Affleck reflects on the role of newspapers

Boston Globe ^

[outpostinmass2]

Even before "State of Play," his new movie celebrating the watchdog role of newspapers, Ben Affleck was partial to print. He grew up a reader of The Boston Globe and can't imagine his hometown paper going out of business. "I was definitely shocked to hear about the Globe," the actor told us, referring to The New York Times Co.'s threat to shutter New England's newspaper of record unless it gets concessions from the paper's unions. "I fundamentally misunderstood what was going on. Boston.com has 5.6 million readers a month, and yet this hugely successful news gathering operation is going out of business." (For the record, Boston.com had 5.7 million unique visitors last month.) Affleck, who's in town filming "The Company Men" with Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, and Chris Cooper, has been thinking a lot about the fate of newspapers since filming "State of Play," in which he plays an up-and-coming congressman who tangles with a tenacious reporter played by Russell Crowe. "Part of the erosion of newspapers is about new media, but part of it is newspapers' own fault," Affleck said. "I think the public has felt let down by The New York Times and others for not asking the tough questions, whether about the Iraq war or the subprime issue. The job of the fourth estate is to stand outside the vested interests and say, 'Wait a minute, this isn't viable.' "

[Lancey Howard]

"I think the public has felt let down by The New York Times and others for not asking the tough questions, whether about the Iraq war or the subprime issue. The job of the fourth estate is to stand outside the vested interests and say, 'Wait a minute, this isn't viable.' "

But they did such a great job vetting Dumbo the Assclown and "investigating" where Piper Palin buys her underwear.

[Sprite518]

Right he can't even act worth a dam... He is nothing but a faceman... That's it..

[SJSAMPLE]

I’m sure Affleck read newspapers like he voted.

He repeatedly stated how he was a “serious voter”, but nobody could ever find a single voter record for him.

[A Strict Constructionist]

“The purpose of journalism is to accurately report the FACTS of the day’s events.”

That is the job of a reporter. They are journalist, so they are allowed to lie and twist the facts. Schools of Journalism should be eliminated. What’s wrong with hiring a person with a strong curiosity and an ability to write. A degree is not required for this job.

[LeonardFMason]

“State of Play”....will BOMB at the box office. Prediction: Will be out of rotation at theaters in 3 weeks.