Mili Lerner Bonsignori

News Editor

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About

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.

"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."

People Talking About ...

Mili Lerner Bonsignori

Highlights

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

03:36

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

01:10

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

05:09

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

01:29

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

04:36

Mili Lerner Bonsignori on getting fired from CBS Reports

01:24

Full Interview

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 4

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

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

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

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

On the Annie Lee Moss episode of See It Now

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"

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

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

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

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

Chapter 7

On being a freelance editor; on her Emmy wins

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

On her thoughts on people with whom she's worked

Shows

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

Topics

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

Professions

Editor

View Profession

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

View Profession

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

Genres

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

People

Andy Rooney

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

00:21

Charles Kuralt

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

03:26

Danny Kaye

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

01:09

Don Hewitt

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

04:04

Edward R. Murrow

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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

Eric Sevareid

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

00:36

Fred Friendly

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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

Howard K. Smith

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

00:27

Joseph McCarthy

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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

Joseph Wershba

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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

Mike Wallace

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

00:29

Richard S. Salant

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

00:39

William S. Paley

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

04:07