May 22, 20 15
‘R E PO R TI N G V I E TN AM’ E XPLO R E S H O W JO UR N ALI STS DE LI V E R E D N E WS
TO A DI V I DE D N ATI O N
N EW EXH IBIT O PEN S TO DAY AT TH E N EWSEUM
WASH IN GTO N —Today, the N ewseum opens “R eporting V ietnam,” a provocative new exhibit that marks the
50 th anniversary of the V ietnam War, America’s first televised war. The exhibit, made possible by support from
the C BS C orporation, explores the dramatic stories of how journalists brought news about the war to a divided
nation. “R eporting V ietnam” will be on display through Sept. 12, 20 16.
Set to a soundtrack of protest songs, the exhibit opens with an exploration of the culture clash that emerged in
the 1960 s as seen through mainstream and counterculture publications of the day. “R eporting V ietnam”
challenges perceptions that linger 50 years after U.S. troops arrived in V ietnam, and poses the question “Did
the press lose the war?”
Powerful photos and news footage, evocative music and more than 90 compelling artifacts, historic newspapers
and magazines take visitors back to experience a time when America was at war and young people were rejecting
the conservative values of their parents.
“The V ietnam War polarized the nation and led Americans to question the legitimacy of authority everywhere,”
said Peter Prichard, chairman and C E O of the N ewseum. “The exhibit captures the essence of a complex
moment in American history, transporting visitors back to a time when peace, love and understanding were the
goal, but not always the reality.”
Included in the exhibit are more than 10 0 dramatic images, including memorable Pulitzer Prize- winning
photographs that have come to symbolize the struggle both in V ietnam and at home. An interactive kiosk in the
exhibit features interviews with Pulitzer Prize- winning photographers who took some of the most iconic images
of the war. Another kiosk showcases the memorable protest songs that provided the soundtrack for a generation.
As part of the exhibit, the museum’s R obert H . and C larice Smith Big Screen Theater features “R eporting V
ietnam: E yewitness to War,” an original documentary that tells the story of press coverage in V ietnam through
archival video, photographs and interviews with journalists who covered the war. Two other original films will
explore the protest movement at home and how television forever changed the way Americans receive news
from the battlefield
C ontributing support for the exhibit is provided by C BS C orporation in memory of C BS “60 Minutes”
correspondent Bob Simon, the award- winning C BS N ews correspondent whose legendary war reporting over five
decades began in V ietnam.
AB O U T TH E N E WSE U M AN D TH E N E WSE U M I N STI TU TE
The mission of the N ewseum is to champion the five freedoms of the First Amendment through exhibits, public
programs and education. O ne of the top attractions in Washington, D.C ., the dynamic, engaging and interactive
museum allows visitors to experience the stories of yesterday and today through the eyes of the media while
celebrating the freedoms guaranteed to all Americans by the First Amendment. The N ewseum Institute serves
as a forum for First Amendment study, exploration and education. The N ewseum is a 50 1(c)(3) public charity
funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations, including the Freedom Forum. The Freedom
Forum, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation, conceived and built the N ewseum, which first
opened in Arlington, V a., in 1997. O ver the past 20 years, the Freedom Forum has contributed more than $250
million to the N ewseum, the largest philanthropic gift ever made to support First Amendment freedoms.
PR E SS C O N TAC TS
Jonathan Thompson
20 2/292- 6353
jothompson@ newseum.org