living in Calgary, Alberta. I was
recently in Vancouver, British Columbia and was fortunate
enough to see Frontline World for the first time. It was
so heartening to see such an insightful and intelligent
program on television. I have become so disillusioned with
television that I don't even have a cable provider at home
and only receive 3-5 channels (including PBS) via antenna.
The recent program on Pakistan, Kyrgzstan and Kenya was
enlightening. When I got home it motivated me to find out
the schedule for the program here in Calgary (via Spokane,
WA). I was disappointed to see that there are no listings
on KSPS, however, when I consulted your Web site, I found
that I can still view the program on-line. This is an impressive
public service.
Thank you for providing this window to the world.
Regards,
Preeti
Jim Vavra - Calgary, Alberta
Frontline is on KSPS from time to time, in Calgary.
Sarah Bennett - San Rafael, California
FRONTLINE WORLD IS THE BEST PROGRAM ON TELEVISION. END OF
STORY. PERIOD! Keep up the important work!
Anonymous - Hillsboro, Oregon
Last night was the first time I watched Frontline/World,
and I can tell you that it will not be the last. At a time
when words such as substance and excellence used in conjunction
with television news have become oxymora, this program is
an almost startling exception. Each of the three stories
are wonderfully done, and each in their way deeply affecting.
But Jane Kokan's "Forbidden Iran" is surpassing. I struggle
to find words adequate to express its effect: I am disturbed,
troubled, horrified; yet filled with respect and admiration
at the unquailing resolve of the Iranian dissidents and
for Kokan herself. She, through her own transparency, allows
the dissidents and the facts to tell the story. It is told
so masterfully that it has broken my heart; but in so doing
has renewed my faith in the human spirit. I feel awed and
humbled by the sheer courage and sacrifice of the Iranians
profiled. Zahra Kazemi, her grieving son, Stefan, the student
activist and the dissident Arzhang, both bravely insisting
that their faces be shown, the imprisoned student leader,
Amir Fakhravar--these people have become real to me and
I must do what I can to assist their cause. Though the world
of journalism itself is filled with hyperbole, this really
is journalism at its finest. Thank you.
Steve McManus - Owings Mills,
Maryland
I have begun using the archived documentaries in my middle
school geography classes and have found them extremely valuable.
We use them as springboards for conversation and discussion
about other cultures, the role of women in other societies,
the impact of technology on traditions, and comparisons
between our society and culture with the rest of the world.
I know of no textbook that provides the same depth, objectivity,
and detail that your programs do on a consistent basis.
Thank you for providing this resource that has become a
staple of our curriculum.
Paul Condylis - Chicago, Illinois
Frontline is an oasis. You are [a] rare contributor to the
elegance and stature of humanity in a time of frequent inanity
and dishonesty.
Parveen Sadiq - Houston, Texas
The Frontline[/World program] last night was done very well
in every sense- the content, the presentation, everything
was good. Keep up the good work.
Doreen Swartz - Pensacola, Florida
Frontline is my favorite program on TV. You deserve the
many awards that have been bestowed upon you! Keep up the
good work.
P. Wrigley - Washington, D.C.
I just wanted to write
a brief note to tell you how impressed I am with your program.
I saw it for the first time last night (Venezuela, India,
China) and found it to be extremely interesting, thought-provoking,
and a refreshing change from the lockstep, America-first
approach of the mass media. Keep up the good work!
Arnab Gupta - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
While my friends argue that the new Matrix movie makes them
think, I was quick to point them to your program. And indeed,
you now have an extra set of people who are devotees of
the best show on television. The journalists sense of curiosity
is similar to my own when I travel. The sincerity and humbleness
of their work is a testament to what Frontline is all about.
I am going to continue spreading the word of Frontline/World,
it deserves to be seen by anyone with a mind and who is
willing to think. Thank you.
Ted Lester - Homewood, Alabama
I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful program
you produce. I watched Frontline World tonight for the first
time, and I was shocked at the quality of your program.
