Page One: Inside The New York Times takes a behind the scenes look at America’s most prestigious newspaper, The New York Times. In an age where newspapers are folding into bankruptcy, with many people sourcing their news exclusively from the internet, times are tough. The New York Times has to try and cut back and embrace new ways to create revenue whilst keeping the old lady afloat. We see the ups and downs of modern journalism, from the Wikileaks story, to the fake reporting on WMDs, the impact of Twitter and adapting to news on a tablet. The onus of the story is on what The New York Times is. She is made out to be more than just a newspaper, rather a source of news and inspiration that the rest of the media feed off, and suggests that if she were to fall, then the industry as a whole would suffer. Whilst there is plenty of doom and gloom, we are left with nothing more than mild uncertainty as to The New York Times continuing longevity, but whilst this is the main thrust of the story, it’s not what really carries it. Gravelly voiced, ex-crack addict and New York Times media reporter David Carr steals the show with his I don’t give a fuck approach to life and work mixed in with a real admiration and appreciation for the paper he works for. His raspy voice and lopsided demure all scream out as a public service announcement against doing drugs, but it gives him a kind of grounded reality that makes us instantly trust him. Carr nails his position as the star of the show however, when he puts the pretentious reporters from Vice Magazine in their place. Possibly not the most lively of documentaries, especially for those who, unlike me, have no experience working in the print news industry. FILMGUIDE rating: Reviewed by: Jonathan Read
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