Lowell Bergman

Lowell Bergman ( born July 24, 1945 in Madison, Wisconsin) is an American reporter and television producer.

Work

Bergman worked as a journalist for the New York Times and produced documentaries for the Public Broadcasting Service. He is known for his research and revelations about sensitive subjects. Furthermore, he has been a visiting professor at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, a course on investigative journalism.

Television career

From 1978-1983 Bergman worked for ABC News. In 1983 he moved to CBS News, and was there over 14 years responsible for the program 60 Minutes. Here he produced, among other contributions to organized crime, the international arms trade and the Gulf War. He also led the first interview for an American TV show with the then leadership of Hezbollah.

The case of Brown & Williamson

On February 4, 1996 Jeffrey Wigand became known as the informant program 60 Minutes. Accordingly, the tobacco company Brown & Williamson had systematically hidden the health risks of cigarettes manufactured by them. For his statements he and his family received anonymous death threats. Without the persistent use of Lowell Bergman and the trust relationship with his informants the case would never have become known to the public. Bergmans background reports on tobacco industry and lobby were the template for the movie The Insider with Al Pacino in the role as Lowell Bergman.

Awards

Bergman received various awards for his work. In addition to several Emmy awards he received, along with the New York Times 2004 Pulitzer Prize in the category of service to the public.