TV news is disgusting to watch these days with all of the
superficial stories. I would like to congratulate your reporters
for doing some real research and reporting, instead of just
reading press releases. In the days of 24-hour news, I would
like to let you know that viewers appreciate the depth and
quality of your stories. You have won the eyes of this viewer
not through gimicks or flashy graphics but through hard
work and integrity.
Thank you again,
Ted Lester
Anonymous - Staunton, Virginia
Great series so far. Very informative and interesting. The
variety of coverage is impressive; and while most of the
series focuses on conflict, you present many different perspectives--from
outright fighting to much more subtle stories, including
art and music. I love the satellite zoom in on each area
of the globe that's being discussed. Really nice web site
too. Keep it going. Thanks.
Don Wright - Lincoln, Nebraska
Last night's 'World' contained 3 of the most interesting
'pieces' seen on TV since Frontline began. Keep it up!
Larry G. - Phoenix, Arizona
I am an international relations student, and I'm thrilled
that you have begun a new season of FRONTLINE/World. It
is a great service to this country and to humanity. Your
report last year about the oil war in Colombia changed my
life. I had always been aware of the drug war in Colombia,
but your program opened my eyes to the greater conflict.
I have since devoted a term paper to the subject and have
spent many hours researching the Civil War in Colombia.
Once again PBS comes through as the voice of reason in these
times of turmoil and uncertainty...
Parveen Sadiq - Houston, Texas
This was a wonderful and a very informative program. The
way you put the program together is remarkable. There was
continuity in spite of diverse topics and countries. The
musician's segment was very nice. Keep up the good work.
Jayeson Vance - San Francisco, California
Your three part presentation of Hezbollah, Guatemalan coffee
farmers and the women climbers of Nepal qualifies as among
the finest yet most varied time I've spent with a TV set
since I can remember! Please continue to do this great service!
Our nation needs enlightenment badly, especially about geography
and history of other cultures!
James A. Jaeger - St. Paul, Minnesota
I just wanted to comment on the high quality and content
of your show, very well done, keep up the great work and
looking forward to more episodes.
Rob Turknett - Austin, Texas
I caught Frontline World for the first time last night,
and I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it.
This program does a great public service by helping Americans
like me to connect with lives of people in the rest of the
world, and to understand how my actions as a U.S. citizen
and consumer impact them. I will never buy a cup of coffee
again without thinking of the mill workers in Mexico, waiting
nervously for the verdict on the flavor of their coffee,
as their livelihood hangs in the balance. I wish you continued
success.
Joanna Rabiger - Austin, Texas
As an English resident in the US, infuriated by how difficult
it is to get any kind of incisive, layered and complex view
of the world from here on television, I applaud the pilot
Frontline World series and hope and pray that it will become
regular, established viewing. This is where documentary
reportage in the US ought to be going -- and this kind of
well researched, well written, essayistic and brilliantly
edited (wonderful shooting, fantastic pacing) TV series
is what we desperately need in this country, if we want
to genuinely understand our globalized international age.
The way in which the process of reporting and the level
of anthropological negotiation is represented (I'm talking
about the ways in which the reporters interact with subjects)
is especially laudable. I've signed up for the email newsletter
and am going to spread the word widely. What an excellent
and timely series.
Eric McLearon - Battle Creek,
Michigan
An amazing, insightful, and intelligent show. Frontline's
journalists bring us to countries most Westerners have no
chance of entering. Thus, they do us the great service of
opening up closed portions of the world to our eyes. Programs
like this one are so very crucial in order to dispel some
of the ignorance that cancers America today. Keep up the
outstanding work.
Anonymous
Well done!!
I caught your show for the first time tonight. I have signed
up for the newsletter so that I will be sure to catch the
next one. Too bad this sort of show is not on weekly. Keep
up the good work.
Thanks.
