Television viewers today are rarely treated to the kind of investigative and influential TV news documentaries that were staples of network programming in the 1960's and 1970's. The best of those programs exposed political and social problems to a mass audience, and often had powerful influences at the national level. This course excavates some of the best of this "lost ark" of television documentaries to discover why they were made, why they were influential and why they're no longer on today's broadcasting agenda.

Assignments will include (but are not limited to) viewing some programs outside class time, purchasing and reading a course packet, and several analytical papers based on readinsgs, viewings and class discussion.

Discussion is required in this seminar-style class.

Registration is limited.