"The Newsroom" : An Opinion

This summer HBO premiered, 'The Newsroom' a show about a group of reporters, producers and analysts who try something different. They decide to buck the trend of news programs pandering to ratings & special interests and actually report the news while ignoring (or trying to ignore) the ratings. Something that has not happened in the real world of American news in several decades.

The show, by Aaron Sorkin creator of The West Wing, Sports Night and numerous other hits tells the stories of numerous characters invloved in producing a news program amid the happenings of the world and their own personal lives. The characters are human and flawed, honorable and cynical, genuine and serious. The interplay is witty, the setting is believable and the basic news is real.

The program does something magical. Though it starts out covering news from two years ago it weaves into its content current topics being discussed in the last 6-8 weeks. It does this flawlessly and almost without effort. If your not paying attention you could even miss it. When it happens though its amazing and I think “ Yes, that was a perfect moment. “

The Newsroom also does something else, it portrays the news as America should be getting it. It somehow takes the topics from two years ago and relates them to what going on today, right now. It shows you what no current media outlet will or did at the time.

The Newsroom sets a standard that American media should be following. It shows us that with human frailty, with emotions and conflict an honest news program can be produced.

Oh, and The honorable and venerable news anchor Dan Rather said this show "has the potential to become a classic."