"Good Night, and Good Luck"

The 2005 film, Good Night and Good Luck, directed by George Clooney, exposes the corrupt relationship between the government and the press. In an ideal world, the government and the press would be completely separate, and there would be no government intervention within news outlets.

The press would be able to freely critique the government without the fear of being silenced or the temptation of subtle bribes deterring their stories. The press would be able to "check" the actions of the government and report on it. In other words, the press would fulfill a "watching" role.

But, as we all know, that is not the case. That has never been the case. Clooney's film accurately represents this harsh reality by highlighting the real-life conflict held between CBS journalist Edward Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy during the height of the red scare in the 1950s. 

The film follows Murrow, who hosts a popular television news program called “See It Now,” as he becomes increasingly concerned about McCarthy’s tactics of accusing people of being communists without any evidence. To shed some light onto the issue, Murrow and his team decide to take on McCarthy by dedicating an entire episode of their show to exposing his methods. 

Throughout the film, the tension between Murrow and McCarthy builds as they engage in a war of words in the media. The film centers around the importance of a free press and the need for journalists to hold those in power accountable. 

In critiquing and exposing the claims of McCarthy, Murrow fulfills the role of the adversarial press. The adversarial press refers to journalists who work to uncover and reveal instances of corruption and abuse. It is a type of investigative journalism that mainly deals with bringing political issues to the forefront. 

Murrow upholds this role by being one of the few to stand up against the wrongdoings of McCarthy. Although many knew that McCarthy was making harmful and false claims against others, no one spoke out against him. This is one of the most significant problems that journalists face today: a lack of voice and freedom in their work.  

Journalists are protected under the First Amendment. That being said, the First Amendment is supposed to prevent the government from censoring the publication of media and information. Although it seems simple enough, the reality is not as black and white, cut and dry, as it seems.

The government uses cunning strategies to manage the media. They use their power to stifle views and opinions that would jeopardize their reputation. Rather than actually granting the public access to all information, they silence reporters, bribe journalists, and shadowban accounts on social media.

One would think that it would be a no-brainer for all journalists to follow in the footsteps of Murrow, but the reality of it all is more complicated than that. The potential threat of censorship or a ruined reputation troubles journalists around the country today. Many would rather blindly follow the government than risk their livelihoods. Although their decisions are understandable to a certain extent, their blind obedience leaves the rest of us in the dark.

One key element of journalism revolves around seeking out the truth and communicating it to the public. That is why the bravery and courage of Edward Murrow is still admired today. He was one of the few to denounce the lies of a political figure and serve the public in an honorable way. We could all learn a lot from him.