FAQs
GENERAL QUESTIONS
How is FRONTLINE funded?
FRONTLINE is funded by public television viewers and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB is a private, non-profit corporation created by Congress in 1967 to oversee the development of public television, radio and online services. CPB, a grant-making organization, funds more than 1,000 public radio and TV stations.
How can I donate to FRONTLINE?
We encourage you to make a tax-deductible contribution to your local PBS station.
Each station pays a fee to PBS to broadcast FRONTLINE, so the more your station hears that its viewers value FRONTLINE, the more incentive it will have to continue carrying FRONTLINE. To make a tax-deductible donation directly to the FRONTLINE series through the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund, please mail your check to:
The FRONTLINE Journalism Fund
FRONTLINE/WGBH
One Guest Street
Boston, MA 02135
Attn: Jim Bracciale
How do I comment about a specific program?
All of our online reports have a "Join the Discussion" section, which allows you to send in your comments about a program. (Starting in October 2009, we will be adding the ability to comment on individual pages of our Web sites as well.) We publish many of these comments so that others can read them. You may also e-mail FRONTLINE at: frontline@pbs.org. We read and respond to all e-mails.
You can also contact Michael Getler, who serves as an independent internal critic for PBS. He reviews commentary and criticism from viewers of PBS programs and seeks to ensure PBS upholds its own standards of editorial integrity.
How do I find out whether FRONTLINE has covered a particular subject in the past or more recently?
Both FRONTLINE and PBS have search engines, but you can also Google "FRONTLINE" and the subject in which you are interested. This often delivers fast, high-quality results.
How can I contact FRONTLINE?
FRONTLINE/WGBH
One Guest Street
Boston, MA 02135
Fax: 617-300-1001
e-mail: frontline@pbs.org
Web Site: http://www.pbs.org/frontline/
I submitted my comments about a show using the "Join the Discussion" section, and you haven't posted them yet. Why not?
We read every letter we receive, but as with the "Letters to the Editor" section of a newspaper or magazine, we cannot publish all of them. We receive many hundreds of letters for each of our reports, and we try to post a representative cross-section of the most thoughtful and interesting comments.
SCHEDULE / DVDs & TRANSCRIPTS
When will you be re-airing (program name)?
Go to our FRONTLINE schedule section, which will keep you informed about which FRONTLINE programs will be on in your area and when. Just let us know which PBS member station you use to watch FRONTLINE.
How can I get a videotape/DVD/digital copy of a program?
FRONTLINE programs generally are available for purchase for a period of three to seven years after initial broadcast. After that, rights to distribute and/or broadcast the program expire. Many large libraries have tapes or DVDs of our programs in their collection, so you should check with your local library. If they don't have the program, they may be able to obtain one for you via interlibrary loan.
Home videos (DVDs of recent programs; tapes and DVDs of older ones) are available for purchase online through ShopPBS. NOTE: Not all FRONTLINE programs are available on home video.
Videotapes and DVDs for schools, libraries and other educational institutions are available for
purchase online through PBS Video. You can also write them at:
PBS Video Customer Service
P.O. Box 279
Melbourne, FL 32902-0279
1-800-344-3337
pbspo@gsicommerce.com
Starting with season 26 (2007-2008), FRONTLINE programs are also available for sale via iTunes.
How can I license FRONTLINE footage?
To find out about licensing FRONTLINE footage, please visit WGBH stock sales.
How do I find the Web site for a given program?
There are three ways:
- You can search by title & keyword using our site search -- the search box is available in the top right corner of this page and accessible on all pages of FRONTLINE's Web site.
- You can browse chronologically, if you know the year of the program's original broadcast.
- You can also browse our programs by topic:
Keep in mind that we started making companion Web sites for our programs in the 1995-1996 television season. Only a few programs produced before then have Web sites.
Where can I find a transcript for (program name)?
Transcripts for all FRONTLINE programs from 1995-1996 onward are free and available exclusively on the companion Web sites for the programs; look for the "Tapes & Transcripts" or "DVD/Transcript" section. Use the program schedule to find transcripts and Web sites since 1995-96.
RE-USE
I want to use your Web site in my presentation/class/etc. How long will the Web site be up?
All FRONTLINE companion Web sites will be available indefinitely as an archive for research and education. There are no plans to take any of them down.
Can I use this image/content/feature from your Web site on my Web site?
