Blog #171 – The Post
I really hoped that you enjoyed the movie, The Post. I think there is some pretty smart acting, decent writing, and a slice of 1971 politics and newspapers. As we saw, the Washington Post was trying to become more than just a regular, “local paper” as they called it, when Katherine Graham, the publisher played by Meryl Streep, looked to sell stock in the company and raise $3 million to hire 25 new reporters. At the same time that this stock offering is getting ready to go, the New York Times began publishing the opening series of the Pentagon Papers, a 7,000 page report detailing American involvement in Vietnam from 1945 – 1967. Ben Bradlee, the editor in chief for the Post, played by Tom Hanks, wants those papers too, since he sees the Times as his paper’s biggest competitor. 
Please answer the following questions:
- A lot of the movie tries to be faithful to the 1971 time frame – pay phones, newspapers, teletype, black and white TVs, the clothes, etc. How has life changed since then, and is this movie glorifying an age (the age of crusading newspapers) that may never come back? Why or why not?
- Examine how the film portrayed Katherine Graham as the lone woman in a sea of powerful male players – lawyers, bankers, etc. Provide specifics from the film as it shows her growth from socialite publisher to powerful player.
- The film’s reviews – many have made the case that this film is timely and completely relevant to today. Freedom of the press is something that must be fought for, again and again. You could see that Nixon had tried to muzzle the press with the injunctions against the Times and the Post, but the Supreme Court had rescued the press w/ its 6-3 decision in U.S. v. New York Times. With what’s going on w/ the media (“fake news”) and other issues, how do you see this film as relevant and timely? And why is freedom of the press so important?
400 words minimum for all three questions.
Due Monday, June 3 by midnight.
NYT review – https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/21/movies/the-post-review-steven-spielberg-tom-hanks-meryl-streep.html
Variety review – http://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/the-post-review-tom-hanks-meryl-streep-1202631640/
1.)This movie shows an era of history filled with technology that today is deemed outdated. At this time, it was revolutionary. Though, as years progressed and the world as a whole became more technologically advanced, these technologies were replaced with the ones we know today–smartphones, computers, colored TVs, the internet, and more. In specific to this movie, newspapers are extremely relevant. Today, newspapers are not used by masses. Many gain their news from channels or the internet. This switch has left behind the age of crusading newspapers. This movie definitely glorified this age. It showed the rush and excitement within the newspaper world. Such eagerness has yet to be seen by this world since their crusading age. It also portrays a time when certain news branches like the New York Times or Washington Post controlled the publics opinion. Today, this is not seen. Though still large news production companies, there is not the same dominance as seen with this era. Though, importantly, the journalists role has not–and I doubt will not–changed. These people still play a crucial role in expressing our liberties as a democracy and their prevalence and importance will stay.
2.) Throughout the film, the struggles of a women in a male dominated field were shown. Graham was the only women in a room full of men. She was not heard, and was constantly ignored. Many discredited her or brushed her away as she was a women. Important to note, at this time women still had not made their revolutionary changes into the workforce. Though, Graham never gave up. She worked endlessly, staying up long nights working. Graham really becomes a powerful player once she publishes the pentagon papers. Grahams connections to the papers allowed her to gain respect, and finally she was not the women who inherited her position due to her widowship. At the end of the movie, it is clear that Graham gained the respect of her coworkers. With the court decision in the press’s favor, Graham was finally noticed. Her hard work was finally appreciated, paving the way for women in her field.
3.) This film is ever so important with our changing world. Today, many gain their news from social medias such as Tik Tok or Instagram. An unfortunate piece to social media is its ability to spread information–including misinformation–like wildfires. Fake news plague todays society. It causes splits in our world and is proving to cause dangers. The change in our news today directs to how important it is to have protections towards press. Also, many people–including politicians–are using press against themselves. As more and more things come out about the key figures in our society, their images are diminished. Worried, many politicians try to deny and attack news sources for spreading information about them. Though, this once again proves the importance of this court ruling as it is key to a democracy that political figures pasts are known. Without free press, much of politicians lives would be secrets.
