Moyers & Company

NEW YORK – E. B. White once wrote that public television should address itself to the ideal of excellence, not the idea of acceptability, which is what keeps commercial TV from climbing the staircase. “It should restate and clarify the social dilemma and the political pickle,” wrote White. “Once in a while it does, and you get a quick glimpse of its potential.” Intentionally or not, White earlier wrote a prescription for public television’s mission: “The way to know the shape of things in advance is to listen to seers and mystics instead of to economists and tacticians… part of the preparation for the perfect world society will be the recognition of seers.”

Having adopted White’s mandate 40 years ago -- and in one series after another since -- Bill Moyers continues that mission in the second season of his weekly hour of brave ideas and smart conversation, Moyers &Company. In 2013, Moyers & Company will continue to showcase thinking minds, not just talking heads, as well as meticulously-researched essays that set the veteran journalist apart from nearly every other broadcaster.

The Moyers team will also further expand their use of digital media and social platforms, with the strong support of over 140,000 Facebook fans -- a 378% increase since the premiere of Moyers & Company in January 2012. Moyers’ year-old website, BillMoyers.com, offers full streaming video of Moyers & Company shows, online-only essays, analytical blogs, compelling interviews, live chats, and special focuses on enduring topics such as income inequality, corrupted capitalism and media monopoly. Visitors can also browse and view hundreds of Bill Moyers programs, from the landmark series The Power of Myth with Joseph Campbell to new conversations with Pulitzer Prize-winners Junot Diaz and Tony Kushner. Kushner wrote the screenplay for Steven Spielberg’s most recent film, Lincoln.

“This will be my 42nd year in public television,” Moyers said. “And as I’ve said every year, ‘Stay tuned. There are more surprises coming.”

Public television viewers are delighted at the prospect of another season of Moyers & Company. Here’s just a sample of unsolicited responses from the audience:

“Out of the black hole that is the American dialogue comes one shining light, Bill Moyers. A hero for our time, for me anyway, like Eugene McCarthy, Walter Cronkite or Edward R Murrow were to theirs.”

“Bill Moyers is the only one on television asking and exploring the tough questions of the day… I am so glad he’s back.”

“Bill Moyers is one of the all-time great interviewers. It’s too bad his show is not required viewing by members of the House and Senate.”

“A voice of reason and fair journalism in this age where so many newspapers and television networks have sold out to greed.”

“You and your ‘company’ are doing a much needed piece of work -- reminding us who we are and what we claim we are about.”

Funding for Moyers & Company is provided by Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Kohlberg Foundation; Independent Production Fund, with support from the Partridge Foundation, a John and Polly Guth Charitable Fund; The Clements Foundation; Park Foundation; The Herb Alpert Foundation; The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation; The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Anne Gumowitz; The Betsy and Jesse Fink Foundation; HKH Foundation; Barbara G. Fleischman; and by our sole corporate sponsor, Mutual of America.

Moyers & Company is presented on public television by WNET in New York and distributed by American Public Television (APT). The series is being distributed to radio stations by PRX.org, the Public Radio Exchange. Moyers & Company is taped at CUNY TV, in the City University of New York television station’s HDTV studio in midtown Manhattan.

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Contact:
Joel Schwartzberg
schwartzbergj@moyersmedia.com Hide full description

NEW YORK – E. B. White once wrote that public television should address itself to the ideal of excellence, not the idea of acceptability, which is what keeps commercial TV from climbing the staircase. “It should restate and clarify the social dilemma and the political pickle,” wrote White. “Once in a while it does, and you get a quick glimpse of its potential.” Intentionally or not, White earlier wrote a prescription for public television’s mission: “The way to know the shape of things in advance is to listen to seers and mystics instead of to economists and tacticians… part of the preparation for the perfect world society will be the recognition of seers.”Having adopted White’s mandate 40 years ago -- and in one series after another since -- Bill Moyers continues that mission in the... Show full description