SHATTERED GLASS
A Movie critique
A lesson from Spidey’s uncle, the real man behind the Jedi, putting down the light saber, grabbing the pen, and a writing principle that’s not just for show.
“With great power comes great responsibility” wise words from the late Ben Parker, foster father-slash-uncle of our very own friendly neighborhood Spiderman, the phrase that could easily be accustomed to everyone no matter what level or anything, well considering a more real life touch we could apply this to our political leaders, (yeah right, let’s stop this before we cross another topic) anyway, if only Ben Parker had lived that faithful night to watch young Peter graduate college and move on to become a measly photographer for a paper company by day and web spinning crime fighter by night, he must’ve been proud. Well the phrase the great uncle Ben left applies best to every living journalist continuously practicing the profession. They say that journalism is one of the most sensitive and delicate jobs known to man, simply being a journalist requires us to be responsible, a trait never to be questioned because it’s a journalist’s job to provide information, not just information but credible and up to date information to keep the world aware of what’s happening everywhere. Life would be hard without journalist’s, it’s like walking blind, not knowing if terrorist’s have rained down from the mountains and are continuously going on an endless killing spree. That’s why it’s un-debatable that journalism definitely wins via unanimous decision over creative writing, anyone can be a creative writer but not everyone can be a journalist blah blah blah and all that mumbo jumbo. So being a journalist requires discipline, hard work, honesty, credibility, traits not easily acquired but definitely abused, or something like that, because let’s face facts here, we see journalist’s today claiming that they’re credible stuff like that, but what we-the people-don’t see is how powerful people manipulate these so called “credible” journalist’s bending the ideals forged by ethical practices that these guys memorized with heart and soul while working through college, gagging their mouths to bring out “honest” information regarding a scandal of all sorts, and providing an easy escape in the form of fame, fortune, a brand new car, and stuff to forget that hard work comes with the application written in “fine print” as so some might say it. We can’t blame them, if they don’t cooperate, they’re either gagged by a mud, kidnapped, raped, cut to pieces, buoyed out the Pasig river, or simply shower them with bullets in the middle of the road, and voila they’re on tomorrow’s paper, written by other gagged journalist’s who have no choice but to comply, as the old saying goes if you can’t beat them, join them. If only every journalist has powers like Spiderman or Superman, then we would have a force untainted by corruption and tyranny, but this is not a comic book, this here is real life.
Anybody would write something hoping to win a Pulitzer or something with the same context or idea, you’ll get it, it’s the thought that counts as so they might say, but will you be willing to fabricate a story in order to gain a reputation that could either lay down the red carpet or a woody plank? As they say in the rusted commas quotations and stuff, no secret is safe and all that bullcrap. Welcome to the world of Stephen Glass, a writer for The New Republic, guilty of fabricating articles like “Probable Cause, Rock You Morons, Hack Heaven” and more. Stephen Glass is a real person, and if you do your research you will find out that he fabricated a lot of articles, although it’s a rather disgusting act to imagine this is the grim reality that haunts the profession, every journalist has his case of fabricating a story or two; it’s just a matter of getting yourself caught. The reality may be chilling but that’s life, can’t do anything about it. They say that editors often value sensation over substance, gives them a good rep. or something like that and its these young writers with wild, raging hormones and all that young blood crap who take the fall as expendable shock troopers. It’s sad but that’s the reality.
Young Anakin Skywalker, a promising Jedi from the words of his masters put’s down his light saber and renounces both the dark side and the force to portray the character of Stephen Glass. Hayden Christensen, a Canadian actor known for portraying Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars 2 and 3 proved to show a not so different side of himself in the character of a young associate editor for the white house observing closely on the last parts of the film, you can see that “Anakin” aura emanating from him. But this actually gave the movie a chill because you can feel that the character was almost like Stephen Glass himself, facial expressions, and ticks and all those things. Critics praised Christensen for showcasing a baby faced character mixing sincerity and fraud, manipulation and charm until you can’t tell one from another. Christensen is also shown in movies like Jumper, Awake, and Takers; now imagine if he infused Jedi powers and teleportation within the character Stephen Glass, he’d be unstoppable. The group huddled and agreed that Shattered Glass; a movie by Billy Ray is an eye opener not only for us, but for every practitioner, it’s the eerie thought that he could mix these emotions to squeeze out of some situations, using all his influence inside the publication to apply a certain amount of pressure on their new editor, we recommend that every aspiring journalist should have a chance to watch this film because it embodies the real world within journalist’s a world where fabricating is a normal part of the business and its about getting yourself caught that shows a defining factor. Stephen Glass was unethical yes but we see him because he got caught, in fact it’s clear that it passed every journalists mind to at least try to fabricate something. By placing the story of Stephen Glass in film will show a clear message that everyone specially, aspiring young journalist has a choice to do the right thing.
