On July 16, 1969, the launch and flight of Apollo XI – an event like no other in the history of the world – captured the dreams, passions and emotions of a first-time ever, truly global audience. Against a backdrop of war, assassinations and civil unrest, hundreds of millions of people around the world were inspired by the epic journey.

It was an historic time, a turbulent time and a time before cell phones, 24-hour cable news or the Internet.

It was a time when newspapers and magazines flourished – alongside TV.

Throughout the United States and around the world, a cadre of stoic, dedicated and professional space and science reporters, public affairs officials and broadcasters, some of whom covered the space program for years, now became scouts – the eyes and ears for an Apollo XI news-hungry public.

In 1969, they reported the story of the Apollo XI mission.

Now, 40 years later, hear their stories told in the context of our time, our world.

Featuring: George Alexander (Newsweek, LA Times), Donald Drake (Philadelphia Inquirer), Mark Bloom (NY Daily News), Victor McElheny (Boston Globe), Art Hill (Houston Chronicle), Hugh Harris (NASA), Jack King (Voice of NASA), Leon Jaroff (TIME), John Wilhelm (TIME), Henry S. F. Cooper, Jr. (The New Yorker), Joe Morgenstern (Newsweek, WSJ Film Critic), Reg Turnill (BBC), Al Neuharth (Founder, USA Today) and John Noble Wilford (New York Times).

If you were alive in 1969, you probably read their stories.

If you were not, you won’t want to miss “Moon Beat.”

More information about the film can be found here.

C-SPAN interview with filmmaker, Kevin Stirling.