Life has changed in so many ways since the 1970s. We have had obvious technological advancements like cell phones and laptops that have changed life in so many ways it’s hard to describe, especially as I have never experienced life before we had the technology that we do today. Almost everything that was revolutionary technology in the 1970s has been replaced by something better. Pay phones have been replaced by cell phones, black and white TV has been replaced with streaming services, newspapers with social media and digital papers. The list could go on with technological changes, but that’s not all that changed. However, focusing on the newspaper aspect of the question. I don’t think that this age of crusading newspapers will ever come back. This is due to the fact that with all the technological advancements that we have made, there are easier, quicker ways to get information out to the public than newspapers. For example, social media is a huge way to get information out to the majority of the public. Another way is digital news articles. There are obviously still newspapers around, but they are not as prominent, and have more followings online, and it is for this reason that I do not think that this age of crusading newspapers will ever come back.
At the beginning of the movie, Katherine Graham was unconfident in her decisions as the leader of the Washington Post. By the end of this movie, she was confidently leading the paper, making her own decisions and not caring as much about what other people thought. At the beginning of the movie, we can see that Katherine Graham is unconfident in herself because of the way that carried herself. She was rehearsing what she wanted to say despite already knowing exactly what she was going to say, and when she wasn’t agreed with, she didn’t fight for her opinion very much, other people did. She also didn’t make any big decisions until she consulted someone else. However, by the end of the movie Katherine Graham had made the decision to print the story, despite what other people told her to do, and she was right in her decision. Her growth as a leader can be seen in this movie by the growth of her self confidence.
This movie is relevant and timely today because of social media where everyone could post anything they want with little credibility or source checking where they got their information from. Similarly, AI can be used to create fake new stories that can be posted almost anywhere. This brings in the topic of freedom of the press. Freedom of the press is one of the most important American freedoms, but there it is important that the information that is presented to the public is factually correct or has some evidence to back it up. If we don’t have this credibility check, this is where fake news becomes a bigger issue. This is why there needs to be a balance between freedom of the press, and credibility checks of what is being broadcasted into the world, especially with the increasing usage of social media.
The largest obvious way life has changed since the time when the movie was set is the technological advances. Today, communication is much faster through smartphones and the internet, whereas the movie characters were using landlines and payphones as the fastest form of communication from the 1970’s. News consumption has also shifted from physical newspapers to apps and websites. The intricate teletype machines that made new stamps for every paper that was printed have also been replaced by computers and more sophisticated technology. The Post can be seen as nostalgic to the era of journalism, as newspapers and journalists were portrayed as being much more powerful than they are today. This portrayal might be viewed as glorifying the age before technology. While the movie emphasizes the importance of newspapers in shaping public opinion, it also serves as a reminder of the evolution of journalism, where the methods may change, but the reason behind it, providing the truth, stays the same.
At the beginning of the movie, Graham is shown as a socialite publisher, who we later find out inherited the business only after both of the previous owners of the company, her father and husband, passed. Her initial hesitance and self-doubt are evident, especially in scenes where she is surrounded by men in the field who don’t respect her or her opinions. Specifically, in one scene it’s obvious that she is contemplating sharing what she had rehearsed, but eventually gives up and her colleague says it for her. She is constantly second guessing herself and what she says until she makes the big decision to publish the Pentagon Papers. When she does this, there are many men, whom she might have previously let override her opinion, advising against her decision and convincing her to change her mind, but she ultimately sticks to what she said, and it ends exactly how she wanted.
With all the talk about “fake news” and the attempts to discredit and control the media, the themes in The Post are still relevant today. The movie is a powerful reminder of how important the press is in exposing government misconduct and keeping the public informed. This role is just as critical now as it was in the 1970’s. Freedom of the press is important because it ensures transparency and accountability, which is especially needed in our government. Without a free press, abuses of power can go unchecked, and public knowledge can be manipulated. The Post shows that having a genuine and virtuous press is essential for a healthy democratic society.
Life has greatly changed from then especially in the way that we get news. Aside from the obvious fact that newspapers have slowly become more and more irrelevant and the fact that people don’t have to hand set in the words and letters, at least I hope they don’t, we can readily access news from millions of different sources in literally seconds. Furthermore while we may still receive news from similar sources like the New York post or Washington times, almost all news is on tv or online. Furthermore the spread of news is even more accessible with social media as it seems that videos and reports are shot out instantly. I also think that the movie really glorifies the newspapers age with all the talk of keeping politicians in check and himow the Supreme Court said that the press serves the people. Furthermore the way that the movie shows the whole news system with its massive printers, trucks and thousands of issues of the papers constantly pumping out, can’t help but make me marvel at the glorious newspaper business.