Zac Appleton - San Francisco, California
I just saw your episode on Nigeria, North Korea, and Iceland
... GREAT SHOW! Keep it up!
Your journalists are excellent, the formatting is perfect,
and its global view vital.
I just wish Frontline/WORLD received
more coverage and fanfare.
Keep up the good work!
R Hyllegard - Macomb, Illinois
Dear Frontline/World
Your recent show about North Korea, the music scene in
Iceland, and Nigeria was quite well done. I particularly
liked the way in which the segments were shot and presented
- very simple and realistic.
Keep up the great work, IMHO Frontline is the best thing
on TV.
Nashville, Indiana
I saw your program for the first time last night.......how
amazing and insightful. I was especially interested in the
piece on North Korea. It was so different from what you
hear in the news; it was an eye-opener to hear their views
of America. Can't wait for the next episode!
Anchorage, Alaska
HELP! What happened to the FRONTLINE I have known and loved
for years? Please don't lead us down the road of so much
of regular TV (and increasingly PBS as well)... into popular
culture and short, surface-level stories. For years FRONTLINE
has been the best program on television because of its excellence
in investigative reporting that is well-researched, ground-breaking
and presented in a fascinating, credible style. I won't
tune in to watch one person's reaction to something... a
video diary. I can watch the network news shows for that.
FRONTLINE, please don't abandon your mission. You have been
an essential source of the information I value. Please don't
turn to all the ploys and focus the networks have turned
to attract a younger audience. With this new format you
are ruining an excellent program and format that is essential
to furthering and maintaining democracy and freedom through
accurate, truthful, in-depth reporting.
Johnson City, New York
I happened upon Frontline World tonight, and was amazed
at the information I learned in such a short period of time!
I was especially interested the Korean segment because a
good friend of mine is in the U.S. Army stationed right
on the DMZ. From months of reading as much information as
possible on both North and South Korea, I have learned that
American media's cookie-cutter coverage is missing the depth
I discovered here. I will doubtlessly add your program to
my list of alternative news sources, such as http://www.worldnews.com.
Please continue producing and broadcasting such essential
programs regularly!
Dick Yant - Oceanside, California
Finally a global current events format! Join the BBC, thanks
& keep it up.
Kate Sandman - Novato, California
The stories on Iceland, Nigeria and Korea were fabulous.
All so different. We are inspired to visit Iceland but will
wait on the others!
Vancouver, Canada
I was very impressed with the broadcast of January 16 (Nigeria,
Korea, Iceland). The objectivity and simplicity yet depth
and intelligence of the reports made me remember that TV
CAN be good. Thank you for remembering there is intelligent
life out there.
Chris Adams - Honolulu, Hawaii
Just finished watching about North Korea. What a shame the
national media isn't capable of such a realistic look at
a people. Keyword: people. Our headlines are quick to demonize
a whole country (Russia, Iraq, N. Korea), forgetting that
it's full of people much more like you and I than the media
would have you believe.
Dr. James B. Hunt - Spokane, Washington
I just viewed the Frontline/World short stories on my local
PBS station. All three pieces on Cambodia, Rumania and India
were first-rate. As a professor of American History and
Co-Director of the Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship,
I think your program is precisely the kind of information
and journalism that I value. It is so gratifying to see
insightful, interesting and informative pieces such as these.
It is a wonderful antidote to the shrill chattering classes
seen on other cable channels. I will urge my colleagues,
friends and associates to view this program. It is well
worth the time. Thank you for your commitment to this kind
of programming. Bless your sponsors for their financial
assistance in making these programs possible... Thank you,
Dr. James B. Hunt, History Department, Whitworth College
C. Posey - Sarasota, Florida
Thank you very much for your show Frontline World. The show
last week about the Pol Pot Regime was fascinating and this
weeks episode about Iraq even more engrossing.I have always
thought of Frontline as cutting edge, as close to what we
are going to see of the truth as is available anywhere in
the West. I thoroughly enjoyed the Iraq episode and found
Sam Kiley an incredible journalistic talent. Please continue
to feature journalist and broadcast shows of this high caliber.
