"Edward R. Murrow was the greatest exponent of the Bill of Rights I have ever met. Everything we did had to do with the rights of the individual under our Constitution. Every show we ever did, if you examine it carefully, you will find within it the Bill of Rights. That was his function. And we were able to do it because we were independent."

    About This Interview

    In her three-hour interview, Mili Lerner Bonsignori describes her transition from ballet dancer to television editor. She speaks of her work as an editor on the celebrated CBS documentary series See It Now, and details the benchmark shows "The Case Against Milo Radulovich AO589839," "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy," and "A Conversation with Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer." She shares her opinions on co-producers Edward R. Murrow (who also served as host) and Fred W. Friendly and talks about the program's production schedule. Bonsignori then outlines her work editing Small World and CBS Reports, and discusses editing the CBS Reports program "Hunger in America." She describes her later freelance work with Charles Kuralt, and comments on the two documentaries for which she won Emmy Awards, ...But What About the Children? and CBS Reports: The Defense of the United States: A Call to Arms. She also discusses how the advent of videotape affected the field of editing. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on December 11, 1998 in Kissimmee, FL.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Mili Lerner Bonsignori

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Senator McCarthy - aired March 9, 1954 - and McCarthy's response

    03:36
    Thumbnail of Mili Lerner Bonsignori

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the first editing room she worked in during the late 1940s

    01:10
    Thumbnail of Mili Lerner Bonsignori

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode "The Case Against Milo Radulovich A0589839"

    05:09
    Thumbnail of Mili Lerner Bonsignori

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the use of jump cuts on See It Now

    01:29
    Thumbnail of Mili Lerner Bonsignori

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly's unique partnership on See It Now

    04:36
    Thumbnail of Mili Lerner Bonsignori

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on getting fired from CBS Reports

    01:24
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On her childhood and early influences; on growing up in New York City during the Depression; on her talent for ballet and modern dance

    08:22

    On going to movies and to the theater; on teaching dance for the WPA; on moving to California and attending UCLA for two years

    11:35

    On hitchhiking through California and working for a cannery; on moving back to New York and becoming a script girl during World War II

    08:08

    Chapter 2

    On women wanting to continue to work when World War II ended; on becoming one of four female editors in New York; on the first editing room she worked in during the late 1940s 

    05:38

    On her first job in television on a Betty Crocker cooking show; on her early memories of television

    03:20

    On getting a job on Edward R. Murrow's new show, See It Now; on how to edit optical track; on being a member of the IATSE union

    08:47

    On her first day on See It Now; on meeting host Edward R. Murrow and producer Fred Friendly

    07:43

    Chapter 3

    On the first piece she edited for See It Now - "Trieste: A Divided City"; on the editing room and editing schedule on See It Now

    08:00

    On the use of jump cuts on See It Now; on the film tracks used on the show; on how Murrow recorded narration

    08:56

    On her recollections of specific pieces on See It Now; on field producers Joseph Wershba and Ed Scott

    06:13

    On the footage shot for See It Now; on Alcoa, the show's sponsor; on the See It Now workspace, which wasn't at CBS studios

    05:24

    Chapter 4

    On Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly's unique partnership on See It Now; on reactions to the show

    07:53

    On the fact that there were no scripts used on See It Now; on not always being treated as an equal to the men on See It Now

    07:07

    On "The Case Against Milo Radulovich A0589839" episode of See It Now

    05:34

    On the "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" episode of See It Now and McCarthy's response 

    03:59

    On the Annie Lee Moss episode of See It Now

    03:11

    Chapter 5

    On the aftermath of Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now; on Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly being balanced journalists on shows like See It Now, and on the Army McCarthy hearings; on classic See It Now episodes with Edward R. Murrow, including "Christmas in Korea"

    15:48

    On being stressed or under pressure while being an editor for See It Now; on Robert Oppenheimer appearing on See It Now; on the decline of See It Now, and on her exit from the show; on editing Small World featuring Edward R. Murrow; on editing the See It Now episode about statehood for Alaska and Hawaii

    13:38

    Chapter 6

    On editing Small World and CBS Reports; on getting fired from CBS Reports and Murrow leaving CBS; on memorable episodes of CBS Reports

