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Society 's View On The Profession Of Journalism Essay

Decent Essays

In many ways, it can be argued that through the use of film, society’s view on the profession of journalism can be reflected to be uncover and investigate stories ‘that we ourselves dare not.’ (McNair, B. 2010. Pg.12) By acting as our ‘collective conscience,’ journalists can be portrayed through film and television shows to act as a unifying source within our society; exposing our shared beliefs, morals and ideas into the public eye. This can be seen through the All The President’s Men (1976), where the journalists are portrayed as investigative, daring, and strive to reveal the truth through their courage and perseverance. However, journalists in film can also be represented in a paradoxical way. In the film Nightcrawler (2014), the journalist in the film, Lou Bloom, is portrayed to have little or no morals when it comes to the profession of journalism. He can be seen to fabricate the truth or manipulate others in order to acquire a story that would have maximum impact when shown on the television. The following essay will explore whether journalists in films act as our “collective conscience, going to places and doing things that we ourselves dare not, and without courage we would, as societies, be very much worse off” as the critic, McNair believes.

In the first instance, All The President’s Men (1976) centres on a storyline of two reporters, Woodward and Bernstein who work together to uncover and expose the American government-better known as the ‘Watergate scandal.’

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