At Issue
A public affairs program that encouraged viewers to think.
At Issue is an American public affairs television program that aired on ABC in prime time from July 12, 1953, to February 24, 1954, and continued on Sunday afternoons until June 1954. It was a sustaining program, meaning it was not sponsored.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Public affairs
- Director
- Charles Dubin
- Presenter
- Martin Agronsky
- Producer
- Betty Forsling
- Runtime
- 15 minutes
- Network
- ABC
- First aired
- 12 July 1953
- Last aired
- 1954, 06
Facts from the source article.
Production
Betty Forsling produced the program, with Charles Dubin directing. It first aired on Sunday evenings from 9:00 to 9:15 Eastern Time, but its initial run was short, ending in August 1953. The show returned in October 1953 on Wednesdays from 8:00 to 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time, where it stayed for the rest of its prime-time run. ABC later brought it back on Sunday afternoons starting February 28, 1954. However, that slot was set aside for local stations, meaning those with prior commitments could not air it. The program was sustaining.
Critical response
A review in The New York Times described At Issue as essentially an editorial that seemed sincerely interested in having its viewers think. Each episode offered a conclusion about the interview topic but did not try to convince viewers to accept it. Harry MacArthur of The Evening Star called the program another excursion into food for thought and downright enriching, later describing it as a most provocative and illuminating discussion program. Variety reviewed the premiere episode, calling it an important TV entry for its subject matter and guests, though the episode was a little choppy and uneven but intriguing and effective, with some flaws in Agronsky's questioning techniques.
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