Judy Crichton
Encyclopedia
Judith Feiner was an American television news and documentary producer.
As a teenager she assisted her father with the first television coverage of a presidential election in 1944. Crichton later worked for DuMont Television Network
as a researcher, writer, and associate producer of the game show What's the Story?, featuring Jimmy Cannon
, and Harriet Van Horne
.
She was a producer for I've Got A Secret
from 1952 - 1968. During this period, she wrote and produced a radio series for Betty Furness
called Dimensions of a Woman's World.
Crichton was the principal organizer and producer of New York City's first Earth Day
in April 1970.
In 1971, she and Chester Feldman
produced a documentary of the making of the Broadway cast album of Company
.
In 1974, she became the first woman producer for CBS Reports
, and won three Emmy Awards for "The Nuclear Battlefield".
Crichton moved to ABC News
to work as a producer and writer for ABC Close-Up, won a DuPont Award for Oh, Tell the World What Happened, and a Christopher Award
for Close-Up's piece on Franklin D. Roosevelt
. In 1986, she led the first Western journalism team to report from Angola
since its revolution in 1975; the reports aired on Nightline and ABC World News Tonight.
Crichton was the executive producer of American Experience
from 1987-1996. During her tenure, the series won 6 Peabody Award
s; 2 DuPont Award Awards); 5 Writers Guild
Awards; 5 OAH
Awards; and 7 Emmy Award
s. She was awarded the National Humanities Medal
by then-President Bill Clinton
in 2000.
As a teenager she assisted her father with the first television coverage of a presidential election in 1944. Crichton later worked for DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
as a researcher, writer, and associate producer of the game show What's the Story?, featuring Jimmy Cannon
Jimmy Cannon
Jimmy Cannon was a sports journalist inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame for his coverage of the sport.-Early career:...
, and Harriet Van Horne
Harriet Van Horne
Harriet Van Horne was an American newspaper columnist and film/television critic. She was a writer for many years at the New York World-Telegram and its successors.-Life and career:...
.
She was a producer for I've Got A Secret
I've Got a Secret
I've Got a Secret is a panel game show produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS television. Created by comedy writers Allan Sherman and Howard Merrill, it was a derivative of Goodson-Todman's own panel show What's My Line?...
from 1952 - 1968. During this period, she wrote and produced a radio series for Betty Furness
Betty Furness
Elizabeth Mary Furness was an American actress, consumer advocate and current affairs commentator.-Early years:...
called Dimensions of a Woman's World.
Crichton was the principal organizer and producer of New York City's first Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
in April 1970.
In 1971, she and Chester Feldman
Chester Feldman
Chester Feldman was an American producer of game shows; most frequently for Mark Goodson Productions.-Biography:...
produced a documentary of the making of the Broadway cast album of Company
Company (musical)
Company is a musical with a book by George Furth and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The original production was nominated for a record-setting fourteen Tony Awards and won six....
.
In 1974, she became the first woman producer for CBS Reports
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
, and won three Emmy Awards for "The Nuclear Battlefield".
Crichton moved to ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
to work as a producer and writer for ABC Close-Up, won a DuPont Award for Oh, Tell the World What Happened, and a Christopher Award
Christopher Award
The Christopher Award is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, motion pictures and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit"...
for Close-Up's piece on Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
. In 1986, she led the first Western journalism team to report from Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
since its revolution in 1975; the reports aired on Nightline and ABC World News Tonight.
Crichton was the executive producer of American Experience
American Experience
American Experience is a television program airing on the Public Broadcasting Service Public television stations in the United States. The program airs documentaries, many of which have won awards, about important or interesting events and people in American history...
from 1987-1996. During her tenure, the series won 6 Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
s; 2 DuPont Award Awards); 5 Writers Guild
Writers Guild of America, East
Writers Guild of America, East is a labor union representing writers of television and film and employees of television and radio news. The 2006 membership of the guild was 3,770....
Awards; 5 OAH
Organization of American Historians
The Organization of American Historians , formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. OAH's members in the U.S...
Awards; and 7 Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s. She was awarded the National Humanities Medal
National Humanities Medal
The National Humanities Medal honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities, broadened citizens’ engagement with the humanities, or helped preserve and expand Americans’ access to important resources in the humanities.The award, given by the...
by then-President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in 2000.
Personal life
Crichton was married to Robert Crichton until his death in 1993. The couple had 4 children.Sources
- A Conversation with Judy Crichton (http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/1998-09/crichton.html)
- Talking History with Judy Crichton, Ken BurnsKen BurnsKenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is an American director and producer of documentary films, known for his style of using archival footage and photographs...
, GBH magazine, October 1990