Throughout the whole movie, Katherine is always being pushed off to the side and told what to do, especially in the meeting with her board where everybody ignores her but steals her ideas and the pressure from everybody to go public, I think that the real turning point in the end is when she stood up to Arthur and said that it was her company not her fathers or her husbands anymore but you could really see the build up throughout the movie as she becomes more and more assertive. Finally it was really cool in the end of the movie as she exits the Supreme Court and there are hundreds of women looking to
This film is relevant and timely especially because of social media and all of the grey area around it. Many people get upset when the accounts of their favorite controversial lunatics get shut down and they can’t spew to the whole world anymore. This often raises the question “is banning an account attacking freedom of speech/press” I personally think it’s fine and if you get banned from the sespool that most social media platforms are, it is probably for good reason. But getting off of that tangent this movie is also very relevant because many people are upset with about the whole fake news thing, some believe that the government should do something about it while others think that it is a position of rights. I stand with the second opinon as it should be up to the reader to fact check and form your own educated opinion, furthermore the government trying to limit freedom of speech as happened from the beginning of America and still happens today so in all likelihood this movie will never be irrelevant.
1. Decades after the setting of The Post, technology as we know it has been completely rewritten, leaving hardly any aspects of their previous forms behind. Payphones, wired phones, and teletypewriters have been entirely replaced by cellular devices and laptops, and the Internet has made society rely on these newer devices more than ever. Rarely does anyone read newspapers anymore, instead opting for the simpler option of viewing the news on online websites free of charge. Even television has taken a different form; no modern TV is without color, and many opt to watch shows and movies online, placing black and white TV fully out of the picture. As shown by the contrast between The Post and the present, the sense of community that came with the era of newspapers in the 1970s is no longer seen in modern day. Through this positive portrayal of the past, the movie is clearly glorifying a time which we will never be able to return to due to many irreversible advancements in technology and societal norms. Rather than being brought together by the far reaches of the Internet, we have instead become overwhelmed by its grandiosity and have lost the excitement of interacting with others.
2. Initially, Graham was the only woman amongst an entire office of men, and had her points consistently disregarded during meetings. Due to the men’s sexism and misogyny, she was constantly talked over and ignored as they saw her as less credible and intelligent because of her gender. Completely disrespecting her feelings, they would often talk badly about Graham and insult her without caring if she heard what they said. The men had no interest in treating her as an equal, and referred to her as “K” rather than her proper name or title, treating her as a joke. Even at the dinner party outside of work, she’s forced to leave the table once the businessmen begin to talk politics; they treat her the same as the other women at the table despite her education being the same as the rest of the men. This shows how, in the beginning, she faced many setbacks due to the corporate world being highly biased against women, as she was the only woman to be accepted into the company and was still treated dishonorably. However, upon joining forces with a man who could give her a lead on the Pentagon Papers, her life takes a step in a more positive direction. At the stock exchange building, she is welcomed in to plead her case while the other women must wait on the steps outside. This time, though she is surrounded by men, Graham finds that they are willing to listen to what she has to say, and she finally gains recognition for her contributions to the press. Now that her voice can be heard, she’s able to strike up a deal which puts her on a path to success and causes the men from her office to recognize her achievements and see her as the entrepreneur she is.
3. The Post is relevant today because of the relations that can be found between the corruption and cover ups from the movie and the ways that they still challenge the press in modern-day. Due to fake news sites, easily spread misinformation, and AI algorithms, today’s news must be checked for credibility and thoroughly reviewed before being able to be viewed as legitimate. Since anyone can repost or popularize any news of their choice, fake or exaggerated information is often rapidly spread throughout the Internet. Additionally, as media literacy continues to decrease in adults and teens, many people lack the proper knowledge to fact check what they see online and will lean towards believing the unbelievable rather than confirm its credibility. Still, we can not limit the freedom of the press to make up for people’s lack of distinguishing real from fake, as placing restraints on what can be published as news will only prevent us from hearing the full truth of every story. Today, though biases and fake news cause many fabricated or unreliable stories to be advertised as reality, freedom of the press is necessary for truly factual information to be available to anyone without fear of censorship or prosecution.