SHARDS OF SHATTERED GLASS
Air force one's in flight magazine, the man behind the story, the question and the verdict.
The man and the magazine
The New Republic, an American magazine of politics and arts found by Herbert Croly and Walter Lippmann with the help of Dorothy Payne Whitney and her husband Willard Straight, it's first issue was published on November 7, 1914. Since then the magazine has been under different editors like Martin Peretz, Michael Kinsley, Hendrik Hertzberg, Andrew Sullivan, Peter Beinart served jointly with David Greenberg as acting editors. It was on the time of Michael Kelly and Chuck Lane that the biggest scandal in the world of journalism happened. Stephen Glass was already working as an associate editor under Michael Kelly, he wrote rather "questionable" articles like Hazardous to your mental health and more, it was in the time Chuck Lane that Glass wrote the infamous Hack Heaven article. Adam Penenberg a reporter with Forbes- a privately held biweekly magazine- undertook the said article to verify it believing that this Jukt Micronics and everyone in the article ever existed. Glass and Lane then travel to Maryland to do some verifying and the rest were history.
The question
It probably has been busy week for the group, and the aftermaths of the midterm week has taken its toll on the members. It's hard and though it may seem impossible with all the things to do, we basically need to deliver. The question popped up few weeks after the viewing of the movie Shattered Glass, a wonderful movie by the way, fit for every aspiring journalist, the task was basically to comment on the question " I particularly want to know what you think of what he said in the class "You don't wanna hear all these stories about journalistic ethics, do you? All you care about is seeing your name published on that paper". How did this principle affect his career? If you were in his shoes, how would you have gotten out of that sticky situation with your editor?". The group huddled and talked about the presentation of our comments and we agreed upon making this kind of format in order to unify our thoughts as one group.
Cherryben Portacio says...
"You don't wanna hear all these stories about journalistic ethics, do you? All you care about is seeing your name published on that paper."
-Stephen Glass
That perception of Stephen Glass put him into the downfall of his writing career. It really seems like what he really want from his job is to experience the glory of byline rather than telling the public about facts. He misunderstood the essence of his job which is a very unfortunate one. He definitely ruined the chance to stay long in a prestigious publication company. All the efforts he exerted to build up his name are useless because he more chose to stay with all his liars than to do the right thing.
If I were in Stephen Glass’ shoes, what I will do to get out of such sticky situation with my editor is to just tell the truth. All the liars that Glass did only worsen the situation. Though I remembered what Cicero said that a liar is not believed even though he tell the truth. The thing is, if I can prove not only to my editor but also to everyone that I can really change, I will put my 100% effort to be a lot better and honest just to save my job. For in this kind of situation, the surest way to convey misinformation is to tell the strict truth.
Jun Frank says...
the quotation really fits me being a broadcast communication student, this is my reference point to show how i feel about the line from the movie.
let's be frank, everybody want to be on the spotlight and take the opportunity of fame. But is this case, one must realize that seeing his or her name on the paper comes next the responsibility.
journalist is a profession of writing news articles, and dissemination substantial information to public. To feed them with your journalistic side, it's important to know first the profession's ethics; here you'll know things more rewarding than fame.this mindset of thinking this profession is not about fame, could only happen if you have
learned the real concept of journalist ethics as
well as the profession itself.
A beginner is after fame
A true journalist is after ethics.
kristel says...
Principles journalist code of ethics include the truthfulness side of journalist. Shattered glass tag line 'Read between lies' and 'He'd do anything to get great story', from the tag line cited, Stephen Glass will do anything to make himself famous or can I say to read his name on every articles he published. As a journalist you are giving you
r readers accurate and true stories and information. But in the case of Stephen Glass it doesn't matter, the important for him is that his name was written on every article he published. Giving advices to the class wherein the students want to become part of the industry, will affect them by giving Stephen Glass a statement "All you car
e about is seeing your name published on that paper". Not all the journalist has the perspective in life, in what he thinks and feels about the story they published. He has these principles in life, and in the end he becomes loser. His parents wanted him to be a lawyer, but he chose to be a journalist at the age of 20.
