"The Insider" inspires future investigative journalists |
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When Lauren Hitt, of Baltimore, Md., found out journalism cherubs at the National High School Institute would be watching “The Insider,” she was excited for the break from the nightly lectures. But she got something much more from it: inspiration to become an investigative journalist. “Journalists have potential to make a very big difference, both positive and negative, in people’s lives,” Hitt said. “Investigative journalists need endurance, drive and determination.” “The Insider” was based on the true story of former tobacco company executive Jeffrey Wigand. Despite having signed a confidentiality agreement after he was fired, Wigand appeared on the CBS-TV’s “60 Minutes,” to reveal telling secrets of the tobacco company. He works with reporter Lowell Bergman, and the story ends up having big effects on Bergman’s personal life. “It showed how sources that have a lot of information will turn you down and how important it is to get these sources,” Lauren Baldwin, of New Canaan, Conn., said. But for Bridget FitzGibbons, of Longmont, Colo., the movie turned her away from investigative journalism. She said the reporter in the movie got “down and dirty” with his story, really getting involved personally. “It really showed another side of journalism that not a lot of us are exposed to, the messy side of journalism,” FitzGibbons said. |
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| Alix Cohen and other cherubs watched "The Insider." | |
Roger Boye, director of the journalism program, said the instructors chose the movie because of its wide acclaim.
“It gives you a behind-the-scenes peek at ‘60 Minutes,’ a look at the way stories are sourced and the pressures not only on the news outlet, but also the source,” Boye said.
As a viewer of the TV show “60 Minutes,” Nina Rayburn, of Davenport, Iowa, was excited to gain insight of how reporting and production of the show works.
“It was one of the most up-to-date movies that we watched,” Rayburn said. “It was really realistic and more exciting without being scary or too intense. The characters were good models of journalism and showed true conflicts of what actually arrives in newsrooms every day.”
Jasmine Osby, of St. Louis, Mo., said the movie demonstrated the importance of a protecting a source and maintaining journalistic ethics. She said sometimes reporters have to choose between protecting a source and protecting the public, and if it’s beneficial for the public to know this story then it needs to be told.
“It showed the power of the press,” Osby said.