PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES

Media Columnist David Carr talks to Journalist. Courtesy Photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES

BUZZIN’S MOVIE TICKER

This documentary is a rare look at the inner workings of the New York Times. Not unlike all Newspapers and all Media (Radio and T.V.) – the staff the NYT all have meetings to discuss the daily goings on. It could be called a Bitch fest.

Much of the talk in these “Page One” meetings is all about how the Internet has taken away a lot the advertising revenue. That may be true, but on the other hand – maybe if the Newspapers didn’t charge the outrageous costs for the small ads, they might still be making a bunch of dough. Remember all the Classifieds?

There is still nothing like a Newspaper. I love to hold them in my hand as I drink the morning coffee. There has been a huge shake up in the media. Newspapers have been going into bankruptcy like dominos falling over. The movie even points out how Chicago’s giant paper, the Tribune, had to make tremendous cuts in staff just to keep the Newspaper around. Are they too big to fail? – not really – but the people that have been buying up the Media are really not interested in that. They are only interested in bleeding all the money out of the newspapers that they can get. Who cares about Journalism? The rich owners don’t. 

David Carr, a fascinating writer, works at the Times. He is a brassy, no holds barred kind of guy. He tells you like it is in this Docudrama. Of course, as far as I’m concerned the meetings at Newspapers and Radio outlets are ridiculous, at most. I kind of get the idea, that Carr would also think so. It’s a “Pick” at someone during the meetings, to show that you are smarter than the others are. Staff meetings are really meant to humiliate. And in this Documentary the New York Times should win the Nit Picking award of the year.

The Times is still strong and probably will be for a long time.  How they manage to keep going with a small-scale staff is a wonder in itself. Yes, Internet is fun, easy and fast – but the Internet generally does not have foreign journalists that are willing to put their lives on the line. The “Times” does. As interesting as “Page One” is – it does get a little repetitious. So keep that in mind. The grumbling never stops.

David Carr, who you may have seen recently on the Bill Maher show on HBO, is a crusty journalist who says what he wants and when he wants to. He basically is the star of this documentary. Carr is as talented and controversial as the “Times”. Also in the cast are these stellar performers: Bruce Headlam – Brian Stelter –Richard Perez – Pena - Bill Keller and Tim Arango. All give rich and riveting performances in this capricious delight.

Music by: Paul Brill. Directed by Andrew Rossi. Written by: Kate Novack and Andrew Rossi.

NOW SHOWING AT THE BRIDGE THEATER

RATING: THREE BOXES OF POPCORN!!! – trademarked- 

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook and produced and hosted a long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))



NOTE: This article was first published on www.beyondchron.org.