Bill Moyers Journal (2007-2010); A Bill Moyers Essay on Rhetoric and Reality; John Grisham; Katherine S. Newman: The Downturn on the Homefront

January 25, 2008

Bill Moyers interviews John Grisham, best-selling author of THE FIRM, THE PELICAN BRIEF and THE RAINMAKER. Their far-ranging conversation gives viewers insight into the beliefs and background that influence Grisham's work. "I get angry when you look at our democratic system and I wonder how democratic it really is," says Grisham, a former criminal defense attorney and former member of the Mississippi state legislature. Bill Moyers gets perspective on the state of the economy and what it means for Americans from Katherine S. Newman, author of THE MISSING CLASS: PORTRAITS OF THE NEAR POOR IN AMERICA. And as spending on political television ads is set to reach a new record of 2.5 billion dollars, the JOURNAL looks at Big Media's opportunities to feed off the fat of the campaign trail. A Bill Moyers essay separating the facts from the spin coming out of the World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland. BILL MOYERS JOURNAL -- Award-winning public affairs journalist Bill Moyers hosts this weekly series filled with fresh and original voices. Each hour-long broadcast features analysis of current issues and interviews with prominent figures from the worlds of arts and entertainment, religion, science, politics and the media.