The movies, the media and the messy truth
It’s been a decade since Spotlight won Oscars for best picture and best screenplay at the 2016 Academy Awards, with the film recognised for its heroic portrayal of journalism. This newspaper described it as the “best film about journalism since All the President’s Men ”, which was quite the compliment, for its dramatisation of the Boston Globe ’s journalists working to expose historic child abuse…
A decade after Spotlight earned acclaim for its accurate portrayal of journalism, a new film called The Social Reckoning attempts to tackle a similar topic. Set in the world of social media, the movie follows an investigative journalist from The Wall Street Journal and a reluctant social media whistleblower as they uncover the harmful effects of algorithms on users.
Directed by Aaron Sorkin, the film, like its predecessor, emphasizes the importance of thorough reporting and teamwork. However, despite its highly anticipated release, The Social Reckoning has failed to attract audiences, underperforming even its pre-release estimates. The film's message of the dangers of social media may be lost on viewers who are already aware of the issue.
While journalism professionals may appreciate the film's dedication to investigative reporting, it is unlikely to be as celebrated as previous works such as Spotlight and All the President's Men. An even more recent comedy-drama, Devil Wears Prada 2, offers a humorous take on the industry, with a focus on the rapid changes in the digital age.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