Thank You! Thank you for a fantastic, eye-opening show!!!
Pueblo, Colorado
Sirs: Thanks for last nights (11/7/02) broadcast on Iraq
and about oil. Your reporters are brave, and to be commended
for their good and enlightening work! Thanks, Please keep
up the good frank and enlightening work!
Richard Sommers - San Francisco,
California
I came across Frontline/World by accident one evening and
haven't missed a program since. Your stories have enlightened
me, have educated me, and have made me realize how little
I truly know about our world. Thank you for your honesty
in programming; I look forward to learning more about our
small planet.
Lafayette, Louisiana
Thank you so much for being the consciousness of America.
Americans need more of this eye-opening news coverage. Far
too many of our fellow citizens have buried their heads
in the sand when it comes to looking at and acknowledging
America's real impact on the world. Thank you for also being
the mirror held up to the American way of life. While America
blindly goes about its day, millions of people at home and
abroad are suffering at our hands in direct and indirect
ways. As a country, we are in dire need of casting off the
blindfold of denial, and taking compassionate responsibility
for securing the health and well-being of those lives in
our country and in the world that desperately need our consciousness
and empowerment. By doing so, we will not only be securing
our own safety and security, but we will be creating a greater
stronghold for world peace.
Thanks so much Frontline and Frontline/World for supporting
the consciousness of those of us who care about what happens
in this country and the world, and how America contributes
to its own suffering and the suffering of the world. For
all its greatness, our country falls short of extending
the birthright ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness it says it values to those who are denied it,
and we need news coverage that reflects that back to us.
And while I'm sure this isn't your only intent in creating
the programming you air, it is nonetheless valued by those
of us who care about the American role in issues thought
to be beyond our scope of influence.
Clyde J. Kell - Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma
A great series... I've really enjoyed both the Iraq story
and Pipeline, and Cambodia stories...
Keep it up and I'll stay tuned.
Richard Arant - Lanesville, Indiana
Frontline/World continues to impress me as the finest programming
ever to be broadcast on American television. "Truth and
lies in Baghdad" sets the bar very high, as did last week's
"Pol Pot's Shadow." Congratulations to all involved in this
effort, undertaken in the trickiest of environments.
Shirley Ray - Salt Lake City,
Utah
The integrity of the scenes, locations and comments, plus
the locations you have covered in the last two weeks alone
have been vital to increasing understanding outside the
U.S....Thank you and the daring reporters who pursue these
truths.
Katherine Matus - Arlington Heights, Illinois
We are very impressed with your shows! Your reporters take
many risks to bring us current information. When you [inter]act
with the citizens of any of these areas you make the world
more personal. When we see what their cities and countries
are like we get a better understanding than footage of talking
heads of governments or shots of poor children only. When
we see more of the people and their homes, "we see that
we are more alike and just a little different."
Brooks Parmelee
Wonderful programming. The piece on Romania was terrific,
and the "Hole in the Wall" story very interesting
and challenging. Anything in the works on Central America?
El Salvador...Guatemala...Nicaragua? -- Brooks Parmelee
Susan M. Leisnerr
We just finished watching Frontline/World and found it a
fascinating program. As avid Frontline viewers, I didn't
think you could get any better but I was wrong. This is
the kind of program that should be required viewing for
anyone who believes in the wonders of humanity. Thank you.
S. Meric - Santa Monica, California
Programs are wonderful, but there is too much thump-thump,
pointless background "music" and too much/many swirly-curly
graphics. Please stick to a more dignified format, like
the original Frontline. You are falling into a pop-media
trap, unworthy of your sterling reputation. Just the facts...
Thank you for considering these comments.