Question 1: How Life Has Changed Since 1971 and the Glorification of the Era
Life has changed dramatically since 1971 in many ways. In the movie, we see pay phones, newspapers, teletype machines, and black-and-white TVs, which were the primary means of communication and information dissemination back then. Today, these have been replaced by smartphones, the internet, and social media, which provide instant access to information and a constant flow of news. The way we consume news has shifted from reading printed newspapers to scrolling through digital news feeds, often curated by algorithms. The immediacy and accessibility of information have transformed our daily lives, making it easier to stay informed but also challenging to verify the accuracy of information due to the spread of misinformation and “fake news.”
The movie does seem to glorify the age of crusading newspapers, presenting it as a time when journalists played a crucial role in holding the powerful accountable. This era, characterized by investigative reporting and the pursuit of truth, is portrayed with a sense of nostalgia. While the specific context of newspapers’ dominance may not return due to the digital revolution, the underlying values of journalism—truth, accountability, and the public’s right to know—remain relevant. The film suggests that, despite changes in technology and media landscapes, the spirit of investigative journalism is timeless and essential for democracy.
Question 2: Katherine Graham’s Transformation in the Film
Katherine Graham’s journey in the film is a compelling narrative of personal and professional growth. At the beginning of the film, she is portrayed as a socialite publisher, somewhat overshadowed by the powerful men around her, including lawyers, bankers, and other influential figures. She appears tentative and unsure of her position within this male-dominated world. Specific scenes illustrate her evolution. For instance, early in the movie, she struggles to assert her authority in board meetings, often deferring to the opinions of male colleagues. Her transformation begins as she faces the challenge of publishing the Pentagon Papers, a decision fraught with legal and financial risks. One pivotal moment is when she decides to go ahead with the publication despite immense pressure and the potential consequences. This decision marks her shift from a reluctant leader to a decisive and courageous figure.
Another key scene is when she stands up to the male-dominated board of directors, asserting her vision for The Washington Post. Her confidence grows as she navigates the legal and ethical complexities of the situation, ultimately emerging as a powerful player in her own right. The film highlights her resilience and determination, showcasing her growth from a woman uncertain of her capabilities to a leader who shapes the future of her newspaper and, by extension, the course of history.
Question 3: Relevance and Importance of Freedom of the Press
The film’s portrayal of the battle for freedom of the press is incredibly timely and relevant in today’s context. The ongoing issues with “fake news,” media polarization, and attempts to undermine journalistic integrity make this film resonate with contemporary audiences. The injunctions against The New York Times and The Washington Post by the Nixon administration in the film echo current challenges faced by the media in defending their right to report the truth.
Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy because it ensures that the public has access to unbiased and accurate information, enabling informed decision-making. The Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. v. New York Times, which defended the press’s right to publish the Pentagon Papers, underscores the importance of protecting journalistic freedom against government censorship. This principle is as crucial today as it was in the 1970s.
In today’s media landscape, where accusations of “fake news” are rampant and trust in journalism is often questioned, the film serves as a powerful reminder of the press’s role in upholding democratic values. It highlights the ongoing need to safeguard press freedom against any attempts to suppress or manipulate information. The film emphasizes that the fight for a free press is ongoing and must be defended continuously to ensure that truth and transparency prevail in society.
1. Our modern life has gone through significant change since 1971, especially with the rise of newer technologies, such as the internet, phones, and computers. I don’t believe aht a time like that will ever come back, because of new technologies. The creation of these technologies aids in the decline of the need for newspapers due to the easily and quickly accessible online news. I also believe that the values of journalism shown in the movie, like the importance of true information, have also disappeared, and it may never come back. While there is raw information and trusted news sources in the world, with the rise of social media, now anyone can say anything, and people who aren’t as media literate will believe it. This movie doesn’t glorify the past but rather it shows us the important role newspapers played at the time. It doesn’t romanticize this age, but it causes us to reflect on the evolution of journalism and its future with newer technological advancements.
