Walter Isaacson Joins WNET Up Next for a Preview of “Benjamin Franklin – A Ken Burns Film”

WNET UP Next

Benjamin Franklin.

In conjunction with the upcoming PBS premiere of Ken Burns’ four-hour biographical film BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, (Monday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 8 p.m.), WNET UP NEXT welcomes Walter Isaacson, creative consultant for the film and author of Benjamin Franklin: An American Life.

“Just being interested in everything made him the quintessential, curious American,” Isaacson said of Franklin during his conversation with WNET UP NEXT.

Considered one of America’s most significant historical figures and founding fathers, Franklin has been influential in many fields with roles as printer, publisher, inventor, humorist, diplomat, and scientist. Known for his pragmatism, Franklin established early public libraries and schools in addition to his early “media empire” of franchised printing establishments up and down the East Coast. He became internationally known for his experiments with electricity and creation of an early battery. As a diplomat, he was responsible for securing financial aid from France that helped defeat England in the American Revolution. As the witty writer of Poor Richard’s Almanack, he pioneered an American-style sense of humor that still exists today.

Like Franklin, Walter Isaacson has worn many different hats over the course of his career, from serving as Editor of Time, to becoming CEO at CNN and The Aspen Institute. Currently on the history faculty of Tulane University, he also serves as a co-host of Amanpour and Company on PBS. In addition to Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, he has written many other books, including biographies of Steve Jobs, Leonardo DaVinci, Albert Einstein, and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna.

For more on BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: A Film by Ken Burns see the official film site.

---

Recorded: March 4, 2022

Audio Engineer – Josh Broome

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer/Editor – Daena McBride

Special thanks: Jordan Lawrence of DKC and Christina Knight of The WNET Group

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post Walter Isaacson Joins WNET Up Next for a Preview of “Benjamin Franklin – A Ken Burns Film” appeared first on The WNET Group.