Broadcast News (1987)

In James L. Brooks’ Broadcast News, drama ensued within the newsroom when successful television news producer Jane Craig developed feelings for newly hired anchor Tom Grunick. Previous sportscaster Tom only got by with his good looks instead of understanding the craft of journalism. He is notably less experienced compared to the talented news reporter Aaron Altman who is in love with Jane. He struggles not only to win the affection of his close friend, but also to have his skills acknowledged by the management who considered him to be dull.

Albert Brooks, Holly Hunter, and William Hurt star in the 1987 romantic comedy Broadcast News. Photo from 20th Century Fox.

It is evident that the setting of a TV and newspaper newsroom is different. Cameras, lights, and television sets can be found in a TV studio since broadcast news is concerned with both visuals and sounds. The newscaster’s image, b-roll footage, and story’s narration are all equally important. On the other hand, the print newsroom’s setup contains desks and computers as news writing is geared towards writing and reading.

Writers in publications rush to submit their articles before printing while TV network employees work quickly to deliver the final tapes for their broadcast. Although they differ in the type of product, both newsrooms maintain a sense of urgency.

In the movie, finishing the tapes before going on air served as a difficulty in getting the story released. Seconds before the deadline, Jane, together with Aaron and a video editor, worked quickly to record and edit the scheduled report for the evening news. The network was strict with scheduling as every minute on the air is valuable.

In line with following the allotted times for reports, the story’s writing itself must be brief, containing only important information. Being concise allows those listening to digest the story easily and keeps them hooked. While maintaining brevity, the story must also be as comprehensive and substantial as possible.

Jane finished right on the dot and even received good reviews, impressing Tom who hoped to learn from her. He was aware he lacked the skills in understanding news and was only hired for his charms. With visuals playing a heavy role in broadcasting, good-looking employees like Tom are favored to deliver the news, leaving the less appealing reporters fewer chances to anchor.

This is what happened to Aaron whose talents never got to be fully recognized. In a Sunday brunch hosted by the station’s bureau chief Ernie Merriman, the network received breaking news—a Libyan plane attacked an American military base in Sicily, Italy. Ernie announced the assignments created by network director Paul Moore. The Executive Producer and Anchor were to be Jane and Tom respectively while Aaron was left to do nothing.

Jane argued that Tom is not yet ready for this crucial report and suggests experienced Aaron to cover instead. However, her opinions were dismissed and they followed the delegation of tasks.

Tom Grunick lands the job of anchoring a major news breaking. Photo from 20th Century Fox.

Covering a story, especially breaking news, takes great skill. With events are developing as they speak, reporters cannot always rely on a fixed script and must think on their feet. Their job includes knowing the facts, understanding the issue, and asking relevant questions. With new information coming in, they must be able to process it quickly and prioritize those most important for the story.

Tom was successful in anchoring but only because Jane had been feeding him information. In fact, they were relayed messages from Aaron. Although gifted in the craft, Aaron was at the risk of being fired as the upper management called him boring. His stint one Saturday in the Weekend News was supposed to be his saving grace and proof of his anchoring capabilities. But he succumbed to the pressure and found himself sweating nervously throughout the episode, which didn’t sit well with the audience.

When presenting a story, reporters need to be comfortable in front of the camera. As they look at the script, they cannot make it obvious that they are reading from the teleprompter. It should look as though as they are telling, not reading, the story. To create impact, they must also stress certain words and phrases and enunciate them clearly. Good posture has to be maintained, showcasing authority and professionalism.

Tom, who has mastered being in front of the camera, used this to his advantage in the date rape report he pitched. As the victim gets emotional in sharing her tragic experience, Tom intentionally shed a tear. He even made sure to shift the angle of the camera to catch his crying so he can use the footage in his story.

Upon discovering this from Aaron, Jane confronts Tom about his methods to make the story sell. She questioned his staging his reaction as it goes against the morals of journalists. Appalled, she decided she no longer wants to be romantically involved with him

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Although it is important for newscasters to project themselves as confident on camera, there is more beneath broadcast news than simply looking good. The content they release must still be substantial and nothing far from the truth just like any kind of journalist is tasked to do.