As rescue crews rushed to save baby Jessica, CNN's round-the-clock coverage introduced the nation to 24-hour news. Blending archival footage, new material and retrospective interviews, the documentary explores an extraordinary rescue and how constant exposure to televised tragedy changed our relationship with the news.
The story captures a pivotal moment when a private tragedy became a shared national experience. For 58 hours, millions of viewers watched the rescue unfold in real time, creating an unprecedented sense of connection with a family they had never met.
Jessica’s story ultimately becomes a lens through which to understand the media landscape that followed. From the first era of 24-hour television to today’s endless stream of live updates, the documentary traces how one small-town rescue helped shape the way the world watches tragedy, searches for connection and consumes the news.
