Lou Grant is the new city editor for the LA Tribune and he starts his job off with a bang. After learning of a possible police scandal through one of his reporters, Grant sees the opportunity for a big story that would uncover the scandal publicly. Grant's character shines a light on what true journalism is. When being brought to see the Tribune's publisher, Mrs. Pinschon, Charlie Humme, the editor, exclaims "don't tell her you worked in television, say you were in jail". This statement shows the possible hostility print media has against tv culture and how it takes away some print media business. Grant cannot stress enough how important it is for the news to be real. Him and his team find out the story involves cops in he 25th division getting down with some underagers. His main source, George Driscoll has a hard time dealing with the implications the story might bring and gets drunk to solve his problems. Grant is able to sway Driscoll into coming back to the newspaper and writing the story for how it really is. Pinschon tells Grant they can't run the story because of the amount of negative police stories already being established and they just cant take anymore. Grant exclaims he need for the truth and sure enough the story shows up the next day.
Watching this episode made a couple good point about journalism. One is that real is best way to go. Stories that are exaggerated and are seemingly true do not go as far as "the real shit". There is a fine line when discussing the relationship of print media to the police because the police is considered a source and often times are the story in the first place. The way an article is written can make or break that journalism relationship. Two is the balance of power that is necessary to run a newspaper. Grant has his reporters as he reports to the editor who in turn, all report to the publisher (no pun intended). There are steps to be taken for hirees and stories that are published. This episode shows that real journalism print real, hard stories that make the reader want to read on, and as Grant says "being on a newspaper is like being with a woman who doesn't shave her legs, it's all real". It sure is Lou, thanks for sharing.
