Inside Washington
Encyclopedia
Inside Washington is a political roundtable show hosted by WJLA news anchor and chief political reporter Gordon Peterson. It is produced by Allbritton
, owner of WJLA, and distributed to PBS stations nationwide by American Public Television
(APT). In each broadcast, Peterson has four panelists discussing their opinions on political topics that are in the news during the week, and infrequently will bring in a fifth panelist or guest journalist via a satellite television feed.
Inside Washington is the descendant of Agronsky & Co., a show hosted by Martin Agronsky
and produced by Post-Newsweek, owners of WUSA 9, from 1969 to 1988, and aired on WUSA in the Washington, D.C.
area. Upon Agronsky's retirement in 1988, Peterson took over as host, and the show was renamed Inside Washington. Gannett took over production for the remainder of the show's run on WUSA. When Peterson moved to WJLA in the autumn of 2004, the show and all of its regular panelists at the time were brought to WJLA as well. Its regular broadcast time was switched from Saturday evenings (as also had been the practice with Agronsky & Co.) to Sunday mornings, although the show maintained a Saturday evening presence after the switch to WJLA by beginning to air on TBD TV, a Washington, D.C.-area local news cable television
channel, at the same time the show switched to WJLA. The show also began airing on Washington, D.C.-area PBS station WETA
on September 2, 2005.
In the Washington, D.C.
area, Inside Washington airs on WETA Friday nights at 8:30 PM - this broadcast is simulcast on the WETA World PBS cable television
channel - on TBD TV Saturday nights at 7:00 PM, and on Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM on WJLA. Although the Saturday evening broadcast time is consistent, WETA and WJLA sometimes change the broadcast times on Fridays and Sundays respectively for brief periods, and over the years the regular Sunday time slot for the show on WJLA also has varied.
The tone of Inside Washington is very different from that of The McLaughlin Group
, one of its major competitors. Where the McLaughlin Group panelists and John McLaughlin
himself are prone to loud voices and direct arguments, the Inside Washington panelists tend to remain at a normal speaking voice and are rarely combative. In addition, Peterson is much less likely to provide his personal opinion on the topic than McLaughlin.
The show's current regular panelists are Colby King
, Charles Krauthammer
, Mark Shields
, Evan Thomas
, and Nina Totenberg
, four of whom appear on each show. Although it is not common, the fifth regular panelist occasionally will participate in all or part of show via a satellite television feed. When two or more of the regulars are unavailable during the same week, other journalist
s will participate to keep the number of panelists at four and to substitute for Peterson when he is unavailable.
Allbritton Communications Company
The Allbritton Communications Company is an owner of television stations and other media, based in Arlington, Virginia. All of its stations are affiliated with ABC after signing an affiliation agreement in 1997.-Currently owned:...
, owner of WJLA, and distributed to PBS stations nationwide by American Public Television
American Public Television
American Public Television is the largest syndicator of programming for public television stations in the United States.-History:...
(APT). In each broadcast, Peterson has four panelists discussing their opinions on political topics that are in the news during the week, and infrequently will bring in a fifth panelist or guest journalist via a satellite television feed.
Inside Washington is the descendant of Agronsky & Co., a show hosted by Martin Agronsky
Martin Agronsky
Martin Agronsky was an American journalist and host of the television program Agronsky & Company.-Early years:Agronsky was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 12, 1915...
and produced by Post-Newsweek, owners of WUSA 9, from 1969 to 1988, and aired on WUSA in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area. Upon Agronsky's retirement in 1988, Peterson took over as host, and the show was renamed Inside Washington. Gannett took over production for the remainder of the show's run on WUSA. When Peterson moved to WJLA in the autumn of 2004, the show and all of its regular panelists at the time were brought to WJLA as well. Its regular broadcast time was switched from Saturday evenings (as also had been the practice with Agronsky & Co.) to Sunday mornings, although the show maintained a Saturday evening presence after the switch to WJLA by beginning to air on TBD TV, a Washington, D.C.-area local news cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
channel, at the same time the show switched to WJLA. The show also began airing on Washington, D.C.-area PBS station WETA
WETA-TV
WETA-TV is a Public Broadcasting Service member public televisionstation for the Washington, D.C., area. Its studios are in nearby Arlington, Virginia...
on September 2, 2005.
In the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area, Inside Washington airs on WETA Friday nights at 8:30 PM - this broadcast is simulcast on the WETA World PBS cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
channel - on TBD TV Saturday nights at 7:00 PM, and on Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM on WJLA. Although the Saturday evening broadcast time is consistent, WETA and WJLA sometimes change the broadcast times on Fridays and Sundays respectively for brief periods, and over the years the regular Sunday time slot for the show on WJLA also has varied.
The tone of Inside Washington is very different from that of The McLaughlin Group
The McLaughlin Group
The McLaughlin Group is a syndicated half-hour weekly public affairs television program in the United States, where a group of five pundits discuss current political issues in a round table format. It has been broadcast since 1982, and is currently sponsored by MetLife...
, one of its major competitors. Where the McLaughlin Group panelists and John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin (host)
John McLaughlin is an American television personality and political commentator. He created, produces and hosts the long-running political commentary series The McLaughlin Group as well as John McLaughlin's One On One....
himself are prone to loud voices and direct arguments, the Inside Washington panelists tend to remain at a normal speaking voice and are rarely combative. In addition, Peterson is much less likely to provide his personal opinion on the topic than McLaughlin.
The show's current regular panelists are Colby King
Colbert I. King
Colbert I. King is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Washington Post. He is deputy editor of the Posts editorial page....
, Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer, MD is an American Pulitzer Prize–winning syndicated columnist, political commentator, and physician. His weekly column appears in The Washington Post and is syndicated to more than 275 newspapers and media outlets. He is a contributing editor to the Weekly Standard and The New...
, Mark Shields
Mark Shields
Mark Shields is an American political columnist and commentator.Since 1988, Shields has provided weekly political analysis and commentary for PBS’ award-winning PBS NewsHour. His current sparring partner is David Brooks of The New York Times. Previous counterparts were the late William Safire,...
, Evan Thomas
Evan Thomas
Evan Welling Thomas III is an American journalist and author. He currently teaches journalism at Princeton University.-Life and career:Thomas was born in Huntington, New York and was raised in Cold Spring Harbor, New York...
, and Nina Totenberg
Nina Totenberg
Nina Totenberg is an American legal affairs correspondent for National Public Radio focusing primarily on the activities and politics of the Supreme Court of the United States. Her reports air regularly on NPR's newsmagazines All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition...
, four of whom appear on each show. Although it is not common, the fifth regular panelist occasionally will participate in all or part of show via a satellite television feed. When two or more of the regulars are unavailable during the same week, other journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s will participate to keep the number of panelists at four and to substitute for Peterson when he is unavailable.