McCarthy vs. Murrow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNq8LoYjG2E

In the age of McCarthyism, intellectuals and artists were most commonly targetted, as seen on the trailer fo the movie “good night and good luck.” Let’s piece together the story The Players…

Senator Joe McCarthy (R-WI) American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. After losing popularity, question of reelection, needed BIG cause

Edward Murrow A pioneer of television news broadcasting, As the 1950s began, began his television career by appearing in editorial "tailpieces" on the CBS Evening News and in the coverage of special events. This came despite his own misgivings about the new medium and its emphasis on pictures rather than ideas.

Fred Friendly Producer born in New York in 1915 Worked for NBC, then moved to CBS with Murrow to produce show “See it now”

So- American Communist party rises in 1930’s agains Hitler / Facism Many poor / out of work / young people join, attend meetings to check it out Keep lists, records of attendance After the war, these records become public McCarthy looking for a cause goes on witchhunt for communists

“See it Now” Beginning in 1950, McCarthy had gone after “Hollywood Ten” among other television/movie directors and writers, exposing them as communists Murrow and Friendly decide to expose McCarthy on National Television

On March 9, 1954, Murrow, Friendly, and their news team produced a half-hour See It Now special entitled "A Report on Senator Joseph McCarthy". used excerpts from McCarthy's own speeches and proclamations to criticize the senator and point out episodes where he had contradicted himself. Murrow and Friendly paid for their own newspaper advertisement for the program; they were not allowed to use CBS' money for the publicity campaign or even use the CBS logo. Murrow produced a series of TV news reports that helped lead to the censure of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

The broadcast contributed to a nationwide backlash against McCarthy and is seen as a turning point in the history of television. provoked tens of thousands of letters, telegrams and phone calls to CBS headquarters, running 15 to 1 in favor. offered McCarthy a chance to appear on See It Now to respond to the criticism McCarthy accepted the invitation and made his appearance three weeks later,but rebuttal only served to further decrease his already fading popularity

Script- Characters:

“The Majestic” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwSk2vW1po0