JC Malone - Radiant, Virginia
Good evening --
Frontline stories like the one with Codrescu in Romania
and that about bringing the Internet free to children in
India, both seen tonight, are television at its best. Please
keep them coming!
Janet Espinosa - Austin, Texas
Thank you so much for reporting very important stories that
get crowded out by endless repetitions of Paul McCartney's
impending wedding and Florida sinkholes. I teach World Geography
and Advanced Placement Human Geography, and when we talk
about what is happening in other parts of the world my students
are amazed that they haven't heard about these things before.
My response to them is to surf foreign newspapers, turn
off CNN and Fox Newsand tune into NPR and PBS.
The United States is criticized for
only taking an interest in the rest of the world when our
own interests are at stake. It is hard to develop an interest
when the news media ignores the rest of the world.
Farmington, Connecticut
Thank you, thank you, thank you for reporting objectively
on news that the mainstream media chooses to ignore. America
needs more and more of good journalism focused on something
other than the latest "hot topic." too often Americans ignore
important world events and situations which may have big
effects in the future, and then wonder how they didn't see
"surprises" such as September 11th happening. America needs
to get out of its shell and learn a bit about the rest of
the world and the problems/events that are important to
others. "Frontline World" is an important medium through
which we can learn more about the world without the normal
bias of the media.
Patty Morgan - Lincoln City, Oregon
WOW - I taped your first show and watched it the next evening.
This is what television should be. I found all three stories
riveting. The world perspective is refreshing. PBS keep
up the good work. Thank you.
Thorsten Gritschke - New York, New York
I was floored by the intelligent combination of segments
in your show. It raised all the right questions in me -
what are the forces that allow violence around the world,
how do other people with the daily threat of violence and
lastly, to what extend am I and my culture responsible for
the worldwide spread and glorification of violence and social
inequality? Well done! This kind of show inspires me to
sit up an listen to alternatives to our economics of making
the rich of the world richer and the poor poorer.
Sacramento, California
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Something to really put
your mental teeth into. And for bringing regions and problems
of the world that seem to miss the rest of the media. Keep
up the good job and I will keep on watching.
Suresh Kalkunte - Hudson, Massachusetts
This is a wonderful program. Please continue the good work.
Marian Schellin - Los Angeles,
California
Your program last night was wonderful! Please make more.
All three stories demonstrated the horrible aftermath of
colonialism. The only way we can successfully combat tearooms
is to end the poverty and oppression in the third world.
Morris, Minnesota
Thank you for a WONDERFUL program. I wish everyone would
watch it.
Christine Putnam - Columbus, Ohio
Your first program will not appear until tonight in my broadcast
area, but I am excited to read about Frontline World and
your broader mission. There is much that I do not know or
understand about other cultures, and I look forward to learning
a great deal. I applaud all who conceived of and gave birth
to this new program.
Paul Dewey - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
One word for World: Excellent!
Hasit Thankey - Calgary, Canada
Dear Frontline,
A remarkable program. Although the
program is broken up into short segments, each piece is
a provocative whole.
Terror and television seem to go
hand in hand. Through television we see terror, and because
of television we become accustomed to it. The Ukraine, Liberia
and Bhutan are not so far apart as we would like to think
they are.
A small planet, indeed.
Best wishes, Hasit Thankey
K. Crocker - Pheonix, Arizona
Finally! There is an alternative to the superficiality,
sensationalism, and Western-bias of American news programs.
Excellent reporting, kudos to PBS for, once again, raising
the bar. My 13-year old son actually dropped the Sega controller
and watched with intrigue.
Ulf Alexander - Pittsfield, Massachusetts
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! This is a most wonderful
program. I really hope that this pilot will get off the
ground and become a regular series...HOPEFULLY weekly.