Many of us dream to become a journalist but if you are so desperate to become one you will do what was Stephen Glass had done and if I were in his shoes, I will sincerely say sorry and tell the editor that I was so desperate to become a journalist, and tell her/him it was the only way to reach my dream. Tell my editor that I need to invent new people and story to make my story unique and famous. Whatever his/her decisions will be I will accept it with all my heart and respect his/her decisions because I know within myself that giving my readers wrong information and wrong people was wrong and I violated the code of journalist ethics.
Aira says..
I think what Stephen Glass meant when he
said "You don't wanna hear all these stories journalistic ethics do you? All you care about is seeing your name published on that paper". Is not all people taking up journalism is interested in
journalism itself. Mostly do not even care about the true essence and nature of journalism. Most of them are only after prestige, stardom and popularity that this kind of profession offers.
That principle really affected is career because, as what we have seen on the film, he didn't bother to come up with true story articles. All that he had written is just a fallacy. He made up fake articles for the sake of submitting and printing out of the news.
If I were in his shoes, the very first time that they ask me if my writings were fake, right there and then, I will confess the truth so that I won't make so much chaos in my life and on the people affected as well. But I will reason myself out. I'll tell my editor that
kind of thing because it's for the benefit of our paper. My writings are indeed very good and no one noticed that it's all fake.
Juztine says...
"You don't wanna hear all these stories about journalistic ethics, do you? All you care about is seeing your name published on that paper". Stephen Glass became famous with a snap of a finger be
cause of his "imagination" stories. This thing that Glass said to the class affects his career a lot. When Glass knew that he is being praise and admire with his story, he decline the fact that the journalists had their ethics. Journalists must be responsible, sensible and honest every time they write their articles. Glass ignored his
ethics as a journalist, and continue writing his "imaginative" articles for he just believe that readers is just looking at the byline, not on the story itself. Fame ruined his mind.
For me, what he have done is definitively a w
rong thing. Writing an article with untrue stories are already a sin, that you're fooling the public. If I were Stephen Glass, I will accept all my faults and to make it right, I'm gonna reveal everything to my editor. I'm ready to accept what penalties he is going to give
me. Also, I'm going to have an press conference to apologize and explain to my readers.
Ana says...
Being a new writer, it is a dream come true to have your name in the Byline. Anyone wants to be recognized on his line of work. Stephen Glass was one of them. He wanted so much to be recognized that he managed to create his own stories. As he stated, journalist should be responsible for his work. But he was depending on his editors. Unlike what a responsible journalist should do.
As a journalist, you shouldn't run away from something you've done. If I were in Stephen Glass' shoes, I'll face and answer what was accused of me. If I try to get away from it, and was proved it was me. If i try to get away from it, and was proved it was me, it'll be my name that will be put at risk.
Mike says....
Who wants to hear anything about that mumbo jumbo stuff on journalistic ethic and all? for ever young aspiring journalistic writer it's hard to put yourself inside a box following specific rules things to do and NOT to do, it's a hard enough task to just keep up with the latest buzz, the latest feed and after all that's been said and done you nee to deliver everything responsibly and at most ethically. Well enough of y insights, let's go back, the principle basically DESTROYED his career;Stephen Glass wrote a bunch of fictional articles posting it as fact. Now with this principle in hand and applying journalistic ethics that a journalist is responsible and stuff, well it doesn't really fit in Glass should have started his career as a novelist, a creative writer, maybe in that way he could gain the recognition he deserved. Now writing for a publication for the White house is a very huge burden to carry-writing for a newspaper company could be one thing, but to write for the heart of the most powerful country in the world is another. If I were in his shoes and I was stuck in this situation with my editor, I'd simply tell the truth, if I find myself a hard time writing as a journalist I'd just quit and start a career as a creative writer, relieving myself of all the burden. Well we all have our reasons.
Garing says...
Yes, it is a glory to have a byline. But you still need to be responsible in having it. It’s a step by step process. I would still love to hear the journalist ethics. If we do, it would be easy for us to gain more byline. What is glory if you know in yourself that you do not exert your best and your only goal is to see your name printed in your article? If I were Stephen Glass, I will do things in a proper way. He has the ability and a brilliant mind in writing. