USA: Aaron Sorkin, Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer and Sam Waterston discuss the current and future state of journalism at "The Newsroom" premiere

Record ID: 220883

  • Title: USA: Aaron Sorkin, Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer and Sam Waterston discuss the current and future state of journalism at "The Newsroom" premiere
  • Date: 21st June 2012
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 20, 2012) (REUTERS) ( * BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) WIDE OF "THE NEWSROOM" CARPET PAN UP OF "THE NEWSROOM" POSTER JEFF DANIELS TALKING TO MEDIA JANE FONDA POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS EMILY MORTIMER POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JEFF DANIELS, "THE NEWSROOM" STAR, SAYING: "I think a lot of jobs, businesses, careers, that's what everybody goes into, you want to reach higher, you want to make it better, you want make a change, you want to make a difference, you want to fix what's wrong, and that's Aaron's attack on it. The characters in the show really throw out something that's very successful that they were doing, risking doing what they think is right, and it costs them." EMILY MORTIMER TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English), AARON SORKIN "THE NEWSROOM" CREATOR AND WRITER, SAYING: "What it is, is a non-cynical look at the news. It's a workplace story that's idealistic, romantic, optimistic, swashbuckling, oftentimes comedic look at people who are trying very, very hard to do well. They're reaching unrealistically high and so they're going to fall from time to time but we root for them." EMILY MORTIMER TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMILY MORTIMER, "THE NEWSROOM" CO-STAR, SAYING: "I do think that the show brings up a lot of things I hope will make people think a little bit more about how they're informed. I really don't think he's trying to write a polemic. I don't think he's trying to change the world, I think he's just trying to entertain people. But there's a line I say earlier in the episode that's 'There's nothing that's more important in a democracy than a well informed electorate,' and I really believe that that's true. How can anybody in November go into the voting booth and make an informed decision unless they're being given the right information by their news channels." JEFF DANIELS TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAM WATERSTON, "THE NEWSROOM" CO-STAR, SAYING: "Why would we bother to make a show like this, or say the things that were said in the show if there was no chance. And I also think the optimism of the show, that the hopefulness of the show, that the high spiritedness of the show is all stuff that the real news world has in its DNA. So there isn't any reason why it couldn't dominate." WIDE OF SAM WATERSTON TALKING TO MEDIA CAST POSING
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA78U46T19MKHSGI4CU2Q3TKXJY
  • Story Text: The question of journalism's preservation of truth and integrity was largely debated on at "The Newsroom" red carpet in Los Angeles on Wednesday (June 20).
    Aaron Sorkin, Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer and Sam Waterston talked about the much anticipated new HBO series premiering on Sunday (June 24).
    Rapid-fire banter, clever posturing about modern-day America and a romantic view of the workplace are all Oscar-winning writer Sorkin trademarks found in his new show, which examines the world of cable TV news centered on unyielding anchor Will McAvoy, played by Jeff Daniels.
    "What it is, is a non-cynical look at the news," 51-year-old Sorkin said. "It's a workplace story that's idealistic, romantic, optimistic, swashbuckling, oftentimes comedic look at people who are trying very, very hard to do well. They're reaching unrealistically high and so they're going to fall from time to time but we root for them."
    English actress Mortimer said that although Sorkin's show is for entertainment, its meaning can translate into a well informed public come election time.
    "I really don't think he's trying to write a polemic," the 40-year-old actress said. "I don't think he's trying to change the world, I think he's just trying to entertain people. But there's a line I say earlier in the episode that's, 'There's nothing that's more important in a democracy than a well informed electorate,' and I really believe that that's true. How can anybody in November go into the voting booth and make an informed decision unless they're being given the right information by their news channels."
    Daniels said that Sorkin's take on the journalism world can be interpreted universally across all job spectrums.
    "You want to make it better, you want make a change, you want to make a difference, you want to fix what's wrong, and that's Aaron's attack on it," he said.
    "The Newsroom" premieres on HBO on June 24.
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