Congressman Jim Himes of Connecticut, chair of the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, has debuted a 30-minute documentary as part of his efforts to tell a story about the challenges faced by millions of Americans.
The documentary is directed by a veteran of PBS’s Frontline and is narrated by actress Sarah Jessica Parker. It is the first time a committee of Congress has produced a film as part of the effort to educate the public about issues facing the country. It is not however the first time the American government has used the tools of journalism to tell a story.
The January 6th Committee used a former ABC News producer to help orchestrate this summer’s hearings and of course there is the work of the Farm Security Administration during the Depression. On a smaller scale, nearly every communications staffer in government is involved at some level in using the tools of journalism to shape public opinion.
Having said all that, the Himes documentary, titled Grit & Grace, premiered Tuesday during a field hearing of the select committee.
