Similarities Between Good Night And Good Luck

The film “Good Night, and Good Luck” portrays and exemplifies the story between Senator Joseph McCarthy and the CBS news reporter Edward R. Murrow. Within this movie, it reveals and demonstrates the governmental issues, in the actions of Senator Joseph McCarthy. It also shows the effects his actions and decisions had on society and the film focuses on would be firstly, the role and power media plays within politics, beliefs, communism, and the government. It also shows the way government often takes advantage of their power and they use that power to control humanistic liberties. Within the actions of senator Joseph McCarthy, it is tremendously obvious that McCarthy’s indifference and disregards for civilian’s civil rights and treats

Nellie Bly was considered the greatest female journalist of her time. Nellie Bly is important in American history because she traveled around the world, faked insanity to get into an asylum, and traveled to Mexico for many months.

McCarthy was also known for fighting for what he believed was true justice or against people whom he thought were doing the wrong things. For example he investigated the entire Army Signal Corps and he did not receive the results he was expecting, but did put on quite a fight. Such as, how the site informs, “Both sides of this dispute were aired over national television between April 22 and June 17, 1954” (APL.org). Though, he did not receive the results he expected McCarthy did put on quite a fight and showed he would not back down. After this he remained in the Senate, but was powerless and ignored by the congress, which really set McCarthy back with little

During the 1950s there was a rise in the fear of communism called “The Red Scare”. Senator Joseph McCarthy was one of the many people who contributed to people’s fear by making a list of people who he said were communists even though there was no proof in most cases. In an article by Alan Brinkley called “The 1950s Part One: McCarthy and The Red Scare”, it informs, “McCarthy was only one of many who helped create the great fear. The Red Scare was visible in almost every area of American life” (Brinkley). This quote tell us that in the 1950s even though Senator Joseph McCarthy was a huge contributor to The Red Scare. His list of suspected communists made rumors spread and the people on the list get questioned and even go to jail when in some cases they were innocent. It also says in the article by USHistory.org called “McCarthyism: Witch Hunting and Blacklisting in America”, that, “In the 1950s anyone who was considered a communist could be questioned and thrown in jail” (USHistory.org). Which means that his allegations could have easily put people in prison.

Source 4 showed the troubles Mark Goodson had to face in the TV industry as a producer. He told a story of people getting fired because their names were in “Red Channels,” with that happening it could have had an impact on the TV station so somebody had to get fired. Goodson gives a great example of some things that were done after the meetings: “That was the last of that kind of meeting. Soon afterwards, CBS installed a clearance division. There wasn’t any discussion. We would just get the word—“Drop that person”—and that was supposed to be it” (229). This source gives us a clue of how some people were vulnerable to the anticommunist hysteria, they were forced to make irrational decisions or it could have affected their TV station.

The individuals, who were persecuted during what is now referred to as the “McCarthy Era,” had their once prominent careers destroyed. They lost their friends and family, and all based on untrue rumors which were spread about them, such as planning to start a revolution and attempt to overthrow the Government of the United States. At no time did the Communist Party have the manpower or financial resources to do anything more than a small demonstration and no party member from Hollywood gave serious thought to even that idea.

Edward Murrow broke the realism about McCarthy on the evening of March 9, 1954, by sharing video footage that shown that the Senator was up to no good, and was abusing his political power to do so. Murrow and co-editor Fred Friendly gave controversial information on the man and his shenanigans. In turn, the realization of what Senator McCarthy was truly about, and the evidence that Murrow presented in a live broadcast, eventually

Even though he may seem outspoken in his approach, Murrow proves a valid point as he reveals the error in McCarthy’s thinking as he falsely accuses Radulovich of being a Communist. Due to lack of solid evidence, McCarthy has no stance while accusing Radulovich. Though his sister’s political leanings suggest Communism, Radulovich can only speak for himself and not his sister. (Clooney) Labeling Radulovich a communist, solely based on his family’s alliances is synonymous with claiming that Murrow is a Communist due to his membership in a leftist union. It seems like McCarthy is on a “witch-hunt” of sorts, out to call out anyone who goes against the government or spoke ill of government practices. McCarthy orders the interrogation of Pentagon communication worker Annie Lee Moss, solely based on her name appearing on a blacklist.

To read of Nellie Bly, one would come to think the woman a pioneer in journalism; a hero for women's rights; and an American icon. These beliefs would be true if not for the fact that Bly was so much more. She was much more a woman, much more a writer, much more a hero and much more than most could ever be. Bly not only took on a world of injustice and stereotypes, but conquered it and changed the way the field of journalism works today.

At this time their was very few in the press that would stand up against McCarthy and what McCarthy was doing. According to an article from PBS.org it states “among the few that stood up against this were comedian Mort Sahl, and journalist Edward R. Murrow, whose string criticisms of McCarthy are often cited as playing an important role in his eventual remove from

All of America loved them together. The next year they eloped, only to divorce 8 months later which devastated people all over the country.

People that worked in the army or were part of the movie industry had to answer to this question (McCarthyism).

I am Elisabeth Ocegueda, a freshman at Harrisburg High School with a, hopefully, bright future. When I first met Mr. Hartzler I was a little, lost twelve year old girl in middle school who didn’t quite know were she belonged. Mr Hartzler was one of the first teachers I had come to know that had enough energy to make an English class fun. Mr. Hartzler let me express myself and even though he might not know it, he is one of my favorite teachers because I knew that in contrast to other teachers, he actually cared about me and my future. I was never judged in his classroom and I was slowly but surely able to find myself. Over all, Mr. Hartzler will always be a teacher that I respect and that I will remember for my whole life. Thanks to him, I know who I am and what is right.

People lost their jobs and careers went bad and even imprisonment occurred. McCarthy held hearings called the Hollywood Blacklist, which had to do with The House Committee on Un-American Activities and anti- communist activities with the FBI.

The Movie “good night good luck” is incredibly historically accurate. The Movie uses authentic clips that show McCarthy and many speeches Murrow used. World War ended in 1945 leaving a broken Europe and a communist block behind. The United States quickly receded back to the red scare that had existed before WWII. The United States quickly set an anti-communist stance and prepared for a war against the communists. While the war never came some enterprising individuals placed themselves in powerful positions using the paranoia created. Among these individuals one came forward and began one of the most controversial historical programs. Joe McCarthy a nobody Wisconsin’s junior senator made his name when he gave a speech claiming his