The movie The Post , directed by Steven Spielberg, presents an iconic moment for the consolidation of newspaper The Washington Post. It was in the beginning of the 70’s when the outlet served as showcase for the accusations of the so-called “Pentagon Papers” – which detailed the actions of the United States during the Vietnam War (1955-1975).
With many questions surrounding the reasons for the conflict, the pressure to the its end of it increased, generated from the published articles proving that the White House knew the war was lost, but kept providing wrong information to Americans.
The film has a great message that makes us immediately think about the current journalism crisis. Checking, ethics and freedom of the press are discussed and continued to be guidelines in front of the digital era. However, new characters have entered the scenario since the traditional style of journalism is in disuse along with the rise of social media.
Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation via IMDB
The plot of the movie starts when the government prohibited The New York Times to publish the Pentagon Papers, leading to Washington Post report the documents even after retaliations from the then president, Richard Nixon. It is in this moment of history that concepts such as public service are presented. The journalism is seen as the fourth pillar, laying down subjects like source protection and credibility.
Nevertheless, the technological era modifies those widespread ideas. Fake news and algorithms became the main enemies of the old days’ communication strategies. It’s in this dangerous territory, where vehicles try to bring information of public interest, even if the internet speed grows as defiance against writings rooms.
More than speed, the algorithms reinforces a tendency of the user to consume increasingly contents, which are like their political self, inciting creation of opinion bubbles and propagation of fake news. In Brazil, this was proven during the impeachment against president Dilma Rouseff. According to data from Gpopai USP, three of five news articles shared on Facebook, a day before the votes for or against the presidency, were fake.
This fact can be explained by the polarization which the internet helped nourish. The opinion bubbles are becoming more real each day and crucial for consumption of information. Gradually, outlets are fighting for credibility and social institutions are becoming distrustful. Losing credibility on media means losing an important element that constitutes a democracy.
Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation via IMDB
Still about the fake news issue, another possible debate includes the press freedom. This seems to be threatened by the Trump era, since the politician constantly attacks the media. The current president of US, since its campaign, try to delegitimize the work of the press.
Such freedom it’s important for the whole society, for those communication platforms must investigate and report about scandals, without government censorship. Also, they shall bring up invisible problems, different perspectives, for those are the things that makes press the fourth pillar of democracy.
The Post mirrors the clash between service of truth in an era which was easy to trust the great media, but those situations changed and the journalism must do it too. To confront fake news and press freedom generates political discussions, and like in the movie, this is a benefit for the democratic society.