I really enjoyed the story about
Bhutan. I would really enjoy seeing other stories in the
future about various cultural issues, misunderstandings
and conflicts. For example...a story about the portion of
Quebec society that is determined to achieve sovereignty
from Canada (I've NEVER met an American who isn't shocked
to find that in the days of my childhood Quebec was filled
with terror and police state action(s). Or another great
story would be about the Native American tribes that would
like (and some have) to resume whaling for cultural reasons.
Thank you for a wonderful program
that REALLY made me think.
Richard Arant - Lanesville, Indiana
Magnificent! I've been waiting for programming like this
for 20 years. Americans need to learn what the rest of the
world is really like, and this format is perfect. I'd love
to see a segment on Cambodia, perhaps the work of the Documentation
Center of Cambodia to document Khmer Rouge crimes against
humanity, perhaps a story on the Western journalists who
disappeared there in 1970 never to be heard from again,
perhaps on the American civilians who died in the Khmer
Rouge Tuol Sleng prison in 1978, perhaps a look at the refugees
the UN returned to Cambodia in 1992.
Mark Cina - Kent, Ohio
Your series makes me even more eager to enter the field
of journalism. Tonight's segments made me think and feel--
the true goal of any journalist. Bravo!
Sarah Bailey - Dallas, Texas
This program has brought to light issues that are largely
ignored by the national media. I especially enjoyed the
personal perspective brought to the stories by your journalists.
I think we, as Americans need to know what is going on in
the rest of the world. We are so involved with ourselves,
we forget we are all connected, and we not only affect the
world, the world effects us.
Anonymous
I just hope that you won't stop the in depth journalism
that we love in "old" Frontline. It is our very favorite
show.
Glastonbury, Connecticut
WELL, WELL, WELL DONE. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, ITS ABOUT TIME.
I THOROGHLY ENJOYED TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. AT A TIME WHEN SO
MUCH IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD, THIS TYPE OF REPORTING IS
A RAY OF LIGHT. PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE REPORTS
OF THIS KIND EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK, AROUND DINNERTIME
SO THAT THE WHOLE FAMILY COULD WATCH AND DISCUSS, LEARN
AND BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE WORLD OUTSIDE. WHY NOT CONSIDER
DOING SOMETHING ON EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, AND THEN
START ALL OVER AGAIN. GOOD JOB.
Oakland, California
I just wanted to write and thank PBS for introducing a source
of comprehensive global news. Several years ago I did advocacy
work in Washington on global health issues and the experience
closely resembled banging my head into a brick wall. We
were repeatedly told "Ordinary Americans don't care about
international issues". Of course things have changed since
September, but it still extremely difficult to form an effective
constituency behind international issues. As a result, elite
political figures have been free to quietly pass foreign
policy that adheres to their own extreme views rather than
having a policy debate out in the open. For example, Jesse
Helms continually refused to pay UN dues, which angered
many of our allies abroad while the majority of Americans
had no idea this was going on.
It has long seemed ironic to me that
while other parts of the world are being inundated with
American media (my 83 year old great-aunt in Cape Town,
South Africa watches Oprah and Larry King Live regularly),
we in America are very rarely exposed to anything beyond
shallow 5 second sound bites on other countries. Although
we are the country driving globalization, we know very little
about the rest of the world compared to what they know (or
think they know) about us. I applaud your efforts but wondered
if you had ever considered going one step further and actually
allowing foreign journalists from these countries to produce
their own documentaries and incorporate their own perspectives,
rather than American journalists?
Bravo on a job well done. I definitely
will try to catch the next series and spread the word.
Lionel Monsky - Venice, California
I would like to congratulate the producers of Frontline/World
for their creation of such a wonderful program. I would
become a regular viewer of your program, just as I have
been of Frontline, however, your article on television in
Bhutan convinced me once and for all to toss out the tv!
Jason F. - Dallas, Texas
I normally enjoy Frontline very much,
but I thought the "Frontline World" version was used as
an opportunity to gratuitously show corpses and mangled
flesh for shock value (it added nothing to the content of
the report). I can normally trust PBS not to show images
inappropriate for my children, not this time.
