What to read and watch
BOOKS
College Newspaper Survival Guide: (Rachele Kanigel) A textbook with tips to manage a student newspaper from all perspectives: editing, reporting, administrating, advising and even avoiding censorship. Perfect to kick start a college publication.
Manufacturing Consent: (Noam Chomsky) If you think media’s only objective is to inform and entertain, you might want to read this book before start working for a big broadcasting or publishing corporation. Chomsky gives a in-depth analysis of the relationship between mass media, economy and agenda setting of social issues and phenomena. After reading this book, you’ll realize nothing is what it seems.
1984: (George Orwell) Have you ever heard the phrase “Big brother is watching”? It has its origins way back before the reality show. This classic novel by George Orwell presented a not-so-optimistic scenery of what the world in 1984 would look like. Maybe Orwell’s prediction failed in comparison to the real age, but year after year, it’s seems the world is basing its future on his doomsday stage.
MOVIES
Note: The information below is not a collection of movie reviews, just a collection of lessons I learned after watching them.
All the President’s Men: (Alan J. Pakula) If you want to win the Pulitzer you’ll have to cross out every name on the list. Even professional reporters eat junk food and sleep with their work clothes on. Flirting is the best way to get confidential facts. Impossible is nothing in journalism.
Shattered Glass: (Billy Ray) Editors are not so bad. After watching this movie, I regained my faith in them. Now I’m loosing my faith in good and witty reporters, specially those who are skinny and appear to be shy. Fact checking is everything. In real life, retractions don’t make you smile. I would never go back to school to show off my success to my journalism teachers.
The Paper: (Ron Howard) If you’re having a baby, don’t cover the “Justice” beat. Always peek at the editor’s desk when he/she’s not looking. Always remember the reason you wanted to be a journalist.
The Pelican Brief: (Alan J. Pakula) You need to start learning lawyers jargon. Everything you need to do a great story might be hidden in the shelves of the public library. Open records rule!
Good night and good luck: (George Clooney) Don’t marry a coworker, especially if you work in broadcasting news. All the cool people were communists in the 50’s. I wish someday I’ll be in a crazy public figure’s blacklist (I think I’m already in one, but I’m not sure).
