Japan Series

Economics is a difficult topic for both reporters and television viewers; the complex terminology and stuffy “authorities” often make for much of television’s worst moments. The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour seems to have found the key to the successful reporting of economics in their Japan Series. Paul Solman, their business/economic correspondent, went to Japan to tape a comprehensive report on that country’s method of dealing with business and the economy he made no boring predictions, gave no pretentious market reports. Instead, he introduced the Japanese economic mindset by contrasting Japanese and American baseball, supermarkets and small businesses. The result was a fast-paced, high-attention-level program that presented an economic analysis that was heady but not dry. For such a success a Peabody to the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour for Japan Series, with special nods to Executive Producer Les Crystal and Correspondent Paul Solman.