The importance of definitions

When is a docudrama not a documentary? Just listen to ABC/Disney as they respond to criticism of their "epic miniseries" The Path to 9/11, airing this Sunday and Monday evenings at 7pm locally. According to ABC, the program is, "a dramatization of the events detailed in The 9/11 Commission Report and other sources." It is also interesting that ABC attempts to deflect criticism by noting that, "the program was produced by the entertainment division rather than ABC News." Intense criticism by Democrats, including former president Clinton, has been leveled at the program for what are perceived to be inaccuracies in pre-release copies. Specifically, Democrats object to portrayals that they didn't do enough to go after Bin Laden in the years leading up to 9/11. According to news reports today, ABC is responding by making last-minute editorial changes.

But this is not simply an argument about facts or the portrayal of events. It is a debate about whether this or any docudrama/miniseries should be held to the standards reserved for news and documentaries or whether it should only have to rise to the expectations of prime-time, network, entertainment programming. Dramatizations of true events often play fast and loose with the facts. It's just that this time the facts are much more sensitive, and mid-term elections hang in the balance.

According to the New York Times, "Scholastic, the children’s publishing company, which had been working with ABC to use “The Path to 9/11” as a teaching tool, said yesterday that it was removing materials related to the film from its Web site. A spokeswoman said a new study guide was being prepared that would explain the difference between a docudrama and a documentary." Clearly the terms documentary and docudrama are important distinctions...and that, in turn, dictates the expectations that we should have as to the accuracy and objectivity of the program. Read this blog post and the readers' comments and be prepared to offer your opinion when we meet next week.

Note: see also the fascinating behind-the-scenes video clips (Recreating 9/11 Day 1, ...Day 2, Keeping it Honest, and How to Create a Riot) at the miniseries' home page.