Critical Journalism Studies - Assignment Example

Critical examination of Brian McNair reference of Journalists as Heroes and Villains in films and TV shows Journalists have been depicted as heroes in film, movies and TVs shows. In other instances, they are portrayed as villains who bring turmoil to the ruling class. The depiction of Journalists in different character aims to show a widely accepted values in society or to ridicule the flaws in the world. Nevertheless, Journalists have agonized a lot of people in their pursuit for information. In the current infighting in Iraq and Syria, we have witnessed beheading of journalists. This demonstrates how Journalists works in risky and dangerous. Thus, they are always shown as heroes in TV shows and Movies. There are bad journalists just like there are bad people. However, movie directors never want to portray the flaws of journalists to the public. Movie directors such as Clooney and Winterbottom ensures that the negative trust that exist between Journalists and the people is minimized for the good of the profession (Good Night, and Good Luck, 2005). One good example of a film that shows heroic journalists is the Good Night & Good Luck (Good Night, and Good Luck, 2005). The film show how journalists help reshapes the society in a positive way. Journalists are viewed as a villain by those that they hold to account and for revealing past secrets. Moreover, journalists unearth revelation between protagonists in the Good Night & Good Luck. Through this, they are viewed as the essence of social impartiality. In the TV series, House of cards journalists excels in telling stories of ethical that Congressman Underwood do not want to be revealed. Thus, the revelation of corruptions put journalists at odd with politician. For example, Lucas Goodwin is a hard working journalist who reports corrupt officers in Washington (McNair, 2010). Moreover, relate well with his college and work and he is one of the heroes in the TV series. The House of cards depicts the U.S politics as wanting. Underwood and his wife are likened to Macbeth and Lord because they are ruthless to their enemies. However, it takes the courage of journalists like Goodwin to report their corrupt deals to gain political power. Therefore, Goodwin is a hero and does what McNair refers journalists as brave men and women. Though journalists are involved in revealing the evils in the society, their profession is chockfull of immoral act and corruption. Most of them are sexual predators. Others like Zoe Barnes are ready to interchange sensual favours for information. To this end, journalists are villain and contribute to the deterioration of corruption that continues an abated. Nevertheless, there are other journalists who are assaulted, and violently attacked when investigating the underground of Washington. Some are intimidated and imprisoned to block them from reporting the political manipulation practised in the Capitol Hill. In other instance, film directors expose ill among politician and cover up the faint in journalism. Through the depiction of the good face of journalism, people develop trust and confidence. Thus, it becomes easier for them to reshape public opinion. Journalists self-groom themselves while they depose others. In addition, journalists takes advantage of human drama in the political ground and within families to make news (Brian, 2011). Through this, they get all the credit for everything that they report. However, this should not be the case. For example, the rescue mission of the 33 Chilean miners in November 2010 was reported on the last day they were rescued to the ground. However, for over three months none of the Journalists reported their condition or their circumstances. Therefore, TV and film give glory to journalists for their effort to inform the people. This is a negative heroic depiction that leave out the deserving people. Journalists are also portrayed as inhuman in TV shows and films. For example, journalists are known to restrain rescue missions to make news. Kirk Douglas in the movie Ace in the hole is vilified for his hunger for news (McNair, 2010). One day as he was going home having found nothing for TV notices a man stuck in a cave. Douglas forgets to help the victim, but gets an opportunity to make news out of it (Brian, 2011). The incidence negatively affect his image for neglecting and obstructing rescue mission. Ron Howard set out high standard through which journalists are portrayed as a hero. He makes it possible for the public to understand the role of journalists. For example, in All the President’s Men journalists are portrayed as pleasing, just and brave compared to the president men’s who are manipulative, corrupt and greedy. Moreover, it is journalists who exposed the Watergate Scandal (McNair, 2010). McNair argues that the use of journalists in movie and film explain what they are in real world (McNair, 2010). The girl with the