Page One is a documentary about The New York Times as it struggles to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. The documentary originally chronicles how editors debate and decide what should be featured on page A1 although the paper itself later becomes a story itself as it addresses issues such as new media, subscriber fees, layoffs and media ethics.
Advertising and classified revenue has plummeted and subscribers are choosing to access the paper online. Blogs, YouTube and Twitter provide a new way for consumers to access the topics that interest them but they do not provide much review to the paper which researches topics and conducts investigation. When the Times attempts to charge for full access to their website, they face a backlash from customers.
The editors attempt to preserve a blue-chip product without drowning in their own hubris. They point out that many great journalistic breakthroughs occurred because of experienced news rooms bringing important facts to light, such as Watergate, the Pentagon Papers and the Abu-Ghraib prison scandals. This type of reporting is not cheap – and much more expensive than online competitors who often copy stories that have been printed in the Times and other papers.
The documentary discusses the value of the press in today’s society. The Chicago Tribune was purchased by a group that wanted to increase sales (much like the tabloids in the United Kingdom) and demeaned reporters that believed news should always be impartial and informative. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange describes himself as part journalist and part activist but says that if he had to choose one role, he would pick the latter. Later in the film, the Times is one of three global papers to publish documents from the site, unsure if WikiLeaks is a partner or a source.
The Times must change their distribution strategy as pen and paper become an outdated method to convey information. There is also merit to their argument that news needs to be more about substance than style and that there is always a place for personal and corporate ethics. The last ten years have shown the dire consequences that are manifested when individuals focus on their own wealth rather than the betterment of society as a whole and when morals fall by the wayside in order to make a profit.
Hopefully, society retains an ability to think independently, to learn carefully about issues and reflect thoughtfully about their impact. Technology is a means to facilitate that thought process and make it easier for multiple people to exchange ideas. Mercurial media columnist David Carr sardonically asks “why talk when you can tweet?” and all people, especially youth, must remember than “just because you can tweet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk.” If the volume of the Sunday edition of the New York Times is replaced by 140 character messages than we have lost something.
The characters portrayed are interesting enough and their candid comments shed light on a process many people may not know much about. The Times must not only report news but keep their head above water as they navigate a tidal wave of online data. Director Andrew Rossi makes the odd choice to introduce interviewees by displaying their names in a plain font and the masthead for which they work in its unique font. One can almost predict the views that will be expressed based on the modernity of the font. The documentary puts forward an interesting question, although it remains a little long-winded and somewhat biased. It’s a question that should be addressed further and Page One was a good lead paragraph. **½