50 Facts About Frontline (TV Series)

The Beginnings of Frontline

Frontline has been a staple of investigative journalism for decades. Let's dive into its origins and early years.

1. Debut Year: Frontline first aired on January 17, 1983, with NBC anchorwoman Jessica Savitch as its initial host.
2. Host Transition: After Jessica Savitch's untimely death in October 1983, Judy Woodruff took over as host in 1984, hosting the program for five years.
3. Hostless Episodes: By 1990, Frontline began airing episodes without a host, using an off-screen narrator to introduce each episode.
4. Narrator: Will Lyman has been the distinctive voice of Frontline since its inception in 1983, although other narrators like David Ogden Stiers and Peter Berkrot have also contributed.
5. Episode Length: Most Frontline reports are an hour in length, but some are extended to 90 minutes, two hours, or beyond.

The Team Behind Frontline

A show as impactful as Frontline requires a dedicated team. Here’s a look at the people who make it happen.

6. Production Team: The series has worked with over 200 producers and as many journalists, covering a wide range of domestic and foreign stories.
7. Executive Producer: David Fanning served as executive producer from the first season in 1983 until 2015. He then transitioned to an executive producer at large until early 2022.
8. Screenwriters and Producers: Notable screenwriters and producers include Marcela Gaviria, Mike Wiser, Raney Aronson-Rath, and Rachel Dretzin.
9. Narrators and Directors: The series has featured a variety of narrators and directors, including Will Lyman, Patrick Forbes, Michael Kirk, and Richard D. Young.

Awards and Recognition

Frontline’s commitment to quality journalism has earned it numerous accolades over the years.

10. Awards and Recognition: Frontline has won a total of 75 Emmy Awards and 18 Peabody Awards, with additional accolades including eight Television Critics Awards and eight Banff Television Awards.
11. Institutional Peabody Award: In 2020, Frontline received an Institutional Peabody Award, recognizing its overall impact on journalism and public discourse.
12. Recent Awards: In 2022, Frontline won four awards in the 43rd News and Documentary Emmy Awards.
13. DuPont-Columbia Awards: Frontline has been recognized with the Gold Baton — the highest duPont-Columbia Award — in 1990 and 1996 for its total contribution to exceptional television.
14. Post-Sept. 11 Coverage: In 2002, the series was honored with an unprecedented third Gold Baton for its post-Sept. 11 coverage, a series of seven hour-long documentaries on the origins and impact of terrorism.

Notable Documentaries and Series

Frontline has produced numerous impactful documentaries that have shaped public discourse.

15. Documentary Series: Frontline has produced numerous documentary series, including "Comrades," which profiled everyday life in the Soviet Union through interviews and fly-on-the-wall filming.
16. Historical Documentaries: The series has also produced significant historical documentaries like "Apartheid," which spanned over three centuries and explored the institutionalized racial segregation in South Africa.
17. Environmental Focus: Frontline has spotlighted environmental issues such as the destruction of Brazil's Amazon rainforest in its 8th season with the documentary "Decade of Destruction".
18. Media Reaction Series: The 25th season featured a four-part series titled "News War," which explored the news media's reaction to internal and external forces changing its role in society.
19. Domestic Surveillance Series: The 2014 series "United States of Secrets" delved into the history of domestic surveillance in a post-9/11 world, revealing the secret political history of "The Program" at the National Security Agency.

Digital Presence and Accessibility

Frontline has embraced digital platforms to reach a wider audience.

20. Streaming Availability: Frontline documentaries are available via streaming Internet video from its website, with over 300 documentaries available for viewing.
21. Companion Websites: Since 1995, Frontline has produced deep-content companion websites for all its documentaries, featuring extended interview transcripts, in-depth chronologies, original essays, sidebar stories, related links, and source documents.
22. Web-Exclusive Content: Frontline/World has made a deep commitment to its website, offering original web-exclusive video and reporting by graduate journalism students and an international network of correspondents.
23. Web Presence: Frontline has been at the forefront of digital journalism, developing one of the first deep-content websites in history in 1995.
24. Digital Preservation: By putting interviews, documents, and additional editorial materials online, Frontline has made its journalism transparent and preserved it for future generations.

Funding and Support

Producing high-quality journalism requires substantial funding and support.

25. Funding Sources: Funding for Frontline is provided through the support of PBS viewers and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, with major funding from the Ford Foundation and additional support from various foundations.
26. PBS Support: Funding for Frontline is largely provided through the support of PBS viewers and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, with major funding from the Ford Foundation.

