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Synopsis
More than two thousand films have addressed journalism and journalists, including some of the greatest works in cinema history. From Citizen Kane to La Dolce Vita, from Capote to Good Night, and Good Luck, from Salvador to A Mighty Heart, the profession of journalism has fascinated and inspired writers, directors, and actors.
Brian McNair's new study asks what films about journalism tell us about changing public perceptions and the role of the journalist in society. If journalism is one of the key cultural forms of our time, cinema is an arena in which societal expectations and norms about journalism's role, as well as current public debates about its performance, can be articulated. This book approaches these films as cinematic works of art and as documents of journalism's evolving public identity. Films such as Shattered Glass, The Sweet Smell of Success, and Ace in the Hole form the basis for a fascinating consideration of the ongoing debate surrounding the profession& mdash;the impact of commercialization on news values; the power of the columnist; the implications of new digital technologies for established news media; the role of the journalist in a post-9/11 world.