dragon tattoo is another film that have journalists play different roles throughout the film (The Girl with the Dragon Tatto, 2011). For instance, Blomkvist is a forty years old journalist who loves women, and smoking. His bad behaviours only seem to liken women journalists. However, according to the film directors art imitate real life. Therefore, the behaviour of journalists is a true revelation of their negative way of life (The Girl with the Dragon Tatto, 2011). However, because people love news, drama and spectacle they liken journalists for playing as heroes and villain in the media and films. Journalists are an authoritative instrument for social change. For this reason, they act as a go between the public and the authority. Moreover, because people have an urge to learn they often watch TV shows, movies and films to get informed. Therefore, movies do not just entertain, but they educate and inspire. Moreover, film makes people appreciate the work that journalists do in the political world, in the battlefield or even in our homes. For this reason, they are shown as heroes as well as the villain. For instance, Blomkvist starts his career as a watchdog journalists. He uncover corruption and live to the highest ethical standard (The Girl with the Dragon Tatto, 2011). For this, he a heroin to the young journalists in the profession. However, he is later accused and found guilty of libel. He is, therefore, displayed as a hero and later as a villain who spends the rest of his live trying to restore his reputation (The Girl with the Dragon Tatto, 2011). According to McNair, Blomkvist is a villain as he cannot be accused of things done by any other person (McNair, 2010). Thus, he was he was justly condemned. Moreover, Blomkvist drama does not end there as he is given a job to investigate and solve the murder of Henrik Vanger niece (The Girl with the Dragon Tatto, 2011). However, he is promised information leading to his conviction by Vanger. Therefore, he engages in journalism for his personal gain and not that of his organization. All these demonstrate the how journalists are villains. Moreover, Lisbeth Salander is also depicted as a villain in the movie (The Girl with the Dragon Tatto, 2011). She is the cruellest journalists in the movie. In addition, she is shown to be a hero more than Blomkvist. Salander helps uncover a ten years old case of concealed criminality in a Swedish family. Therefore, were it not for Salander and Blomkvist exposure of corruption in a community in Sweden the movie would be just a thriller, but it proves to be inquisitive and educative to watch. Journalist’s report what happens around the world and their role help make the world a better place (Brian, 2011). Therefore, their roles in movies are endured to influencing certain sector of society in adjusting to the ethical standard while ridiculing negative behaviours. And because change does not come up easily it take the courage of journalists to show resistance and resilient in movies and TV shows. McNair refers journalists ‘as detective who are licenced to uncover what people want remain concealed’ (McNair, 2010). This demonstrates and reveals the braveness and courage of journalists such as Julius Assage of WikiLeaks (Brian, 2011). However, the case interdiction of WikiLeaks founder demonstrates the confrontational that the journalists have with the wealthy and those in authority. Through this struggle, journalists are showed as heroes who do their role to help humanity. The role of journalists in movies, film and TV shows are to educative, mythological, regulatory and defensive. Thus, because films maker want to do just that they use journalists as their main characters. Moreover, films bring entertainment, glamorous, and exciting episodes to their audiences. For this purposes, producers use heroic depiction of journalists such as Jack Bauer in the TV series 24 to depict audacity and braveness (24, 2001). On the other hand, opinion poll (2006 MORI) conducted in the U. S. shows that journalists are despised for their work. This is because they can menace, defame, and harass the public to their advantages. However, their heroic and villain depiction is what attract them in the film, TV shows, Movies and other media productions because people just love cultural duality of good versus bad. References 24. 2001. [Film] Directed by Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran. United State of America: Fox Network. Brian, M., 2011. Journalists in film: heroes and villains. Australian Journalism Review, pp. 137-142. Good Night, and Good Luck. 2005. [Film] Directed by George Clooney. USA: Section Eight Productions. McNair, B., 2010. Journalists in Film: Heroes and Villains. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. The Girl with the Dragon Tatto. 2011. [Film] Directed by Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, David Fincher. United State of America: Yello Bird. Read More