NASHVILLE, TN -- MARCH 23, 2007 --  Distinguished journalist and former co-anchor of The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour Robert MacNeil will host the upcoming PBS series America at a Crossroads, to air on Nashville Public Television (NPT-Channel 8) Sunday, April 15 through Friday, April 20, 8 – 10 p.m. (CDT).

America at a Crossroads is a series of documentaries that explores the challenges confronting the world post-9/11, including the war on terrorism; the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; the experience of American troops; the struggle for balance within the Muslim world; and perspectives on America’s role globally.

The America at a Crossroads initiative includes an extensive public outreach program designed to create a national dialogue.  The outreach program encompasses screenings and discussions in Nashville and more than 25 cities with U.S. military personnel, leading policy experts and Islamic leaders; an in-depth online presence; and educational initiatives. In Nashville , screenings will be held on Tuesdays, March 27, April 3 and 10, 5 -7 p.m. at Furman Hall 114 on the campus of Vanderbilt University .

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) developed the initial concept for America at a Crossroads in 2004 with an open call for film projects.  More than 400 proposals were submitted from public television stations and independent documentary filmmakers around the world.  In 2006, CPB named WETA the producing station charged with overseeing the 18 films in production.

The 11 films comprising the initial 12-hour series, consisting of one two-hour film on Sunday night and two one-hour films each following night, are "JIHAD: The Men and Ideas behind Al Qaeda," "Warriors," "Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience," "Gangs of Iraq," "The Case for War: In Defense of Freedom," "Europe’s 9/11," "The Muslim Americans," "Faith Without Fear," "Struggle for the Soul of Islam: Inside Indonesia," "Security versus Liberty: The Other War"and the "The Brotherhood." Preview clips are available at (http://www.pbs.org/weta/crossroads/).

“America at a Crossroads will be a major national television event,” said Sharon Percy Rockefeller, president and CEO of WETA, the producing station of the series.  “The series will focus us as a nation more clearly on the critical issues posed by September 11th, including terrorism, civil liberties, foreign affairs and the impact on our military.  ‘Crossroads’ is not about providing answers to every question. It is about providing a platform for diverse filmmakers to share their works on these issues and to create a greater national discussion about the challenges facing our country.

“Americans have often faced times that try men’s souls,” MacNeil said, “but some great challenges of the past seem clear-cut compared to the perplexing choices that face us today.  Events since 9/11 are forcing us to consider in a whole new light how to use our military, diplomatic and economic power not only to protect ourselves, but to promote democracy and prosperity, while preserving our values and the world’s good opinion.  By devoting this large block of prime time,  public television will focus attention on the essential background to these issues — the roots of  rising Islamic militancy,  America’s reaction  to 9/11 and the world’s response to our reaction, and the divisions at home about war, security and personal liberty.”

Robert MacNeil was the executive editor and co-anchor of The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour for 20 years until his retirement in October 1995.  With his colleague Jim Lehrer, MacNeil remains a partner in MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, producer of “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer,” and specials including “The Story of English,” “Learning in America ,” and “By the People.”  Since his retirement from daily journalism, MacNeil has devoted most of his time to writing.  He is the author of, among other books, the novels The Voyage (1995) and Breaking News (1998), a memoir Looking for My Country, Finding Myself in America (2003), and Do You Speak American? (2005), his companion book to the PBS series about contemporary American English.

Promotional materials for America at a Crossroads are available on PBS PressRoom ® (http://pressroom.pbs.org/programs/america_at_a_crossroads).

CONTACT: Joe Pagetta (615) 259-9325, x211
email: jpagetta@wnpt.net.