Journalism as Portrayed by Hollywood
Journalism is an occupation that has been around for centuries in most modern civilizations. The duty to report facts and happenings to the general society has been and continues to be a very important role in a healthy and functioning democracy. Today, more than ever, the characterization of journalists has become extremely relevant. Politicians more frequently call into question the validity and trustworthiness of the media to deflect from their actions. Films and TV shows allow us to imagine what journalists are actually like, and the environment of the news reporting field.
In the movie the paper, journalists are portrayed as hard-working, rough and tumble individuals who are willing to do anything to get the truth. The character played by Michael Keaton, Henry, risks the degradation of his marriage to prove that the boys arrested for murder were innocent. He is pulled by his moral compass to expose the truth and save the teens falsely accused of the crime. Overall, in this movie, the role of the journalist is similar to that of a detective where they must investigate what has happened and provide that information to the public, no matter the cost.
In the movie Zodiac, journalists Avery and Graysmith become obsessed with solving the case of the zodiac murders, following every lead and reporting every new fact to the public. Both men risk their lives to investigate the murders, taking themselves into dangerous situations just to uncover the truth. The character Graysmith even becomes so infatuated with solving the case, he drives his wife and family away because he is neglecting them. Graysmith then becomes so interjected in the case that he starts receiving mysterious phone calls which could be putting his life in danger. In this movie, journalists are portrayed as risk-takers who are willing to sacrifice their safety to investigate the truth and bring that information to the public.
In the more modern portrayal of journalists, like in the show The Newsroom, they are portrayed in a more structural and professional light. Journalists are depicted as highly educated and high class, a much different portrayal than that in The Paper and Zodiac where being a journalist is much more of a rough and dirty profession. In The Newsroom, there is a very mechanized way of reporting where each story has a purpose and is thoroughly investigated and presented with the facts outlined. This shows the development of journalism over the decades as technology has advanced and news media has become easier to consume.
Overall, throughout all these films, journalism is portrayed as a very important resource for the public. Journalists are the metaphorical knight in shining armor to protect the public from lies and deceit. They are portrayed as liberators of honesty who are drawn by their moral compasses. They are so dedicated to the truth that they risk their own lives and relationships to get their story. I find it very interesting that most portrayals of journalism in films are usually positive and characterize journalists as the hero figure. This almost directly contrasts with how our current president characterizes journalists: as lying and deceitful individuals who want to spread false information to trick the public. I feel that it is very important to analyze both characterizations of journalism and understand that although not all news is completely factual, there are many journalists out there who do fight for truth and want to bring it to light.