I much prefer the format of standard
Frontline anyway.
Jerome Schwartz - Bloomfield, New Jersey
Your program was magnificent. It is exactly what is to be
expected from your producers. Thank you so very much for
your efforts.
Ken Waters - Phoenix, Arizona
I think it is important when building
your viewer base for this new bold program, to also provide
an educational element, not simply to put a spotlight on
areas of the world. How about a full hour on international
trade and the global economy? A primer that "Commanding
Heights" failed to produce. The implications of trading
policies and ramifications of trade deficits/surpluses?
Every month or quarter we read about
how the balance-of-payments accounts, the current account,
the capital account, etc., have reached new deficit levels
in the USA. Nowhere, but nowhere in any of those articles
is there an ounce of educational, ramification, or implicational
elements in those stories. Everyone is pretty much ignorant
to its meaning, including the journalists that do those
monthly/quarterly articles.
The global economy is here. Now we
need PBS viewers who know the in's & out's of trading
policies and the difference between current account deficits,
capital account surpluses, Bretton Woods... and their implications.
How about it Frontline/World? If
it takes a year to produce, so be it. Put a quality primer
together on international trading. You'd be breaking new
ground, that's for sure.
Judith Campbell - Houston, Texas
In watching your reports on gun running in Sierra Leone
and the 20-year war in Sri Lanka, I am struck by how much
suffering there is in the world; and how ignorant we Americans
are of this fact. If our nation devoted a fraction of our
wealth and influence toward promoting well-being and prosperity
throughout the world, rather than arms and consumerism,
I can't help but think it would reduce much of this unnecessary
suffering. Thank you for your excellent program; it will
help open our eyes to a world we must become more aware
of.
Jeremy Varon
Phenomenal programs. The depth, insight, courage, and sweetness.
A great acheivement. I'll be sure to tell all my friends.
Roger Kelly - Seattle, Washington
Both my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this program for its
honest and direct coverage. You are not afraid to show and
tell the actual happenings, regardless of the government
policies that may, and do, affect so many other news coverages.
Bravo...we will be watching for Frontline World programming
in the future.
Andy - Berkeley, California
Congratulations on a very infotaining program! I tuned in
while taking a break from finals study and was unable to
get back to studying. Your program has touched upon some
of the hottest topics today such as terrorism and 3rd world
conflicts from such a fresh perspective. Everything else
has been focused on domestic conditions and this program
has instead opted to take the road less traveled. Thank
you and keep up the good work. I don't even regret taking
time out of finals study.
Donna Precopio - Novato, California
I was very impressed with the content and editing. Programs
with this kind of information change lives and make people
aware of other stories, other realities. Inform & enlighten.
Thanks...
Mark - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Congratulations to Frontline for this new series. I think
this country needs more alternative sources of information
that aren't afraid to challenge the information and war
frenzy we're getting from our government and the corporate
media giants, especially since September 11.
Kal Dawson - Chattanooga, Tennessee
I thought the show was insightful and very good. Keeping
the segments short was also a good choice.
Chris Spadone - New Orleans, Louisiana
I really enjoyed the show and am happy to see coverage about
Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka, but the close captioning was
intrusive. The black fields blocked out much of the image.
I can understand an African or south Asian accent, please
limit the use of the captions to foreign languages or pidgen.
Ontario
Frontline has always been an excellent show. Frontline World
appears to be a worthy addition to the family. Love the
format, reporting and stories. Thank you for continuing
to provide a slice of intelligence in an often mindless
TV universe.
Michael Carson - Chicago, Illinois
Not crazy about the new format of the show. I am a long
time Frontline viewer and think your new format is begining
to border on cheap journalistic tactics that many of the
commercial channels and shows use because they believe it
will increase their audience.
Please don't alienate your core audience
because of focus groups or pressure to bring on a couple
of new viewers. You may end up losing your current viewers.
