Bill Moyers' Journal: Janet Reno

Viewers who haven't kept up with the trials and tribulations of U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno will feel lost during the opening minutes of this hour-long interview conducted by Bill Moyers. References to "next week's" Justice Dept. report on the Waco tragedy will leave viewers wondering when the interview is taking place (we deduced October, 1993). The main topic here is Reno's take on violence in America (although this is prior to Reno vs. Beavis & Butthead and television violence). She reiterates her concern for getting at the root causes of violence, which she feels are located in the breakdown of the family structure and the weakening of community ties. Outlining her carrot and stick approach, Reno wants to attack the vicious cycle of drug-linked violence by giving offenders a choice: treatment or tougher jail sentences. Although too much potentially good television journalism is ruined by the twin dictates of "keep it short" and "make it emotional" (as on Donahue or Oprah, where it's virtually impossible for an actual idea to squeeze through), it's also possible to let an interviewee dictate the course of the conversation. Which is precisely what happens here: much of what Reno says, while undoubtedly heartfelt and often on-target, is both boilerplate and repetitive. Neither timely (no comments about the revolving staff at Justice, little talk about friction with the Clintons) nor particularly revealing, Bill Moyers Journal: Janet Reno delves deeper into the violence issue than, say, a Current Affair would, but not enough to warrant addition to a library video collection as a worthwhile overview of the subject. (R. Pitman)