Five Shows And Films Based On The Lives Of Journalists

There are series and films about medical practitioners, actors, war heroes, politicians, students and teachers. Shows and films on journalism and journalists are also popular among the audience. They are based on full grasp of what journalism, particularly investigative journalism, entails, as well as the perks of working in the field. There are various films about journalists on the OTT platforms, and these films, both fictitious and genuine, add to what the public already knows about journalism. The information given in the film might not be really authentic as many such films and shows try to dramatise the profession but they sure are a great watch for their entertainment value.

The depiction of journalists has almost shown resembling soldiers, or superheroes. Sometimes, real scandals in the media industry are unraveled with the help of some fictional drama. Most journalists might not agree with what has been shown in most such shows so far but even they feel curious about how their glamour-less life has been written for the screen.

Here are five shows and films based on journalism profession:

1. Supergirl (2015-2021):

Supergirl is an American superhero action-adventure drama television series created by Ali Adler, Greg Berlanti, and Andrew Kreisberg and based on the DC Comics character Supergirl created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino. It first aired on CBS on October 26, 2015, and was developed by Ali Adler, Greg Berlanti, and Andrew Kreisberg. This is a six-season television series with an IMDB rating of 6.2/10. Supergirl is a costumed superheroine who is Superman's biological cousin and one of the last Kryptonians to survive. On May 6, 2015, the show was officially picked up, and on November 30, 2015, it was given a full season order. From the second season onwards, the show shifted from CBS to The CW.

This CBS drama was about a journalist who aspired to use the power of writing to spread truth and justice. Despite her superhuman abilities, Kara chose to pursue a new career path as a reporter.

2. Good Girls Revolt (2015-2016)

Image Credit: Rotten Tomatoes

While the free world was undergoing a cultural revolution in 1969, many industries were still reluctant to see women as equal to a man, newsrooms were also behaving that way. Good Girls Revolt is a series that follows a group of young female researchers at News of the Week magazine who demand to be treated equally. Marriages, careers, sex lives, love lives, and friendships are all upended as a result of their innovative request.

This Amazon Prime Original series is based on the real incident of 1969 when female employees of the Newsweek magazine filed a landmark lawsuit against the magazine accusing them of sexual discrimination. The same has been detailed in Lynn Povich's book. The women only want to be treated fairly and not be denied the opportunity to work as news reporters. It has IMDB rating of 8.2/10.

Suggested Reading: Debunking 6 Myths About Working Moms. Time To Do Away With These? 

3. Sharp Objects (2018)

Image Credit: Rotten Tomatoes

Sharp Objects is a 2018 American psychological thriller television miniseries that premiered on HBO on July 8, 2018, and is based on Gillian Flynn's 2006 breakthrough novel of the same name. Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina, Eliza Scanlen, Matt Craven, Henry Czerny, Taylor John Smith, Madison Davenport, Miguel Sandoval, Will Chase, Jackson Hurst, Sophia Lillis, Lulu Wilson, and Elizabeth Perkins star in the series. It was created by Marti Noxon and directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. Camille Preaker is a troubled reporter who returns to her hometown to investigate the murders of two little girls.

This show is based on the same-named debut novel by Gillian Flynn. The film is a psychological thriller about Camille Preaker, a reporter who returns to her hometown after spending time in a psychiatric facility to investigate two murders. It has 8.1/10 rating on IMDB.

4. The Bold Type (2017-2021)

Image Credit: IMDB

The Bold Type is a comedy-drama television series produced by Universal Television for Freeform and written by Sarah Watson. It is based on the life and work of Joanna Coles, the executive producer of the series and former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine. The sitcom follows three millennial women, played by Katie Stevens, Aisha Dee, and Meghann Fahy, who work at a fictional worldwide publication named Scarlet in New York City.

A series with 7.9/10 rating on IMDB, that expertly built a media fantasy world based on the life of Joanna Coles, Cosmopolitan's former Editor in Chief. The core themes of the show may be principles that we can all adopt: women may be fulfilled by their employment, integrate the professional with the personal, and update a traditionally male-dominated, sometimes stuffy business from inside.

5. Bombshell (2019)

This film from 2019 is based on a true story about sexual harassment claims at Fox News. Bombshell honours the women who were mocked by the news channel in the spotlight and provides them a voice. Bombshell is a drama film directed by Jay Roach and written by Charles Randolph that will be released in 2019.

Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie feature in the film, which is based on the true stories of the Fox News women who set out to expose CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. In supporting roles, John Lithgow, Kate McKinnon, Connie Britton, Malcolm McDowell, and Allison Janney appear.

These journalism-related films and series have remind us of what journalists used to (and will) look like now that we're all confined to our houses, writing!

Morning Show: 

The show starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon depicts the American morning show behind-the-scenes and imagines the hectic world in a different light. The culture of the television morning shows has been competative like many important slots like the prime time. The drama that probably ensues at television news channel offices over getting the top spot in the ratings list has been seen in the show.

The first season of the show was based on a book titled Cutthroat World of the Morning Tv by Brian Shelter and the Metoo movement in America. The makers have specified that none of the characters on the show represent any real life person.

Newsroom

Aaron Sorkin has created the show starring Jeff Daniels in the role of a prime time show anchor where he tries his best to be apolitical but ends up having a change of heart. The characters in the show play the role of news producers, directors, news company owners and reporters. Sorkin with his show imagines a news channel that does pay heed to the advertisers wrath and chooses to present news in the most ethical way. The pushback the characters get for acting in principles is used as conflicts in the show. Sticking to the fictional side of things, the show also takes bold steps by calling out real life republican politicians and ridicules the way significant events of the past were reported by media organisations.

Not everything is series and preachy about the show as the quirky characters and their personal lives add organic intrigue to the plot. The show has been praised by many critics and has become a fan favourite over time.