Democracy on Deadline

Democracy on Deadline was featured in ITVS’s landmark Community Cinema program, which produced community outreach screenings in 25 cities during October 2006. All screenings were conducted between 10 and 60 days prior to the film’s scheduled national broadcast on Independent Lens. Post-screening discussions focused on the important role that an independent press plays in democracy around the globe and on the heroic work of individual journalists who face many obstacles in bringing important, untold stories to their communities. Democracy on Deadline screenings welcomed more than 1,000 community members to events across the nation, and included panel discussions with local journalists, human rights leaders, and media experts.

The Philadelphia screening event featured a panel discussion with Dave Davies (senior writer, Philadelphia Daily News and guest host of NPR’s Fresh Air); John Baer (columnist, Philadelphia Daily News); Fabienne Darling-Wolf (Temple University Department of Journalism); and Michael Matza (Middle East bureau chief, Philadelphia Inquirer). The panelists engaged audience members in a lively exchange about public hearings with the FCC and the impact of media conglomeration. ITVS produced companion discussion guides to support the screenings and for use by viewers at home; more than 5,000 were downloaded or distributed. More than 50 community-based and national organizations partnered with ITVS to engage audiences with this film and the issues it raises.