PressEthic

In George Clooney’s new movie, Good Night and Good Luck, when Edward Murrow is trying to convince William Paley, chairman of the CBS board, that they should run the McCarthy stories, Paley argues that, “journalists should report news, not make news.” This seems like common sense, but of course, the rest of the movie disproves this statement. In the world of journalism, like in the movie itself, there are many shades of grey.

In this era of mass media “change,” journalists are popping up in the news more and more, usually for far less noble reasons than Edward Murrow’s. He set the standard for the press’ role as a government watchdog, and although I don’t think he would be surprised by the media corruption or coverage today, I do think he would be disappointed.

Here is some Good Night and Good Luck trivia from IMDB:

Most of the text of Murrow's speech bookending the movie is taken word-for-word from the actual keynote address he delivered to the 1958 RTNDA convention. The actual conclusion to the speech, after Murrow's line about television, used strictly for entertainment rather than education, being nothing more than wires and lights in a box, went as follows: "There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful. Stonewall Jackson, who knew something about the use of weapons, is reported to have said, 'When war comes, you must draw the sword and throw away the scabbard.' The trouble with television is that it is rusting in the scabbard during a battle for survival."

With news broadcasts on a ratings decline and the age of reality television in full swing, the “battle” against “ignorance, intolerance and indifference” seems to be lost, the weapon of television falling to the evil of entertainment. But then again, maybe all it takes is a natural disaster to turn the tide. . . no pun intended.