March 14, 2005 | Press Release

FDD Experts Receive PBS Grant for Terrorism Documentary

Washington, D.C. (March 14, 2005) – Richard W. Carlson, the vice-chairman of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, and Barbara Newman, a senior fellow with FDD, have been awarded a competitive research & development grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to develop a television documentary series examining the global war on terrorism.

 

Danger Zone, their two-part series, will explore intelligence and special operations efforts to fight terrorism in the United States and worldwide. Part one will offer an in-depth look at the UK's MI5 and how it works with U.S. Intelligence and Special Forces, including covert private contractors. Part two will investigate the terror group Hezbollah and its activities in more than a dozen American cities.

 

“This grant is a tremendous recognition of the expertise and insight that Richard Carlson and Barbara Newman bring to the marketplace of ideas,” said FDD President Clifford May.  “They have chosen important, provocative subjects to explore.  As experienced journalists, they can bring these issues to life and foster informed debate over how to best confront and defeat terrorism.”

 

The grant was awarded under PBS's America at a Crossroads initiative, which will provide up to $20 million in competitive grants in the coming three years to develop and broadcast films on the challenges America faces in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

 

Richard W. Carlson is the vice-chairman of FDD.  He has previously served as director of the Voice of America, U.S. ambassador to the Seychelles, and in numerous positions in print and broadcast journalism.  From 1992 to 1997, he was deeply involved in public television and radio as president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  Barbara Newman is a senior fellow with FDD.  She is an award winning investigative journalist and, most recently, co-author of Lightning Out of Lebanon, Hezbollah Terrorist on American Soil.  Her previous experience includes host of NPR's All Things Considered and producer for ABC's 20/20.

 

The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies is a non-profit, non-partisan policy institute focused on defeating terrorism and promoting democracy.   

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