Can there be any real honesty in the newsroom or on television?

Rating: 10/10 (25 February 2008)

Television can be described in some factors:
"This tube is the gospel...It can break or make presidents...you do whatever the tube tells you; you dress like a tube, you eat like a tube, you feed your children like a tube." Howard Beale (Peter Finch- Network (1976)
"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." Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn- Good Night and Good Luck (2005)
George Clooney's "Good Night and Good Luck" is a look back in the 1950's during the McCarthrism era of communism where CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) does what he can along with his team of news reporters to bring down Senator Joseph McCartney and his theories of frightening America. Besides the fact that Murrow portrays truth and inside information for his public to understand, we see what else goes on in the boardroom from staff members such as Fred Friendly (George Clooney), CBS reporter Don Hollenback (Ray Wise) and others find stories that are good enough for the ratings.
With the film under ninety minutes, director/actor/co-star/co-writer George Clooney shows what else goes on inside the world of journalism prior to freedom of speech. There are subplots where workers for the CBS news are questioned by the government on communism to two staff members (Robert Downey Jr. and Patricia Clarkson) who keep their marriage quiet and realize they are breaking a rule stating that married couples are not allowed to work in the same company.
With today in the world of journalism, who can tell the truth about what is going on? Or is it all about looks and personality? While I wasn't familiar with Edward R. Murrow since I was born in the early 1980's, everyday I watch different news broadcasts and see what kind of stories they have to point out everyday. Why is it that people like to watch the news? Is it because they want to find out about what goes on in the world or is it about looks? Many people would watch the news to see Diane Sawyer or Peter Jennings's looks where as seeing Dan Rather for his somewhat redneck humor he probably got from a Jeff Foxworthy book.
While being under the impression that Mr. Clooney's father worked in a news station when the actor was a child, I was impressed he can do more than just play a hero on screen or in real life.
If i had words to end my comment: Pure talent!