I’m Rewatching ‘The Newsroom’

Idealism is my current form of escapism.

Jeff Daniels and Chris Messina in The Newsroom | Credit: HBO

The Newsroom is an Aaron Sorkin show that takes us into a newsroom as the team decides to take a different approach to the news. It’s filled with all of the idealism that you would expect from the creator of *The West Wing*. And I absolutely love it!

Lately, I’ve been rather disheartened by everything happening in our world today. I’m constantly frustrated by the state of our political discourse in the United States and hate that we are in the position we are in. I’m so sick of non-serious people running my country and state. I would love to see responsible governance that contributes to the collective flourishing of people and communities (which I know is probably too unrealistic).

To cope with my constant dismay at the state of everything, I’ve decided to escape into the world of idealism that Aaron Sorkin created.

One of the reasons why I love The Newsroom is that it incorporates real stories and real footage into the newscasts of this fictional world. It’s so interesting to watch what happened in the United States a little over a decade ago.

For me, one of the most impactful stories the news team reports on is the shooting of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. I was living in Tucson at the time and remember the news of the shooting. I also remember it being reported that she had been killed, but that wasn’t the case. She miraculously lived, though the media got it wrong for a little while. I remember the terror I felt after hearing about the shooting and the confusion that came after as conflicting reports circulated.

The Newsroom covers this tragic event in episode four of its first season as the team scrambles to report the news. They have to sort through incorrect reports while also trying to stay relevant to maintain their ratings and their viewership. This episode, along with many others in season one, does a great job of illustrating the difficulties that newsrooms have in trying to report the news in a responsible way.

Of course, this concept has all but disappeared from certain parts of the news media in the United States. Thankfully, we have the idealism of Aaron Sorkin to give us a smidgen of hope.

John Gallagher Jr., Emily Mortimer, and Alison Pill in The Newsroom | Credit: HBO

The central premise of the first season is that Will (Jeff Daniels), a successful and beloved anchor, goes on what he calls “a mission to civilize.” Instead of just reporting fluff pieces or parroting what the audience wants to hear, Will begins to actually report the news. Throughout the season, there are segments where he pushes back on Republican talking points about President Obama and the Democratic party. Of course, there is some major risk with this strategy.

After one particularly hard-hitting story about the Tea Party, the newsroom’s parent company struggles to have things go their way in Congress. They lose political friends because of the decision to report the news and push back against misinformation. Will’s show also loses viewers, which means losing sponsors.

It’s so fascinating to watch these characters try to navigate doing what they feel is right, even if it is also to their detriment.

Watching The Newsroom in 2023 is a pretty wild exercise because it’s still so relevant. Some of the news stories in the show are incredibly tame compared to where things are politically today. Throughout the season, Will highlights some politicians who were active a decade ago, some of whom seem moderate compared with where we are now.

A central component of the show is the importance of a well-informed electorate. And we’ve seen how important that is in our own lives. We have lived through what happens when the news shares only what their audience wants to hear rather than the facts.

When I first watched The Newsroom, I loved it because it’s right up my alley. I am also a card-carrying member of the Aaron Sorkin fan club, so there’s that. But I didn’t expect this show to continue to be such a relevant indictment of our world today. I didn’t realize just how important and prescient this would be a little more than a decade after its release.

We are living through the inevitable conclusion of the decisions of media organizations. Watching The Newsroom reminds me that we didn’t get here overnight. Instead, it’s a result of decisions made by many people over decades.

Thomas Sadoski, Sam Waterston, and Jeff Daniels in The Newsroom | Credit: HBO

The Newsroom is a blast to watch, and I think it’s even more powerful now that our media landscape looks as it does today. It’s wonderful to escape into this other world with our dedicated group of reporters and producers who are trying to do their best to keep people informed, even if it costs them dearly.

This show is absolutely steeped in idealism (which I love) without neglecting the difficult parts of trying to do what’s best. We see characters rise and fall. We see people have to make sacrifices, and we also get to watch them make serious mistakes over time.

The writing is phenomenal, the acting is excellent, and the premise is one that I can’t get enough of.

While I’m rather distraught about the current state of my nation, I’m grateful that I can escape into the bubble of idealism crafted by the mind of Aaron Sorkin.

Now, please excuse me while I go and rewatch season two.

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