Shock and Awe: A Story of True Journalism

Shock and Awe (2017)

Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson, Rob Reiner, James Marsden,

“There is no more important struggle for American democracy than insuring a diverse, independent, and free media,” remarked American journalist Bill Moyers. This back-and-forth struggle is something that has been presented to journalists for a while in the United States. Answering the question of whether Truth is more important than viewership or compensation is a very defining characteristic of journalism and the companies that produce it.  

Rob Reiner in "Shock and Awe"
Vertical Entertainment

The movie Shock and Awe, directed by Rob Reiner, is a perfect display of this broadcasting predicament. Following two journalists from Knight Ridder who are trying to uncover the truth of the decisions leading up to the war in Iraq, their story unfolds in a very humanizing and thought-provoking way.  

As the two, and their company, pursue the truth of what was happening in the U.S., they encounter a lot of burdensome obstacles, some of which are people they are close to. From seemingly suspect sources to day-to-day dashes for information and even frustrating family affairs, these journalists truly had to fight for themselves, their company, and their beliefs.  

James Marsden and Woody Harrelson in "Shock and Awe"
Vertical Entertainment

 Although their struggles were tough, they also highlighted some important aspects of what it means to be a true journalist. Acting as a “watchdog” for the American people in order to properly criticize the government, was actively displayed as the two journalists wrestled to undo the lies that the government was sharing with the people through the media.  

Additionally, as both journalists were working on their story, the need for team collaboration was greatly emphasized as well. A sense of teamwork, even on an administrative, corporate level, was utilized so that Knight Ridder could reach its goal. This displayed the importance of the character of a journalist as well as the other people who worked for the company.  

In the end, through the pursuit of Truth and helpful government connections, the two journalists and their story came out on top. Stressing that, “[They] do not write for the people who send people's kids to war. [They] write for the people whose kids get sent to war,” allowed for the right articles to be written, and for the people to truly understand what was occurring right before their eyes.  

Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson, Rob Reiner, James Marsden in "Shock and Awe"

The shock and awe that came from the publishing and rightful recognition of Knight Ridder’s truthful articles in the movie served as a lesson to future journalists on the power of what it means to be a true journalist who concentrates on getting the facts instead of solely notoriety.  

--And that is the correct answer to the question.