On Streaming: A Film about McCarthyism, Edward R. Murrow, and Courage

Among other things, Murrow confronts the way television executives use the medium to make people comfortable, rather than to confront truth. For instance:

If Hollywood were to run out of Indians, the program schedules would be mangled beyond all recognition. Then perhaps, some young and courageous soul with a small budget might do a documentary telling what, in fact, we have done–and are still doing–to the Indians in this country. But that would be unpleasant. And we must at all costs shield the sensitive citizen from anything that is unpleasant.

And, also:

I am frightened by the imbalance, the constant striving to reach the largest possible audience for everything; by the absence of a sustained study of the state of the nation. Heywood Broun once said, “No body politic is healthy until it begins to itch.” I would like television to produce some itching pills rather than this endless outpouring of tranquilizers.

And this:

We are currently wealthy, fat, comfortable and complacent. We have currently a built-in allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information. And our mass media reflect this. But unless we get up off our fat surpluses and recognize that television in the main is being used to distract, delude, amuse and insulate us, then television and those who finance it, those who look at it and those who work at it, may see a totally different picture too late.

And most famously:

This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and even it can inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise, it’s nothing but wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful.

In the current state of affairs in our nation, I see this film and Murrow’s battle against McCarthyism as teaching us several lessons:

1. All of us must work hard to establish credibility, to demonstrate trustworthiness. As I understand it, part of why Murrow succeeded ultimately against McCarthy was that he was so well trusted as an even-handed arbitrator of facts. Of course, we can work hard at being the same and still have people distrust us, but that is on them. For each of us, our responsibility is to the truth, to be careful with the facts, to work to abandon tribalism, to be willing to grant points even to people we disagree with or distrust, to be willing to be corrected when we are wrong. If we can work hard over time at being evenhanded, we will be able to look ourselves in the eye when we look in the mirror. For Christians, we will know God is pleased with us. And perhaps we may even persuade someone of some important truth because they know they can trust us.
2. We need to normalize that nervy fear that we will indeed feel when we stand up to someone powerful and declare the truth. Our heroes felt it too. We will feel it. (If we don’t feel it, I wonder if we are actually challenging anyone or if we are rather just preaching to the choir.) Fear doesn’t mean we should back down. Our heroes got through it, and we can too. We must make sure our cause is just and true, but if it is, fear is no reason to stop.
3. In our use of television (and also the internet), we must take time to use these precious tools to ask questions and be better informed as citizens. Assuming we have all the answers already is perilous, no matter our point of view. We should give our time to educational information, documentary, unheard voices. We should reward with our viewership those outlets that demonstrate again and again that they are trustworthy. We should tell others about these outlets and programs and websites and people. We must do what we can to support the institutions that are important to us.

For more reflection on the portrayal of journalism in film, check out my review of Spotlight, a film about how Boston Globe reporters uncovered a huge clergy sex abuse scandal in their city.

Community Discussion

What news programs, websites, reporters, and outlets do you trust most? Do you feel they hear your point of view? Are they also willing to critique your point of view–or do you only consume outlets that make you feel comfortable all the time?

How do you know a news source is trustworthy?

For Christians: What is one thing we could all do to be better representatives of truth?

For all: Have you ever been afraid to do what was right? Did you find a way to push through that fear? How?

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Image source: IMDB.com.