Preview Showing, Panel Greet Murrow Film’s Arrival on the Palouse

PULLMAN – Journalism and communication students at Washington State University and University of Idaho will have the first opportunity on the Palouse to see a critically acclaimed film about Edward R. Murrow when it opens in Pullman Friday, Nov. 4.

A special 2:30 p.m. showing at the Village Centre Cinemas, 1085 S.E. Bishop Blvd., will be followed by a panel discussion featuring faculty members from the two universities. Panelists will discuss the historical and political context of Murrow’s 1954 “See It Now” program about Sen. Joseph McCarthy, as well as its implications for the practice of broadcast journalism today.

Admission is $4.50 for WSU or UI students and staff and faculty members with ID cards.  Students planning to attend should obtain a coupon in advance from the offices of the JAMM School at UI or the Murrow School at WSU. The box office will open at 2 p.m. for students to exchange coupons for a ticket. Seating is limited.

The film, co-written and directed by actor George Clooney, depicts the real-life conflict between Murrow, a CBS reporter and commentator, and McCarthy, chair of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Murrow earned a bachelor’s degree in speech in 1930 at WSU before beginning his illustrious career in broadcast journalism.

“‘Good Night, and Good Luck’ brings to life the Edward R. Murrow persona and legend,” said Alexis Tan, director of the Murrow School at WSU. “The film is both a historical lesson and a tribute to the Murrow legacy, which I hope journalism and communication students today will find inspirational.”

The movie will be introduced by Kenton Bird, director, UI School of Journalism and Mass Media. “This story has the potential to influence and motivate future journalists in the same way that ‘All the President’s Men’ did for an earlier generation of would-be reporters 30 years ago,” Bird said.

Panelists will be John Irby and Beth Hindman from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at WSU, Kathy Aiken from the UI Department of History, and Glenn Mosley, UI journalism faculty and Northwest Public Radio reporter.

The program is sponsored by the Murrow School, UI’s JAMM program and the Village Centre Cinema. “Good Night, and Good Luck” will have regular public showings beginning Friday evening.  For show times, visit www.pullmanmovies.com.