365 True Things: 318/Journalism

Today we went to see the excellent movie Spotlight, about a team of investigative reporters who uncover sexual abuse spanning decades in the Boston archdiocese. It brought tears to my eyes at the end, when the full extent of the criminality, worldwide, was outlined in rolling captions. Excellent moviemaking, but before that, outstanding journalism.

I barely pay attention to the news anymore. NPR's top-of-the-hour news summary; a glance at the New York Times online: that's about it. I don't have television, but even when I did, I never watched the news (so called), except back in the day, the MacNeil-Lehrer Report (1975–83) and then the NewsHour, until Robert MacNeil's retirement in 1995.

I am generally unimpressed with what passes for "news" these days.

But today, I took a look at the Pulitzer Prize website, since I was fairly certain the "Spotlight" team must have won a Pulitzer. And indeed: not for Investigative Journalism, but for Public Service. It turns out there are a full fourteen categories currently, including criticism, feature writing, editorial cartooning, and explanatory reporting ("reporting that illuminates a significant and complex subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, lucid writing, and clear presentation").

As I've scrolled through each subcategory, I find myself clicking through, wanting to read and learn. Stem cell research; the attempt to bring democracy to Yemen; aneurysms; the cost and effectiveness of fighting wildfires; how the nation's wealthiest citizens avoid taxes; food stamps; alcohol abuse; air traffic control. And that's just the explanatory reporting category.

These stories aren't sensational, "breaking news"—though there is a category for that as well: the Boston Marathon bombings, the Aurora CO shooting, Hurricane Katrina, Elian Gonzalez. And there's breaking news photography too. Like:

Ferguson, MO

An illegal West Bank outpost

River rescue in Des Moines, IA

This website is a treasure trove for excellent writing and reporting, on issues that we should all be aware of. It heartens me to realize, to remember, that there is an army of dedicated, talented, fearless journalists out there who want to give us the truth, or at least an intelligent, literate perspective onto truth. Their work does change lives.

(And, granted, there are plenty of sensation-seeking journalists who crassly seek out only dirt. But I trust they're outnumbered by the real deal.)

And if you haven't seen Spotlight-the-movie, here's the trailer. Now go see the whole thing. It shows how real news gets told.