Retro Report
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Retro Report’s mission is to arm the public with a more complete picture of today’s most important stories. We correct the record, expose myths and provide historical context to the fast-paced news of our world today using investigative journalism and narrative storytelling.
Retro Report is founded on the conviction that without an engaging and forward-looking review of high-profile events and the news coverage surrounding them, we lose a critical opportunity to understand the lessons of history. The long term mission is to provide a permanent living library where viewers can gain new insight into the events that continue to impact our lives today.
Retro Report has produced more than 150 short documentaries and video series and partnered with The New York Times, The New Yorker, PBS, NBC, Politico, the Guardian, Univision, Quartz and others. Source
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Media Outlet details
| Scope | International |
|---|---|
| Language | English, Spanish |
| Country | United States of America |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesLesson Plan: Remembering 9/11: What Survivors’ Stories Tell Us
Subjects: U.S. History, AP U.S. History Grade Level: 6-12 Lesson Duration: One 45-60 minute class period Note: This film and the accompanying materials contain first-person descriptions of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, including a teacher’s account of watching people fall from the towers and of believing she and the children were about to die. Preview the film before showing it, and consider previewing that passage with students.
Lesson Plan: Crisis Reveals Character: Examining Responses on 9/11
Subjects: English Language Arts, U.S. History Use this source to help students analyze firsthand accounts, make inferences based on people’s actions and decisions, cite textual evidence, and distinguish differences between what a text states and what a reader can infer. Social studies teachers could place greater emphasis on historical context, primary sources, chronology and historical perspectives; English teachers can place greater emphasis on how the sources communicate those experiences.
Chaos and Escape: How Day Care Teachers Saved Dozens of Children on 9/11
TARA JONES (TEACHER, CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY CENTER): Every year in my classroom, the children want me to tell them my story about what happened to me on 9/11. I think it’s very important, so they can see different aspects of what happened to different people, to think about others, to help when you can. SUPURNA VEDBRAT (PARENT, CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY CENTER): Their selfless act of singular focus just speaks volumes of what their character’s about.
Retro Report Wins an Edward R. Murrow Award
“What Japan’s Atom Bomb Survivors Have Taught Us,” has won the Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Video (Small Digital Organization). The video examines the profound impact of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki through the eyes of people who lived through it.
Lesson Plan: Burning the Flag: A First Amendment Debate
Subjects: Civics/Government; AP United States Government and Politics This lesson addresses First Amendment: Freedom of Speech (Topic 3.3 of the AP United States Government and Policies curriculum). Grade Level: 9-12 Lesson Duration: 1-2 class periods (45-60 minutes) Essential Questions: How has the Supreme Court defined and protected “symbolic speech” under the First Amendment? How does the Supreme Court balance individual expression against governmental interests in maintaining social order?
Why the First Amendment Protects Burning the U.S. Flag
Few acts of protest provoke as much outrage as burning the American flag. Yet for decades, the Supreme Court has held that this act is protected political speech. This Retro Report video traces the legal battle, from Joey Johnson’s arrest after a 1984 protest at the Republican National Convention to the controversy surrounding artist Dread Scott’s use of the flag and Congress’s attempts to outlaw flag desecration.
IN PURSUIT: LESSONS OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP Premieres Tuesday, October 27, 2026 on PBS
New Documentary Special and Digital Series Brings the Leadership Lessons of American Presidents and First Ladies to Life, Featuring Insights from Chief Justice John Roberts, Ken Burns, Sharon McMahon, Lonnie Bunch, Judy Woodruff, General Stanley McChrystal, and More ARLINGTON, VA; August 3, 2026 – PBS announced that IN PURSUIT: LESSONS OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP, a new documentary special produced by Retro Report based on In Pursuit by More Perfect, will premiere Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at...
Lesson Plan: Understanding the Scienceof Atomic Explosions
During the 1940s and 1950s, U.S. service members were exposed to radiation from atomic weapons tests at a time when its health risks were not fully understood. Decades later, many veterans continued to seek recognition and compensation for illnesses linked to that exposure. In this lesson, students examine how foundational scientific principles can be used to explain observable phenomena and assess the long-term effects of radiation.
Fixing the Code: Genetically Engineering DNA to Cure Disease
Advances in biotechnology are creating new approaches to treating serious illnesses and injuries. At the same time, emerging treatments can raise ethical questions about how research is conducted, who has access to new technologies and how potential benefits are weighed against possible risks. This lesson examines the scientific, ethical and social considerations involved in developing medical treatments and explores their consequences for individuals and society.
Engaging With Revolutionary History: Teacher Fellows Attend Workshop in Austin
Last week, Retro Report hosted nearly 50 educators from across the nation at the Engaging With Revolutionary History fellowship program at the L.B.J. Presidential Library in Austin. Middle and high school educators gathered to learn from scholars, museum educators and the Retro Report education team as part of our American History and Civics – National Activities grant through the U.S. Department of Education.