2. Katherine Graham’s portrayal in the film highlights her journey as the lone woman navigating a world dominated by powerful men such as lawyers and bankers. We see her transformation from a publisher to a determined decision-maker, particularly when she refuses advice and supports the publication of the Pentagon Papers. She was also the only woman during meetings that were typically dominated by men. She struggles to talk and make points without being talked over. Then, when she publishes the Pentagon Papers, she is now respected by her peers.
3. The film is relevant today because of its depiction of the struggle for freedom of the press. Nixon’s attempts to silence the media are similar to modern issues like the prevalence of fake news, or AI generated news and images. Recently, AI has been evolving and becoming more and more difficult to differentiate between real and fake. Also because news literacy is decreasing, and anyone is allowed to post anything they want on social media and the internet, people are more gullible and now more than ever need freedom of the press to show us the real and raw information and facts of what is happening today. Freedom of the press will always be crucial for maintaining democratic ideas, especially during the new era of misinformation and censorship we are in currently. I think this movie is relevant and timely, more now than ever. Freedom of the press isn’t just something that the people in the movie struggled with in the 1960s and 70s, but it is something that is always going to be important. We will always need journalists to cover a topic with true facts, and not the fear of being silenced.
Technology has greatly changed since this movie took place many decades ago. There have been a multitude of changes and improvements over the years to all of the technology shown in this cinematic masterpiece. We now rarely witness, see, or utilize pay phones, teletype machines, or paper news. In present days, these technologies have been replaced with digital telephones, laptops, and news organizations now have their own mobile apps to convey information in a much quicker and efficient way. This movie is glorifying a time that will never come back because the truth is that with recent changes in technology, the newspaper industry is dead and now companies shift more towards spreading news through videos and online pages. Digital media has shifted our world so we instinctively gravitate towards a website over a paper copy of a news article, making it much more difficult to go back towards a frankly less efficient system for spreading information.
This film portrays Katherin Graham at the beginning, as the only woman in a large group of powerful men, struggling to get her ideas into the conversation and contribute to the cause so to speak. She is also only referred to as K, rather than having any other title. Despite the disrespect that she had to face every single day, she is shown to be motivated to work which demonstrates that women did want to join the workforce and were determined to. The people who work in the office don’t listen to her even though she runs the newspaper and they talk behind her back saying that the only reason she has this position is because her husband died and she doesn’t really know what she is doing. When she decides to publish the pentagon papers, she shows a lot of strength and integrity which wasn’t really expected by those who wanted her to fold. She really doesn’t have anyone else who even listens to her opinions because she is a woman throughout most of the film.
Something that I have observed is that many politicians in this country who don’t particularly agree with something that a newspaper says about them or their stances, attempt to discredit and belittle the writer or the company who writes the article, claiming that it is fake news and shouldn’t be considered. I see issue with this because what this does is that a person who holds a lot of power and influence is trying to restrict truths that harm their image. This can be a violation of free speech and this is dangerous because words and speech is power that shouldn’t be taken away by the government and we see in the book 1984 how that harms and damages society.
The movie, “The Post”, exemplifies a completely different time in American history. As politics have changed and technology has evolved, the world is an entirely different place than it was in 1971, when The Post was set. While there are endless examples as to why the world is different and this wouldve played out differently, the most striking to me was that in order to obtain the documents, somebody had to physically fly and take them as luggage. Had this happened today, the internet would’ve made this useless. Also, using the internet, the Washington Post wouldn’t have needed to adhere to the strick 12am deadline to print. Nowadays, whenever an article is finished, no matter the time, it’s published. This movie is glorifying an age of crusading newspapers, because it shows a time when newspapers were much more powerful in society. Today, while news corporations are still powerful, the physical paper is insignificant.
The film portrayed Katherine Graham, the owner of the Washington Post, as a woman being overstepped and disregarded, even despite her power. Although she is everyone’s boss, she is trampled over and disrespected because she’s a woman.
An example of this is when 3 men were talking about how she wasn’t leading the company right, and that she didn’t deserve to run it, because her late husband is the capable one. She also mentioned in the film that she hadn’t received much education. With her father being a rich newspaper owner, he could easily afford college, but it wasn’t offered to her because of her gender. Prejudices based on her gender limited her, yet she was able to disregard that and use her supreme power at the climax of the movie, ordering them to print.