Unfortunately, this is generally not possible. We have to purchase rights for the images and the video clips that we use in our reports, as well as for specially commissioned pieces. Those rights are exclusive to PBS for Web distribution and do not extend to publication on any other Web site. Contact us.
Can I make a copy of your site's pages/material?
If you're using it for educational purposes (i.e. teaching a class)
you can download a copy as long as you don't modify any pages. (Please let us know so we can keep track of how our Web site content is being used.) Otherwise, no. As mentioned previously, all of our sites are permanently available; there's no need to squirrel them away.
VIDEO / GENERAL TECHNICAL ISSUES
How can I watch video in full screen?
You may need to upgrade to version 10 of Adobe's Flash Player. Also, make sure you have enabled JavaScript in your Web browser, as it is required to view our streaming video.
Why do I only get audio, not video?
You may need to upgrade to a newer version of your media player: version 10 of Adobe's Flash Player for programs from 2007 or later, Windows Media Player or QuickTime for earlier programs. If there is an interruption in the flow of data anywhere between our video server and your computer, you may get an incomplete picture or only the audio track of the program. Unfortunately, there's not much we can do about this problem. Our best suggestion is to wait a while and try again.
Why is there so much video buffering?
Unfortunately, there are many points between our media server and your computer that might be slowing down the process. Our recommendation would be to try back later. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Why aren't more FRONTLINE programs available for viewing online?
We've been streaming as many of our programs as possible, and we appreciate the hundreds of letters from viewers thanking us for this service. Although we would like to offer all our programs online, this is not possible. Internet rights cannot be obtained for some recent broadcasts, and costs are prohibitive for clearing stock footage, music and talent union rights for the older programs in our archive. We plan to offer as many of our future programs as we can.
Why does this site look strange?
If you're having problems viewing the FRONTLINE Web site, it may be that you're running an older version of your Web browser. We test our site in every browser we can get our hands on, but occasionally problems will arise. We recommend that you use Firefox 3.5 or later, Safari 4 or later, Opera, or Internet Explorer 8 or later. Also, make sure that you enable JavaScript as our streaming video and some other features will not work without it. FRONTLINE and PBS do send some cookies (read our privacy policy for the specifics), but the site will function even if your browser is set not to accept them.
E-MAIL BULLETIN QUESTIONS
How do I subscribe to or unsubscribe from the FRONTLINE Bulletin?
Go to this page and fill out either the subscribe or unsubscribe form on the right-hand side of the page. Reply to the confirmation e-mail (or click the link we send you), and then you're on (or off) our list.
I changed my e-mail address. How do I continue to get the FRONTLINE Bulletin?
Go to this page, unsubscribe using your old e-mail address and then subscribe using your new e-mail address.
I subscribed but have never gotten any mail from you.
We don't normally contact you when we don't have a program coming up, so if you subscribed during the summer or during a break in our season, you shouldn't be getting anything from us. If you didn't even get the confirmation e-mail or the "Thanks for subscribing" note we send, then you should check that any anti-spam mechanisms you may have (like an e-mail folder marked "Spam") didn't block the e-mail. Look for any e-mail from lists@frontline.org.
Why do you require a confirmation e-mail before I can subscribe?
It's a spam control measure; we need to ensure people realize what they're subscribing to. The confirmation also ensures that you entered the right e-mail address in the first place.
STORY IDEAS / JOBS & INTERNSHIPS
How can I submit a story idea?
Story ideas can be sent to:
Story Editor
FRONTLINE/WGBH
One Guest Street
Boston, MA 02135
FRONTLINE welcomes suggestions from our viewers, and we review all letters and ideas. We produce approximately 18 new programs each season and evaluate over 600 program suggestions and proposals.
How can I work for FRONTLINE?
Applications are welcome, but know that almost all of our documentaries are made by independent production teams and journalists based elsewhere in the country and abroad. FRONTLINE has a relatively small central staff headquartered at WGBH-TV in Boston. If there are openings at FRONTLINE, they will be posted on the WGBH site.
Does FRONTLINE have internships?
Yes, and we are always looking for interns with a keen interest in serious journalism. FRONTLINE interns assist in research and production for programs and Web sites, or work in our post-production facility. Interns must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program. Visit the WGBH Web site for more information on how to apply.
THOUGHT PROVOKING JOURNALISM