The Paper

The Paper, a documentary by Aaron Matthews, is a film of great journalistic might; it puts lessons and philosophies learned only through experience as a journalist into cinematic form. This, in turn, makes such wisdom available to the future journalists of the world.  A new cult classic of journalism schools, this film follows the headaches, the progress, and the successes of one of the top student newspapers in the nation, "The Daily Collegiate" of Penn State. SUNY Albany held a viewing of this seventy-eight minute film last Wednesday. In the dim light of the theatre, mostly filled with journalism students, one could see that all eyes were transfixed on the glimpse into the future that many in the room would imminently be embarking upon. The film offered a look into the responsibilities of a newspaper staff, the ethical dilemmas they face, the restrictions, the concern for lagging readership, and the balance all journalists try to maintain between their profession and personal life.
           In this film, far-reaching axioms that all journalists, regardless of experience should keep close at hand, were presented through the experiences of the students at the newspaper. To start with, one must be on their toes, fully alert. Such was evident in the cry, "Who walks to a fire? It was a fire!" Apparently, due to sluggishness a reporter had missed out on some pressing news. Next, a journalist must be willing to go an extra step or even twenty or thirty. He or she must be able to relate a story to outside society; if reporting on sports, as in the documentary, or a particularly dry topic, like economics, he or she must be able to pull in a concept relevant to humanity across the board. Even if a particular topic is of no interest to a reader, the journalist must be able to pull that reader in for a different reason. 

       Also, journalists must remember that knowledge equals power. They must ask themselves, what do people want to read? They must remember that one must not make ethical decisions alone; and that they must consider diversity regarding the newsroom and stories. A journalist must realize that all of his or her story ideas will not be welcomed with open arms; some will be shot down. If at a loss for a story, a journalist could fall back on, "if it bleeds, it ledes."Journalists must realize that they create their own access, and for more complete access they must be willing to step on toes, or at least covertly step around them; and be willing to face the consequences of doing so. The worst thing a journalist can do is tell the truth poorly, but it happens. Journalists must consider what is important versus what is newsworthy when ruminating over a story idea. They must take into consideration who could be hurt by a story, or who could receive undue celebrity from it. They must prioritize their personal beliefs and objectivity, and decide on stories accordingly. Finally, journalists must keep in mind that if it comes down to it, sex sells papers.
        This last axiom is especially intriguing; why are people so drawn to reading about it? In an attempt to boost circulation, The Daily Collegiate introduced a dating and entertainment page. Despite the fact that it raised circulation, if only a little, there is extensive debate as to the appropriateness of its presence in newspapers. Many believe such gossip belongs in women's magazines or tabloids, but its d'ebute in newspapers is becoming more common.
      Other movies such as the Devil Wears Prada and How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, though not by any means on the same cinematic level as The Paper, revolve around journalists who write about their love lives or are immersed in a world of shallow sensationalism or materialism; essentially the mindless babble that a majority of the world finds entertaining.
In the show Sex and The City, the protagonist, Carrie, is a well known sex collumnist for a newspaper in New York City. She finds fame writing about all those topics most people would talk to only their close friends about; the guy who stood her up, the lack of romance before more physical relationships, the stupidity of men, the list could go on forever. But through all this, Carrie ties in universal truths of human nature. She questions why we think the way we do.
      As such, it seems that perhaps, gossip and love do have their place in newspapers. Though most definitely not the front page, it seems that if people enjoy reading about such topics, and it will elicit them to pick up a paper, then it can't hurt.Thus, the staff of The Daily Collegian did no harm to introducing a page of romance and gossip. It drew in a new audience, and shared the stories of fellow college students and their views of the opposite sex. The page allowed for a bit of entertainment in a paper that was dehydrated by dry news stories of no interest.
        Thus, The Paper by Aaron Matthews will indeed survive through time as a glimpse into the real world of journalism. It has essentially outlined the concepts journalists should keep in mind through real life events. It has given insight into the amount of analysis and brain power journalists use on an everyday basis. Yet it has also shown all of the glory and triumph which can be attained through hard work and perseverance. Such a documentary has given the average person a look into the life of those who provide them with their news and information; and basically, journalists do the same for their living: they get to take a look at the lives of others, taking a look at the World through someone else's eyes. Through all of the setbacks and hardship, it seems that this sole ability is what makes journalism so appealing.