Review by Doug Cooper
Featuring David Carr, Bill Keller, Bruce Headlam, Tim Arango, Susan Chira, David Remnick,
Nick Denton, Sarah Ellison, Alex Jones, Clay Shirky | Written by Kate Novack & Andrew Rossi
UK certification E | UK RRP £19.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 72 minutes | Directed by Andrew Rossi
This excellent documentary focuses on a year in the life of the venerable American newspaper, tackling their handling of the Wikileaks scandal for example and their decision to publish the website's findings as well as coverage of Afghanistan and the collapse of the Tribune Company.
It hones in on the media desk, with raspy voiced reporter David Carr attending various journalistic symposiums, and young Brian Stelter constantly updating his twitter page as he writes his stories. Over the course of the year, we see him lose 90 pounds, an inspiration to anyone who wishes to lose weight.
Bruce Headlam is the harried but outwardly calm editor of the desk, sitting in on the page one editorial meetings, discussing what goes where on the front page, chaired at the time by Bill Keller.
But not only does it contain fly-on-the-wall footage of the hacks at work, it also gives a wider view of newspapers in the modern age - how they are constantly losing money and folding due to the lack of advertising and how the internet has usurped their prime position of giving up-to-the-minute information about the news.
Various talking heads give their soundings on what the future holds for the industry and how it might adapt. It's a timely, well paced effort, essential viewing for anyone who works in the media and consistently watchable for anyone who doesn't. Recommended.
EXTRAS ★★★ Extra interviews with the likes of Emily Bell (formerly of the Guardian, but now the director of the Tow Centre for Digital Journalism at Columbia University in New York), Carl, Bernstein, David Carr, Sarah Ellison, Evan Smith (editor-in-chief of the Texas Tribune), Richard Perez-Pena and Tim Arango; the featurettes American newspapers in Transition, Iraq Troop Withdrawal Day Two, Journalist Reactions and tech meeting; and the UK theatrical trailer.