The World Is Watching
The World Is Watching is a Canadian short documentary film, directed by Peter Raymont and released in 1988. The film examines media coverage of the Nicaraguan Revolution through the lens of an ABC News crew on the ground in the country, documenting the various production pressures and limitations that can hamper the efforts of journalists to fully and accurately report a story; its thesis hinges in part on the fact that Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega's key announcement that he would negotiate with the Contras was made only after the network's news production deadline for the day, leaving the network's initial reports on ABC World News Tonight able to report that he had made a speech but almost completely unable to say anything informative about it.
The film was made with the full participation and support of ABC News anchor Peter Jennings.
Produced for TVOntario and Britain's Channel 4, the film premiered at the 1988 [Toronto International Film Festival|1988 Festival of Festivals]. It was subsequently screened at the 1989 Berlin Film Festival, where it received an honorable mention for the Peace Award.
It won the Genie Award for Canadian [Screen Award for Best Short Documentary|Best Short Documentary Film] at the 10th Genie Awards in 1989.