    12:19

    On Fred Friendly resigning as President of CBS News; on getting asked to edit the pilot of 60 Minutes and editing The Charles Kuralt Show

    10:26

    On how video tape affected documentary editing; on her Emmy nominations

    06:03

    Chapter 7

    On being a freelance editor; on her Emmy wins

    05:47

    On agesim in Hollywood; on changes in TV news since she started in the industry; on TV at its best and worst

    03:56

    On her thoughts on people with whom she's worked

    06:40

    60 Minutes

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Don Hewitt asking her to edit the pilot of 60 Minutes

    01:29

    CBS Reports

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on editing "Hunger in America" for CBS Reports

    00:52

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on trying to hire women on CBS Reports

    01:05

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on being asked to edit CBS Reports

    00:31

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the content and format of CBS Reports

    03:04

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on memorable episodes of CBS Reports

    05:08

    See It Now

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on getting a job organizing the editing room on Edward R. Murrow's new show, See It Now

    01:35

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the pilot of See It Now

    00:37

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on her first day on See It Now

    02:58

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the first broadcast of See It Now

    00:52

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on meeting See It Now host Edward R. Murrow ("a man of words") and producer Fred Friendly

    02:55

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the production company behind See It Now

    00:58

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the first piece she edited for See It Now - "Trieste: A Divided City"

    01:10

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the editing room and studio for See It Now

    03:41

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the editing schedule for See It Now

    03:00

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the use of jump cuts on See It Now

    01:29

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on editing the film track and narration used on See It Now

    06:28

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the debut and format of See It Now  

    00:59

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on her recollections of specific pieces on See It Now and of how stories were decided upon

    02:24

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now field producers Joseph Wershba and Ed Scott

    03:49

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the footage shot for See It Now

    03:14

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the sponsor of See It Now - Alcoa

    00:33

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now workspace, which wasn't at CBS studios

    01:37

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly's unique partnership on See It Now

    04:52

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on reactions to See It Now

    02:23

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the fact that there were no initial scripts for See It Now

    00:42

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on other news programs on the air at the time of See It Now

    02:05

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on not being treated as an equal to the men on See It Now

    04:20

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode "The Case Against Milo Radulovich A0589839"

    05:34

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Senator McCarthy - aired March 9, 1954 -  and McCarthy's response

    03:59

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Annie Lee Moss

    02:46

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the aftermath of Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

    05:48

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly being balanced journalists on shows like See It Now and on the Army McCarthy hearings

    03:45

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on classic See It Now episodes with Edward R. Murrow, including "Christmas in Korea"

    06:15

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on being stressed or under pressure while being an editor for See It Now

    02:06

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Robert Oppenheimer appearing on See It Now with Edward R. Murrow

    01:13

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the decline of See It Now with Edward R. Murrow, and on her exit from the show

    04:13

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on editing the See It Now episode about statehood for Alaska and Hawaii

    02:40

    See It Now: "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Senator McCarthy - aired March 9, 1954 -  and McCarthy's response

    03:59

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the aftermath of Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

    05:47

    Small World

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on editing Small World featuring Edward R. Murrow

    01:10

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on editing Small World

    00:21

    Emmy Awards

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on how video tape affected documentary editing, and on her Emmy nominations

    03:09

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on winning her first Emmy for editing But What About the Children?

    03:20

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on winning her second Emmy for editing CBS Reports: The Defense of the United States: A Call to Arms

    01:40

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on working on the pilot episode of See It Now which followed how a donation of blood made it to a soldier in the Korean War

    00:28

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on not being treated as an equal to the men on See It Now

    04:20

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the aftermath of Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

    05:48

    Industry Crossroads

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the aftermath of Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

    05:48

    Korean War

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on working on the pilot episode of See It Now which followed how a donation of blood made it to a soldier in the Korean War

    00:28

    Memorable Moments on Television

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode "The Case Against Milo Radulovich A0589839"

    05:09

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Senator McCarthy and McCarthy's response

    03:59

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Annie Lee Moss

    02:46

    Representation on Television

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on becoming one of four female editors in New York after World War II

