Arts and Entertainment

Pulitzer Prize winner to discuss 'Winning Back Our Democracy' on Nov. 12

 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Over the course of his 50-year career in journalism, Hedrick Smith has covered the White House, served as a foreign correspondent and won Emmys for documentaries about Wall Street.

Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Hedrick Smith will visit Penn State for a screening of his documentary "Winning Back Our Democracy" at 4 p.m. Nov. 12 in Paterno Library's Foster Auditorium. Credit: Hedrick SmithAll Rights Reserved.

Smith will bring his latest project, the documentary “Winning Back Our Democracy,” to Penn State's University Park campus for a screening and discussion at 4 p.m. Nov. 12 in Paterno Library’s Foster Auditorium. The event is sponsored by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy in the College of the Liberal Arts.

In 1974, Smith won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting for his work in Russia and Eastern Europe. That work would later become the bestselling book “The Russians.” He also was part of The New York Times team that won a Pulitzer for reporting the Pentagon Papers series.

He’s produced nearly 30 PBS series and specials on topics ranging from Wall Street and Walmart to profiles of jazz greats Dave Brubeck and Duke Ellington. He won Emmys for “The Wall Street Fix” and “Can You Afford to Retire?”

“Winning Back Our Democracy” will air on PBS this January. The film examines state-level efforts to combat gerrymandering, fight voter suppression and take money out of politics — all in the name of a stronger, healthier democracy.

“You see citizen heroes in action fighting — and winning victories — to make our political system fairer, more representative and more inclusive,” Smith said. “I believe reform movements have the makings of success, but the outcome depends on us and how hard we are prepared to fight and work to restore our democracy.”

For more information on Smith’s event at Penn State, visit the McCourtney Institute for Democracy website.

Last Updated October 17, 2019