Palmer Williams
Encyclopedia
Palmer Williams was an American broadcast journalist and documentary film maker. He worked closely with Edward R. Murrow.
working in both radio and television. However, during WWII Williams spent time making documentaries including Frank Capra
's Why We Fight
; it was after the war that Williams joined CBS where he would become influential over talents such as Edward R. Murrow
.
Williams played key roles in developing Hear It Now
and its television counterpart See It Now
, which the famed Murrow hosted. Later in his career he would go on to produce installments of CBS News and CBS Reports
. His last years before his 1981 retirement were spent as a senior producer for 60 Minutes
.
(billed as Tom McCarthy) in the 2005 film
Good Night and Good Luck.
Williams with CBS
Williams spent most of his career at CBS NewsCBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
working in both radio and television. However, during WWII Williams spent time making documentaries including Frank Capra
Frank Capra
Frank Russell Capra was a Sicilian-born American film director. He emigrated to the U.S. when he was six, and eventually became a creative force behind major award-winning films during the 1930s and 1940s...
's Why We Fight
Why We Fight
Why We Fight is a series of seven war information training films commissioned by the United States government during World War II whose purpose was to show American soldiers the reason for U.S. involvement in the war. Later on they were also shown to the general U.S...
; it was after the war that Williams joined CBS where he would become influential over talents such as Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow
Edward Roscoe Murrow, KBE was an American broadcast journalist. He first came to prominence with a series of radio news broadcasts during World War II, which were followed by millions of listeners in the United States and Canada.Fellow journalists Eric Sevareid, Ed Bliss, and Alexander Kendrick...
.
Williams played key roles in developing Hear It Now
Hear It Now
Hear It Now, an American radio program on CBS, began in December 1950, ending in June 1951. It was hosted by Edward R. Murrow and produced by Murrow and Fred W. Friendly. It ran for one hour on Fridays at 9 pm Eastern Time.- The show's beginnings :...
and its television counterpart See It Now
See It Now
See It Now is an American newsmagazine and documentary series broadcast by CBS from 1951 to 1958. It was created by Edward R. Murrow and Fred W. Friendly, Murrow being the host of the show. From 1952 to 1957, See It Now won four Emmy Awards and was nominated three times...
, which the famed Murrow hosted. Later in his career he would go on to produce installments of CBS News and CBS Reports
CBS Reports
CBS Reports is the umbrella title used for documentaries by CBS News which aired starting in 1959 through the 1990s. The series sometimes aired as a wheel series rotating with 60 Minutes , as a series of its own or as specials. The program aired as a constant series from 1959 to 1971...
. His last years before his 1981 retirement were spent as a senior producer for 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
.
Williams in pop culture
Palmer Williams was portrayed by actor Thomas McCarthyThomas McCarthy (actor)
Thomas Joseph McCarthy is an American actor, writer, and film director who has appeared in several movies, including Meet the Parents and Good Night, and Good Luck, and television shows such as The Wire, Boston Public, Law & Order, and the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of Saint Maybe...
(billed as Tom McCarthy) in the 2005 film
2005 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2005...
Good Night and Good Luck.