This film is relevant today because there are efforts to regulate what can and can’t be printed by media today, due to the mass amounts of misinformation in the world. This film serves as a unique point of view into a famous fight for freedom of press, and why the press shouldn’t be regulated. If the Nixon administration was able to ban stories that don’t directly harm the US, just his campaign, it’d lay the groundwork for the kind of media control that can be seen in Russia today. It’s relevancy is showing that upholding the right to free press is important. Freedom of press is so important because of what I touched on earlier, that it stops the government from becoming too powerful and over-influencing its citizens. If the media can’t criticize the president when they make a decision that’s harmful to the American Public, they won’t be disincentivized to make those bad decisions.
1. I think that the directors chose to make the movie like that to make the watcher feel like they were in the time period and feel connected to what was happening. Life has changed a lot since then. One example is how on edge people were during this time because people had husbands, sons, and fathers deployed. Because of this constant state of nervousness, any update caused a huge reaction, which I think is part of the reason this whole situation happened. I do not think we will go back to that idea just because the news has become such a touchy subject, where people do not have lot of trust in what they read and unlike this time, not everyone would be getting their information from the same source like New York Times. I think it would be cool to get a newspaper and stuff like in the movie, but I do not think it would happen.
2. I think that she grew throughout the film as more and more people tried to make decisions for her. This upset her because before, there was a discussion about topics and everyone was in agreement, but as the situation progressed, her voice became more and more diminished. They began asking her to sign things without talking to her before and were not even trying to make decisions together, assuming that she did not care. This resulted in her standing up for herself, standing by her decision, and not letting people try to get her to be scared. When she had to make the final call, everyone was jumping in trying to convince her or tell her that she was going to ruin the company, but she stuck with her gut and made the right decision.
3. I agree that this film is timely and relevant today. I think this because the idea of freedom of the press should always be important. Also, if the press is not allowed to expose bad things that the government is doing, what is to stop them from happening? The government should be able to take accountability for its actions and while I understand that they should not publish about an attack before it is going to happen (like in the movie they tried to argue about D-Day) if it had already happened, we should have the right to know. I think that the press is a big issue today, because not only is it differing perspectives, but there are a lot of people straight up lying and making things up which is not good.
In the Movie “The Post”, there were a lot of old digital items like those listed above, teletype, pay phones, etc. but there has been a rise in the digital age since the timeframe that this movie is based off of. Examples of this are the internet, social media, and other digital platforms that have revolutionized the way that information is spread now. Another thing is that the media landscape has changed a lot since then. Larger corporations, etc. own the majority of newspapers, television networks, and other online platforms. This has raised concerns about the attentiveness of power in the hands of a few corporations. Next, there has definitely been a decline in newspapers but at the time that was one of the main ways information was spread. This means that the shift has led to a decline in local newspapers. Lastly, there has been there have been growing threats to press freedom and journalists’ ability to hold power to account. Attacks on journalists, censorship, and government surveillance have raised concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the role of a free press in society. Overall the age of traditional newspapers may never fully return.
To start off the film portrays Kathrine Graham’s journey from a reluctant and uncertain leader to a confident decisive figure. At the beginning of the movie, Katharine Graham is depicted as a somewhat hesitant and insecure leader, unsure of her capabilities and place in the male-dominated world of publishing. She is portrayed as a socialite publisher who is initially overshadowed by the more assertive and experienced men around her. As the movie continued and went on, Katharine found herself thrust into the center of a high-stakes decision regarding whether to publish the Pentagon Papers, a classified government study on the Vietnam War. Despite facing pressure from her advisors and the government to withhold publication, Katharine gradually asserts herself and begins to assert her authority in a traditionally male-dominated field. Katharine undergoes a transformation from a hesitant and uncertain leader to a confident and empowered figure. She learns to trust her instincts and assert her authority. By the end of the film, Katharine earns the respect and admiration of her peers and colleagues, both for her courage in publishing the Pentagon Papers and for her leadership in navigating the challenges of running a major newspaper.
I feel this movie stays relevant today because of its exploration of the importance of press freedom and the role of journalism in holding power to account. In recent years, there have been growing threats to press freedom and attacks on the credibility of the media, often characterized by accusations of “fake news” and attempts to undermine journalists’ credibility. “The Post” remains relevant and timely today as it addresses enduring issues surrounding press freedom, government accountability, and the public’s right to know. The film serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of a free and independent press in safeguarding democracy and holding power to account, making it essential viewing for audiences concerned about the state of media and democracy in the modern world.