B.C., Canada
I would like to say how much I enjoyed your program last
night and look forward to more of the same. Globalization
has become such a force in our world it is difficult not
to be concerned about its impact. As a teacher I would like
to better inform my students about its influence not only
at home but also on countries such as China, Russia and
their changing political situations. Thank you.
Robert B. Colasacco - New York,
New York
Excellent introduction to this series. Thank you so much.
Let's hope you last, well, forever, if that's possible.
And most importantly let's hope an otherwise provincial
US audience becomes less provincial and more global.
Washington, D.C.
Frontline/World is clearly one of the most comprehensive
news programs on American TV. Rarely is this level of intelligence
and in depth analysis seen in journalistic broadcasts in
this country. Truely on par with the BBC.
Fial Breslin - Marlton, New Jersey
I watched the Frontline
episode on PBS last night and could not look away. My only
recommendation is to show the truth and more of it! Outstanding
reporting. Too often television does not get deep enough
into a story or the background of a story. Frontline provided
this information well. It was quite a wake up call to hear
about the number of suicide bombings in Sri Lanka. It just
goes to show, if it does not affect the United States, mainstream
media won't even cover it. I certainly hope this will become
a regular series.
Staunton, Virginia
I thank PBS for providing this new program on world issues.
The program will help Americans see what's going on around
this ever shrinking world. The events of 9/11 just accelerated
our need to understand global issues. I was astonished,
for instance, to learn that there have been more deaths
from terrorism in Sri Lanka during the past 20 years than
deaths from terrorism in the Middle East. I look forward
to viewing more of Frontline/World just as I do the regular
Frontline program. Keep up the great (and extremely important)
work.
Holland Givanchi - California
You people at Frontline are amazing people. I was surfing
through the network on cable when I ran into the Sri Lanka,
Bhutan interview. If ever I though and had indifferences
of other people places and cultures you have turned me around
180 degrees, the women that you interviewed came from deep
in her hart and such a deep convictions of world peace through
out the world, as an born and raised American [what I call
a true American] I didn't see or feel past my own borders,
I wish the way she felt was a contagious virus that would
spread quickly throughout the world, although the person
who interviewed was not seen, he/or she played a remarkable
role to make her feel that comfortable to do so.
Flawless interviewer, keep up the
good world work, my hat off to you. Remarkable morals.
Re: Bhutan
This was also amazing interview work
and research first these people from Bhutan, their opinion
was so pure and unjaded and they were so on target, for
people who did not have cable, wow, they rolled out the
satellite disk and saw the instant result, I was particularly
interested the way the World federated wrestling affected
the children, talking about virgin flawless territory, cause
and effect, just the data on this is unbelievable and, if
we use this for the good of man kind we will be on our way
to world peace and a far better world. Someone at Frontline
was really on sharp and on the ball when they saw this rollout
coming.
RE: Sierra Leone
All though I only saw the tail end
of this I herd its corporate greed, I felt they saw this
instantly and my experience with AT&T recently, well lets
just say they confirmed my own beliefs.
HBO has unedited opinions and shows
you all. Without reservation, this is my favorite premium
channel to watch "America Undercover." Watch out
HBO, "Frontline" is on the frontline thanks to all of you,
its unedited in-depth reporting and great reporting at its
best. You and HBO would make great friends. Keep up the
good work....
Max Spector - San Francisco, California
Congratulations to the people at Frontline World for addressing
topics long overdue for widespread discourse. Having yet
to view the article in its entirety, I found the interviews
and synopses both thought provoking and well structured,
particularly for a web site. I rarely spend this much time
reading online, and I must attribute this extended attention
span to a well designed site as much as to the content itself.
I look forward to watching the show.
Anonymous
It is refreshing to see a Web site tackle such serious topics
as gunrunning and terrorism. I hope that the site will continue
to stay on top of international affairs, some of which ring
close to home for Americans still grappling to understand
the events of September 11th.
