Good Night, and Good Luck.

Last week, I went and saw Good Night, and Good Luck. I realize that some of you might think this doesn’t have much to do with the general topic of my blog, but I think it does. It gives meaning to what we as bloggers are doing.

I went into this movie thinking it was going to be another L.A. Confidential – a crime film based in the 50s, but instead of focusing on cops, this movie was going to focus on reporters. I was wrong in a few aspects. The movie did revolve around reporters in the 1950s, but more importantly a CBS reporter named Edward Murrow and his coverage the McCarthy trials. Another mistake I made was thinking this movie was fiction.

What struck me about this film and why I mention it today is the impact Murrow had on journalism, and the media’s responsibility to be a political watchdog.

The film begins with Morrow being honored at the Radio-Television News Directors Association & Foundation Convention on Oct. 15, 1958. He begins his speech:

This just might do nobody any good. At the end of this discourse a few people may accuse this reporter of fouling his own comfortable nest, and your organization may be accused of having given hospitality to heretical and even dangerous thoughts. But the elaborate structure of networks, advertising agencies and sponsors will not be shaken or altered. It is my desire, if not my duty, to try to talk to you journeymen with some candor about what is happening to radio and television.

There is a flashback, and the audience is in the newsroom years ago with reporters bustling around and secretaries delivering coffee. The movie goes on to tell of Murrow’s convictions that what McCarthy accusation was doing was wrong and unconstitutional. The problem during the time was reporters and journalists were afraid to do stories disagreeing with McCarthy because then they to would be black listed.

In Murrow’s awards speech, he mentions many things that are so relevant now.

Our history will be what we make it. And if there are any historians about fifty or a hundred years from now, and there should be preserved the kinescopes for one week of all three networks, they will there find recorded in black and white, or color, evidence of decadence, escapism and insulation from the realities of the world in which we live. I invite your attention to the television schedules of all networks between the hours of 8 and 11 p.m., Eastern Time. Here you will find only fleeting and spasmodic reference to the fact that this nation is in mortal danger.

For surely we shall pay for using this most powerful instrument of communication to insulate the citizenry from the hard and demanding realities which must be faced if we are to survive. I mean the word survive literally.

I am entirely persuaded that the American public is more reasonable, restrained and more mature than most of our industry's program planners believe. Their fear of controversy is not warranted by the evidence. I have reason to know, as do many of you, that when the evidence on a controversial subject is fairly and calmly presented, the public recognizes it for what it is--an effort to illuminate rather than to agitate.

But this nation is now in competition with malignant forces of evil who are using every instrument at their command to empty the minds of their subjects and fill those minds with slogans, determination and faith in the future. If we go on as we are, we are protecting the mind of the American public from any real contact with the menacing world that squeezes in upon us. We are engaged in a great experiment to discover whether a free public opinion can devise and direct methods of managing the affairs of the nation. We may fail. But we are handicapping ourselves needlessly.

These are excerpts from the speech he gave in 1958. I believe that blogs and the Internet have become to voice of the people. It is the place where people are saying things that others don’t want to hear but need to.

George Clooney is the director of this movie and a staunch liberal. I’m positive the Clooney’s main purpose in making this film is to illustrate the parallels between the Red Scare and current Iraq war. During the McCarthy era, if you disagreed with what the government was doing or how McCarthy was singling out people without evidence, you were considered a communist. Currently, the situation is very similar. If you oppose the Iraq War and disagree with Bush, you might be called unpatriotic or disloyal.

The final part of Murrow’s speech had a definite ring of truth and timelessness.

To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost.

This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful.

I strongly suggest reading Morrow’s entire speech.

The reason I mentioned this movie and Murrow is because it brought to my attention the importance of what we as bloggers are doing – especially the bloggers who are doing investigative reporting and discovering important things that aren’t being reported on the news. It is not always popular to believe the truth, but it is still the truth, and someone needs to say it. I believe Murrow was one of those people for radio and television, and unfortunately I cannot name one journalist now that I feel has done the same thing.

Where is Nagin?

According to an article in the Times Picayune on Saturday, Nov. 26, Nagin has not only been absent, but he was also being allusive as to where he was going.

He wasn't on hand Nov. 18 when a panel of more than 50 specialists in urban and post-disaster planning from the Urban Land Institute released the most comprehensive recovery plan yet proposed for his hurricane-ravaged city.

Nagin's office said last week that he was in Washington meeting with federal officials about help for the city. But it turned out that starting Nov. 18, he was on vacation in Jamaica, taking what spokeswoman Sally Forman said this week was some "much-needed" time with his family after weeks of separation and intense stress. He was due to return Friday.

I’m sure Nagin needed some time with his family, and you can’t ask some to work for 3 months nonstop. But you would think that some time at home would do the job. I’m sure the people of New Orleans don’t appreciate their mayor going to a tropical island to get some much needed r-n-r. But never fear Nagin gives another reason for being in Jamaica. Economic reasons.

The paper said that after his arrival, Nagin told reporters in Montego Bay that New Orleans hopes to strengthen its economic ties with Jamaica. The mayor was quoted as saying that the city and the Caribbean island "both have unique characters, unique styles, wonderful food." At the time Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Nagin said, planning was under way for a November festival in Jamaica designed to strengthen its ties with New Orleans.

There’s a reason for every thing Nagin does or offers.
Nagin: The Jamaican newspaper is asking me why I’m in Jamaica…? Uhhh…I want to have Jamaica be part of the new New Orleans so I think we shall have a festival. Yes. That’s it. That was my plan all along…even before Katrina.

Every time I read something new about Nagin I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. I really hope that he doesn’t have a huge role in the rebuilding process.

A Brief Absent

I would like to apologize to my fellow readers for not posting any thing recent. As you know last week was the holidays, and I hope everyone had a good, safe holiday. Along with much holiday festivities, my brother got married over the weekend, and I stood in the wedding. And the present I took home with me from wedding was a nice case of tonsillitis. I'm finally feeling well enough to get to a computer. I will have a new post by tomorrow. I’m hoping there is some juicy stuff floating around since I haven’t posted in a while.