Frontline

Year: 1983 First Air: 1983-01-01

Go to this day in 1983 Open the 1983 capsule

Overview

Frontline is a long running American investigative documentary series known for in depth reporting on politics, war, business and social issues. Episodes mix interviews, archival footage and on the ground journalism to examine power and accountability

Synopsis

Frontline is a PBS documentary series built around long form investigations and reported storytelling. Most installments function as stand alone films, digging into a single subject with interviews, documents, archival material and field reporting. The series is known for careful sourcing and a serious, journalistic tone rather than studio banter. Narration often guides viewers through timelines, key players and competing claims. Over decades it has tackled domestic and international events, corporate and government misconduct, and public policy controversies. Its reports have been widely cited and used in classrooms, shaping how audiences understand major issues

Cast

Will Lyman — Narrator

Trivia

Think public television, long-form reporting, and a voice many viewers recognize. The questions focus on how the series is made and presented.

Q1: Which U.S. broadcaster is Frontline most closely associated with?

Answer: PBS

Its public-television home shaped the series’ mission-driven approach to investigative journalism.

Q2: What format best describes most Frontline installments?

Answer: Stand-alone investigative documentary films

The film-style structure explains why episodes often run long and go deep rather than follow weekly story arcs.

Q3: Will Lyman is best known on Frontline for what on-screen contribution?

Answer: Providing narration/voiceover

A consistent narrator helps give continuity to a series where topics and filmmakers change from episode to episode.

FRONTLINE

Frontline