The Fred Friendly Seminars

PRAISE FOR PAST SEMINARS
The program was pretty scary…like a season of ‘24’…exchanges gave a glimpse of
the instincts, challenges and concerns of the players who decide how America
responds to crisis. (We) tip our hat to PBS for doing it right.
-- CBSNews.com
The sort of enterprise that justifies the existence of Public Broadcasting.
-- New York Times
A more nuanced look at the issue than you are likely to see in a month of Sunday
morning soundbites.
-- The Wall Street Journal
Fred Friendly Seminars . . . are unmatched in their ability to combine passion with
civility, intellectual muscle with first-class conversation.
-- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Whether the person on the spot is a journalist, member of Congress, or
administration official, the game’s fascination is in seeing the people who actually
make such decisions, or who once did, playing out their roles for all to see. This is,
for better or worse, the way life-and-death choices get made.
-- Newsday
One part panel discussion to four parts drama, this program is appealing for two
reasons. First, it clarifies issues in a case of this kind...But second, the program is
appealing because it’s fun.
-- Wall Street Journal
An incredibly candid hour of high drama...An explosive, entertaining swapshop of
ideas.
-- Chicago Tribune
What an incredible format for delivering information about people and issues
simultaneously...The scenarios spun by the moderator are diabolical…Rhetorical
answers don’t work...The participants cannot hide.
-- Washington Journalism Review
Although many points are well-taken, the crisp beauty of such a presentation is that
no side wins clearly.
-- USA Today
…If [the program] wants to make us think, it is being hugely successful.
-- New York Times