Conscientious viewing

On the recommendation of a good friend I set aside two hours this past week to watch the PBS Frontline program entitled "The Choice 2008." Not only was the show one of the most objective (and noticeably optimistic) media pieces on politics I've ever seen, but watching it I got the sense that PBS truly cared about educating, and not just entertaining, the general public. Indeed, it would seem that PBS spared no expense in obtaining interviews from some of the campaigns' foremost voices, and in my mind the network earns even more points for publishing a list of journalistic guidelines, as well as a teacher's guide, on the program's website. Details about the issues themselves were somewhat lacking - in reality, if one wanted to hear about the candidates' positions on particular issues, he or she might be wise to look elsewhere - but from a human interest and historical perspective, I have to believe that you'd be hard pressed to find a more illuminating and comprehensive film on the election at present.

Please do yourself a favor and have a look if you get the chance. You can stream the entire program on both the PBS Choice 2008 website and YouTube, or you can download the show free from iTunes.