TV’s ‘Newsroom’ Takes Cue From Modern Journalism

“The Newsroom” – the HBO phenomenon that premiered on June 24, 2012 – has captivated its audience with hard-hitting questions about today’s news and government.

At the helm is creator Aaron Sorkin, who is known for shows such as “The West Wing.” Leading the cast is Jeff Daniels, who plays a nightly news anchor – Will McAvoy – struggling to deliver honest news while also trying to please viewers.

But rather than focus on the show’s premise, the true appeal lies in the real-world storylines and their implications about society.

News stories covered include the presidential election and Osama Bin Laden’s death.

The show demonstrates how news is delivered and how challenging it can be. The journalists must fact-check, supply sources, and fight to win out over competitors.

It has been interesting, as a viewer, to relate the show not only to major news organizations, but also to UHS journalism.

The Echo is full of budding journalists. Now is the time to develop the fundamental skills that the cast of “The Newsroom” tries to uphold in each episode.

Former Echo journalist and UHS senior Abigaelle Ngamboma said, “Based on my experience, it’s difficult to stay unbiased, because we have our own opinions, too.”

Any news outlet strives to be a reliable source for the public.

Ngamboma continued, “The Echo has to stay up-to-date on any important news story.”

More often than not, there is no clear answer to the variety of problems presented in this country. Yet the job of journalists is to explain, present and remain unbiased.

“The Newsroom” continues to gain recognition and provokes viewers to think about the world around them, which is a great service to U.S. citizens and to intellectual well-being.