1. The movie, as it was released in 2017, glorified many of the aspects of the 1970s. They portrayed a room filled with desks and typewriters, multiple uses of the payphone, the workings of the landline, and common public acceptance of cigarettes in the office. It tries its best to portray the setting of 1971, but it may not have portrayed the setting as well as realistically as it might have if the movie had been released a few years after the actual incident. The movie is attempting to portray a time when many of the modern-day necessities or tools didn’t exist, especially with the way news and media have changed with the advancement of technology. The age of newspapers will most likely not have a resurgence as seen with most news networks such as the New York Times switching to a digital format of news that allows for easy publishing. Just last week, I saw people reading a physical newspaper, but the people who were reading it were elderly, mostly likely accustomed to the physical newspaper. Technology is a convenience in terms of publishing and we don’t see online news deteriorating any time soon.
2. Graham steps into her role in the Washington Post as she inherits it from her father. The main development in her role in the Washington Post can be seen in the scene with her and the many other men gathered at the table. The men themselves are talking amongst themselves as if Graham wasn’t there, but she takes her leadership role as she begins to stand up and states the goals and the duties of the newspaper. Graham sets the grounds for the ethics of publishing the information in the articles and it is through her leadership and pioneering that led her to claim her role in the Washington Post. She also makes an effort to clearly state that she is the owner of the company, not her father, not her husband, solidifying her role in the Washington Post.
3. This topic on freedom of speech is actually directly related to a topic that we were discussing in English class. On the topic of fake news, the idea of the government being able to filter out fake news or false information was presented. Some argued that it could be used as a means to violate the First Admendment while others argued it was necessary. The movie portrays a time when the news was actually being censored and the freedom of the press was being violated by the Federal government. But as seen in the movie, the freedom of the press allows for the people to not be withheld information about current events. The news is free to publish things even if it goes against the government as it would reveal the realistic situation and it gives the people the right to know what is happening in their country and the world. The movie is also relevant today not just because it tackles the freedom of the press and government censorship, but it also highlights the importance of people fighting for their rights. As the founding fathers intended, the country gives the people the ability to fight for their rights and challenge decisions in court. The movie highlights the importance of fighting for what is right but also fighting for your own rights, not just in the time of the movie, but in this day and age as well.
A lot of the stuff in the movie that was considered amazing in its prime, the late 1900’s, it’s now seen as outdated today. For example, the typewriter had been used for decades and decades, but as soon as new technology such as smartphones and computers came out, they pretty much became forgotten. Kids today might even consider typewriters as ancient, as they’ve known smartphones their whole life, while some adults might seem like they remember using one only a few years ago. I think that the movie definitely did glorify some things in the movie. It did a good job of capturing some aspects of the 1970’s political and equality wise, though things such as setting were not entirely accurate. I feel that if the movie was made closer to the time of the occurrence, it would be more accurate and realistic to what the time period actually was and not assumed to be.
In the beginning of the movie, Graham was very unsure about her decisions and would not really fight for them. As a woman in an office full of men, her experiences there are what led to her being this way. She was constantly ignored, not taken seriously, and pushed aside just because she was a woman. Even though she faces all of these challenges, Graham still worked hard to persevere and keep a strong lead in her position as leader of the post. As she kept working, she began to gain more confidence, which only led her to more success. In the end, Graham’s perseverance eventually led to her to be accepted and respected by her coworkers, and her hard work paid off and was greatly appreciated.
While people typically say that old movies aren’t really relevant to the present day because a lot of things have changed since then, this movie still has a lot of importance. Like seen through the events of the movie, we today still face the challenges of the spread or lack of spread of information. The problem is that compared to the movie, we now have access to social media, which can spread information extremely fast. We even had a whole unit on this in our Honors English B class. We used a site called Checkology to help us learn media literacy. We spent a lot of time analyzing how to detect misinformation and what it can cause. Freedom of the press is important as it helps expose lots of the secrets of politics that need to be known. Without freedom of the press, it is possible for powerful politicians to hide things which will affect the future of politics and the U.S