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Journalistsin Fiction and Film |
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. . . a summer course in which we will study selected novels and films that show journalists at work.
We will consider primarily the professional values these fictional journalists hold and try to determine how and why they do what they do and possible alternative courses of action. We'll also look at the point of view the writers take toward journalistic values. The goal is to gain a knowledge and understanding of the way in which authors of novels and screenplays view journalists and, thus, could influence the perceptions of the reading and movie-going public. It is hoped, also, that you will come to see how journalists practice their craft and what role ethics plays -- if any -- in their work.
We
will read these four novels in summer, 2004, and discuss them
in the order shown on the calendar,
below:
Dexter, Pete, "The Paperboy." A Miami reporter is consumed by his investigation of the circumstances surrounding a murder conviction.
MacNeil, Robert, "Breaking News." An aging anchorman fights to maintain his journalistic integrity -- and his job. (Interview with Robert MacNeil.)
Ignatius, David, "A Firing Offense." A promising foreign correspondent compromises himself by becoming involved with the CIA.
Waugh, Evelyn, "Scoop." A British newspaper mistakenly sends its garden correspondent to cover a war in Africa.
These
films will be shown. The schedule of showings is shown on the
calendar, below.
"The Front Page." The first movie version of the Ben Hecht-Charles MacArthur play about Chicago's sensational 1920's journalism.
"His Girl Friday." A re-make of "The Front Page" with a female as the hot-shot reporter Hildy Johnson.
"Citizen Kane." Orson Welles' classic study of a grasping newspaper publisher, supposedly based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, the newspaperman who made yellow journalism a household term.
"Broadcast News." A news producer creates an anchor.
"Dog Day Afternoon." Television turns a botched bank robbery into a media circus.
"The Paper." The inner-workings of a modern-day New York tabloid newspaper.
"Call Northside 777." A Chicago investigative reporter gets an innocent man released from prison.
"Foreign Correspondent." On the eve of WW II, a young American reporter tries to expose enemy agents in London. ["Ironically, it was a movie that propelled me into journalism. I was 12 years old when I saw Alfred Hitchcock's Foreign Correspondent, a black and white 1940 creaky of patriotism and equally black humour in which Joel McCrea played an American reporter called John Jones - renamed Huntley Haverstock by his New York editor - who is sent in 1939 to cover the approaching war in Europe. He witnesses an assassination, chases Nazi spies in Holland, uncovers Germany's top agent in London, is shot down in an airliner by a German pocket battleship and survives to scoop the world. He also wins the most gorgeous woman in the movie, clearly an added bonus for such a exciting profession." Robert Fisk, Carleton University convocation address, June 11, 2004.]
"Absence of
Malice." A newspaper reporter writes a lie about about
a businessman. But is it libel?
For each discussion, prepare an outline of important critical points you would like to make about each of the works or questions you would like to raise and bring the outline to class with you. That will serve as a basis for discussion, and you will turn it in at the end of the class for my review and grading.
Your final project will be a review essay of 750-1,000 words in which you discuss journalists and their values as pictured in the books and films.
Graduate students: in addition to the undergraduate requirements, you should prepare a short review (350-500 words) of each of the books, focusing on the journalistic values. Those are due on the days each book is discussed. Also, prepare a biographical sketch of each author (100-200 words) in which you point to his expertise for writing the book; i.e., his journalistic background, if any, and what incident, if any, was the germ of the work.
Grades will be based on your outlines (20%), final paper (45%) and class discussion (35%).
All work must be your own. Please review the University's policy on "Integrity of Scholarship and Grades" in the "Undergraduate Bulletin."
Attendance is important, especially because this class has so few meetings.
Class begins at 11:40 a.m. You are expected to be here at the start of class.
Review Essay
In your review essay you should analyze the books we have read and the films we have seen as they treat of journalists and journalistic practices. Consider the journalists' similarities and differences from work to work, and consider especially the image of journalists they leave with the reader/viewer. Length 750-1,000 words
Keep in mind that you are writing a review, not just a report. Thus, you should not simply summarize the work, but analyze it -- the values the journalists share, how their values seem to have changed over the years. Compare, for example, Hildy Johnson of "His Girl Friday" to Ward James of The Paperboy and Eric Truell of A Firing Offense. Give thought to how journalists work together. Ask what stereotypes are protrayed and whether they are justified.
In so doing, you ought to provide:
a description of the contents, which can be woven into the critical remarks;
biographical information about each of the authors that is relevant to the subject matter and that will enhance the reader's understanding of the works;
a statement of your understanding of the author's purpose;
how well, in your view, the author achieved his purpose;
evidence for your judgments.
In treating each work, among the points you should consider are:
the major themes the journalistic themes are most important -- and how the author develops them;
the author's attitude toward the characters, especially toward their behavior as journalists;
the setting and how it contributes to the work;
how the author handles the plot;
the author's style.
Provide examples to support your positions.
For examples, see the following:
"Remembering New York at Its Height " and "Picking Arguments and Passing Judgments," both by Scott London. You might also want to examine the form as used in "God, Man, and H. L. Mencken," by George Weigel.
Calendar: Summer 2004 |
|
| June | |
| 28 | Intro; |
| 29 | View "Citizen Kane" |
| 30 | Discuss "Citizen Kane" |
| July | |
| 1 | View " The Front Page" |
| 2 | View "His Girl Friday" |
| 5 | Independence Day holiday |
| 6 | Discuss "The Front Page," "His Girl Friday" |
| 7 | View "Call Northside 777" |
| 8 | Discuss "Call Northside 777" |
| 9 | Discuss Scoop |
| 12 | View "The Paper" |
| 13 | Discuss "The Paper" |
| 14 | View "Foreign Correspondent" |
| 15 | Discuss "Foreign Correspondent" |
| 16 | Discuss The Paperboy |
| 19 | View "Broadcast News" |
| 20 | Discuss "Broadcast News" |
| 21 | View "Dog Day Afternoon" |
| 22 | Discuss "Dog Day Afternoon" |
| 23 | Discuss Breaking News |
| 26 | View "Absence of Malice" |
| 27 | Discuss "Absence of Malice" |
| 28 | Discuss A Firing Offense |
| 29 | Paper due; discussion of papers |
| 30 | Discussion of papers (cont'd) |
