Interview: Journalist's Favorite Movies

  The second professional reporter I interviewed was my very own neighbor Jeannie Stromgren who has “had 30 years of on-air and print writing experience for local, network and national stations and publications.” Jeannie’s first favorite journalism movie is Ace in the Hole. She said that previous newspaper films portrayed the business as “wacky fun”.” Ace in the Hole changed that by showing “unlikeable characters doing shameless things.” Jeannie thinks the film has an importance because “it exposes the unpleasant truth of how a "human interest story" is often milked for newspaper circulation.”

  Jeannie’s second favorite journalism film is Broadcast News. Jeannie has worked at “three television stations” and she was very impressed by how accurate Broadcast News is. The dysfunction of the characters, the hectic busyness of a newsroom and the believability of the situations give the film credibility. Jeannie mentioned how James L. Brooks shadowed an actual TV producer and it shows in the film. Too often Hollywood gets it wrong but Broadcast News “gets it right.”

   Jeannie’s final favorite journalism movie (and one of my personal favorites) is Good Night and Good Luck. The riveting tale of Edward R. Murrow’s takedown of Senator McCarthy’s terror campaign is incredible. Jeannie says that “any journalist worth his salt has heard of Murrow and his groundbreaking work.” Jeannie says that, “George Clooney (of all people!) captures the methodical, smart, relentless way that Murrow pursued the truth behind McCarthy’s witch hunts.” I couldn’t agree more with her final statement that you know you’re watching a good film when you forget that you’re “watching a movie, and instead, become completely absorbed in the story.”