    02:18

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on meeting the other three female editors in New York

    00:57

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on not being treated as an equal to the men on See It Now

    04:20

    Technological Innovation

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on how video tape impacted documentary editing, and on her Emmy nominations

    03:53

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on how video tape impacted TV programs

    02:10

    Television Industry

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the aftermath of Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

    05:48

    War

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on working on the pilot episode of See It Now which followed how a donation of blood made it to a soldier in the Korean War

    00:28

    We Considered

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode "The Case Against Milo Radulovich A0589839"

    05:09

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Senator McCarthy and McCarthy's response

    03:59

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Annie Lee Moss

    02:46

    Women

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on becoming one of four female editors in New York after World War II

    02:18

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on meeting the other three female editors in New York

    00:57

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on not being treated as an equal to the men on See It Now

    04:20

    Editor

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on becoming one of four female editors in New York after World War II

    02:18

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on how to edit nitrate film

    02:24

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the use of jump cuts on See It Now

    01:29

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the challenge of editing controversial news stories for time

    02:16

    Post-Production Professionals

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on becoming one of four female editors in New York after World War II

    02:18

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on how to edit nitrate film

    02:24

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the use of jump cuts on See It Now

    01:29

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the challenge of editing controversial news stories for time

    02:16

    News and Documentary

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on working on the pilot episode of See It Now and meeting host Edward R. Murrow and producer Fred Friendly

    15:00

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the stories and footage shot for See It Now

    28:33

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on her work editing specific episodes of See It Now - on Milo Radulovich, Senator McCarthy, and Annie Lee Moss

    27:44

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on editing for See It Now with Edward R. Murrow, as well as other CBS News programs

    29:26

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the content, format, and memorable episodes of CBS Reports

    08:12

    Fred Friendly

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on meeting See It Now producer Fred Friendly

    01:39

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on why Fred Friendly liked the workspace of See It Now and how he wanted sound edited

    02:17

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Edward R. Murrow recording narration for See It Now, and on editing the film track

    04:29

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly's unique partnership on See It Now

    04:52

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Fred Friendly wanting her to learn about current events

    01:22

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Fred Friendly resigning as President of CBS News and starting to teach

    02:49

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Fred Friendly

    01:20

    Don Hewitt

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Don Hewitt asking her to edit the pilot of 60 Minutes

    04:04

    Danny Kaye

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Danny Kaye

    01:09

    Charles Kuralt

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on working with Charles Kuralt on The Charles Kuralt Show

    03:26

    Joseph McCarthy

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Senator McCarthy and McCarthy's response

    03:59

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Annie Lee Moss

    02:46

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the aftermath of Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

    05:48

    Edward R. Murrow

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on not knowing who Edward R. Murrow was before working on See It Now

    00:38

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on meeting See It Now host Edward R. Murrow, "a man of words"

    01:16

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Edward R. Murrow recording narration for See It Now; on editing the film track

    02:17

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly's unique partnership on See It Now

    04:52

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Senator McCarthy and McCarthy's response

    03:59

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the aftermath of Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

    05:48

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly being balanced journalists on shows like See It Now, and on the Army McCarthy hearings

    03:43

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on classic See It Now episodes with Edward R. Murrow, including "Christmas in Korea"

    06:15

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Robert Oppenheimer appearing on See It Now with Edward R. Murrow

    03:19

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the decline of See It Now with Edward R. Murrow, and on her exit from the show

    04:08

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on editing Small World featuring Edward R. Murrow

    01:10

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Murrow signing a loyalty oath at CBS

    00:58

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on Edward R. Murrow's contributions to CBS Reports and Murrow leaving CBS

    02:29

    William S. Paley

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on how William S. Paley loved Edward R. Murrow

    04:07

    Andy Rooney

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Andy Rooney

    00:21

    Richard S. Salant

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Richard S. Salant

    00:39

    Eric Sevareid

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Eric Sevareid

    00:36

    Howard K. Smith

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Howard K. Smith

    00:27

    Mike Wallace

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Mike Wallace

    00:29

    Joseph Wershba

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on See It Now field producer Joseph Wershba

    01:57

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Annie Lee Moss

    02:46

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