By Emilie Weinbeck, Staff Writer
A new series of documentaries are bringing viewers an inside look into some of the most pressing issues facing society. The “New York Times Presents” is a series of ten standalone documentaries that air every other Friday of each month on Hulu and FX.
The series represents the unparalleled journalism and insight of The New York Times, bringing viewers closer to some of the most captivating and heartfelt stories of our time.
This inside look at some of the biggest stories of our time makes viewers feel as if they are experiencing the events in real time instead of months later. Episodes that shine a light on the current coronavirus pandemic, the killing of Breonna Taylor and the Australian wildfires tug at viewers’ heart strings, making them want to be a part of the cry for help.
The episode on the coronavirus pandemic titled “They Get Brave” follows doctors and nurses around some of the hardest hit hospitals in New York City as the pandemic overwhelmed staff, resources and first responders. The episode also shows nurses striking at one of the largest public health hospitals in the country as they quickly ran out of necessary personal protective equipment.
This series follows The New York Times’ previous 30-episode, award-winning docu-series “The Weekly” which won an Overseas Press Club award for its story on two American bicyclists killed by ISIS in central Asia. “The Weekly” reporting on how a predatory lending scheme has corrupted the taxi industry in New York City and was part of a body of work that was awarded a Pulitzer Prize.
The New York Times has recently started expanding into the world of digital media after remaining solely a print media company for decades. With their new docu-series, The NYT is hoping to capture the same viewership they have with their its print works. As the world turns more digital with each new day, it is more pertinent than ever for popular news sources to get creative with how they present their work and how they capture new viewers. The New York Times also started airing a daily podcast episode in February 2017 as podcasts were just starting to become a popular way to digest the news.
Other episodes to air on “The New York Times Presents” series has yet to be released, but if they are anything like the first four episodes, they will continue to be inspiring and audience captivating. As this year continues to be anything but ordinary, it is now more essential than ever that these insightful and raw documentaries are important in showing what life has really been like for so many people around the world.
weinbeec20@bonaventure.edu
