5 Journalism-Related Movies Based on Real Events
Journalism-related movies are hard-hitting, poignant, often gritty, but always meaningful. They’re a testament to the courage, commitment, and integrity of journalists past and present, demonstrating how a well-researched news story can impact society and shape history.
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They also remind us of the reasons why we chose this challenging profession. For most, it’s not for money, glory, or fame, but rather from an urgent need to tell stories that matter, however small, and to pursue the truth, however uncomfortable. After watching The Killing Fields as a teen, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. And after seeing Mr. Jones with almost three decades in the field, I’m glad that I followed through.
Here are five excellent movies about journalists who went above and beyond in their pursuit of a story. These films are based on real-life events.
- The Killing Fields (1984). The Killing Fields is a tense drama about the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, and based on the real-life experiences of New York Times journalist, Sydney Schanberg and Cambodian journalist Dith Pran, who coined the term “Killing Fields” during his harrowing escape from the regime. This is a story of friendship and human struggle as well as war. Dith Pran was played by another Cambodian survivor, Haing S. Ngor, who won an Oscar for his role. “The Killing Fields” was far different from the typical Hollywood war movie and may have had more of an impact on audiences because of this. It succeeded in informing the public about one of the bloodiest genocides in history. This movie affected me deeply and inspired me to seriously pursue journalism as a career.
- All the President’s Men (1976). Probably the most well-known movie on the list, “All the President’s Men” is the true story of two Washington Post journalists, Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman). This thrilling drama shows how Bernstein and Woodward investigate the Watergate scandal that leads to President Nixon’s resignation. The movie won four Academy Awards and was nominated for Best Picture. It is part of the United States National Film Registry.
- Mr. Jones (2019). Although heavy and grim throughout, this is a compelling drama that will linger long after the credits. It’s the story of Welsh journalist Gareth Jones who exposed the horrors of the “Holodomor”— the man-made famine caused by Stalin’s agricultural policies from 1932-1933 in Ukraine, that killed millions. This movie shows a journalistic battle for the truth. While Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times Moscow correspondent Walter Duranty uses his status to publicly discredit Jones through vehemently denying the existence of a famine, Jones risks his reputation, freedom, and ultimately, his life, to reveal the “one truth.” Duranty’s words on collectivism are chilling, “But – to put it brutally – you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.” This was eye-opening and educational, and being Welsh, I’m surprised we were never taught about this brave journalist in school. There are some harrowing scenes in the movie that I will never forget. I enjoyed (and understood) the brief scenes with Welsh language dialogue. It was directed by award-winning Polish film and television director and screenwriter Agnieszka Holland.
- Kill the Messenger (2014). Kill the Messenger is a riveting political thriller based on the true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb, who exposed the link between drug smuggling, the CIA, and the funding of the Contras in Nicaragua. A reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, Webb (Jeremy Renner) keeps digging despite the dangers involved, putting his career, family and life in jeopardy.
- Spotlight (2015). Based on a true story, the movie Spotlight follows a team of investigative journalists from The Boston Globe and how they expose a decades-long coverup of sexual abuse committed by priests of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. Spotlight, founded in 1970, is The Boston Globe’s award-winning special reporting unit for investigative and accountability journalism.
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The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.