Impact on Journalism and Society

Frontline’s documentaries have had a profound impact on journalism and society.

27. Impact on Policy and Social Change: Frontline’s investigations have helped breathe new life into terrorism cold cases, freed innocent people from jail, prompted U.N. resolutions, and spurred both policy and social change.
28. Bernie Madoff’s Fraud: The series has covered a wide range of topics, including Bernie Madoff’s intricate fraud and prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib.
29. AIDS Coverage: Frontline has also explored significant health issues such as AIDS, providing in-depth coverage and analysis.
30. Economic Debates: In the 1988 presidential campaign, Frontline correspondent William Greider explored the private debate about economic disaster and what the next president should do to avoid it.
31. Impact on Public Discourse: Frontline’s documentaries have significantly impacted public discourse, often prompting policy changes and social movements.

Legacy and Future

Frontline continues to set the standard for investigative journalism, with a legacy that spans decades.

32. Seasonal Milestones: Each season of Frontline has brought new and significant documentaries, such as the 4-part documentary series "Decade of Destruction" in Season 8.
33. Number of Seasons and Episodes: As of November 21, 2023, Frontline has aired 42 seasons with a total of 813 episodes.
34. Episode Titles and Topics: Each episode covers a wide range of topics, from economics and politics to environmental disasters and sociopolitical issues.
35. Global Reach: The series has covered a wide range of global issues, including terrorism, elections, and environmental disasters, making it a global leader in investigative journalism.
36. Collaborations with Other Networks: Frontline has collaborated with other networks and organizations, such as the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, to produce high-quality documentaries.
37. Continued Excellence: With over 600 films produced and more than 200 producers and journalists involved, Frontline remains America’s longest-running investigative documentary series on television, continuing to set the standard for quality journalism.

The Vision of David Fanning

David Fanning’s vision has been instrumental in shaping Frontline into what it is today.

38. Founder’s Background: David Fanning, the founder of Frontline, began his filmmaking career as a young journalist in South Africa, producing films like "Amabandla AmaAfrika" (1970) and "The Church and Apartheid" (1972).
39. Collaborations: Fanning has collaborated with European television networks, producing co-productions such as "Deep South, Deep North" (1973) for PBS and BBC.
40. International Coverage: Frontline/World, a television magazine-style series created by Fanning in 2001, focuses on bringing unreported foreign stories to American audiences through journeys and encounters.
41. Community Building: Fanning sees Frontline/World as a prototype for the future, aiming to build a community of enterprising journalists through its web content.
42. Columbia Journalism Award: In 2004, David Fanning received the Columbia Journalism Award, the highest honor awarded by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
43. Harvard Goldsmith Career Award: Fanning was awarded Harvard University’s 2010 Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism.
44. Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award: In 2013, Fanning received the Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award for his contributions to journalism.
45. Founding Philosophy: David Fanning’s vision for Frontline has been to combine good reporting with good filmmaking, creating a series that is both informative and engaging.
46. Legacy in Journalism: Frontline has been recognized as “the most consistently important weekly hour on television” by critics and reviewers, such as the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Frontline's Commitment to Quality

Frontline’s dedication to quality journalism has made it a trusted source of information for decades.

47. Impact on Journalism: Frontline has been praised for its commitment to good reporting combined with good filmmaking, making it one of the most distinguished television series in history.
48. Global Reach: The series has covered a wide range of global issues, including terrorism, elections, and environmental disasters, making it a global leader in investigative journalism.
49. Collaborations with Other Networks: Frontline has collaborated with other networks and organizations, such as the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, to produce high-quality documentaries.
50. Continued Excellence: With over 600 films produced and more than 200 producers and journalists involved, Frontline remains America’s longest-running investigative documentary series on television, continuing to set the standard for quality journalism.

Frontline's Lasting Impact

Frontline has been a game-changer in investigative journalism since 1983. Its commitment to in-depth reporting and high-quality filmmaking has earned it numerous awards and a reputation for excellence. With over 800 episodes, Frontline has tackled everything from environmental issues to political scandals, influencing public discourse and policy. The series' dedication to transparency and digital preservation ensures its stories remain accessible and impactful. Frontline's collaborations with other networks and institutions have further solidified its role as a leader in global journalism. As it continues to evolve, Frontline remains a vital source of truthful storytelling and investigative reporting, setting the standard for what television journalism can achieve. Whether it's uncovering hidden truths or sparking social change, Frontline's legacy is one of unwavering dedication to the public good.