The stories are hypothetical but the dilemmas are real. No speechwriters. No rehearsals. Powerful people put their values to the test and reveal what they might do when everything hangs IN THE BALANCE.

How has the threat of terrorism changed us? And how should it change us in the future?

Produced by the Fred Friendly Seminars, this In The Balance series explores some very hard choices facing leaders trying to prevent, prepare for, or respond to a terrorist attack: To what degree should our daily lives be altered in response to particular threats? When should information be shared with the public – and when should it not? How far should the government go to get information about an imminent threat from an American citizen? How should critical resources – such as personnel or medicine – be distributed after an attack?

The questions this series raises are not just for the politicians or first responders: They are for you, the citizen. What have you done, and what more can you do, to prepare yourself and your family in case of an attack? What does it mean for an individual to be “vigilant”? Where do you stand on the trade-offs between civil liberties and security, and how have you made your opinions known?

The horrors of September 11th irrevocably changed the nation. But the challenges we face also present an opportunity for each of us to change for the better: to be better prepared, better informed, better able to help ourselves and each other. It is our hope that these programs, discussion guide and website will help each of us as we rise to the challenge.

The series will be broadcast on PBS in September, 2005:

BioAttack: September 12, 10 pm (EST)
City Under Siege: September 19, 10 pm (EST)

(Please check local listings)

More information is available at http://www.pbs.org/inthebalance/terrorism/

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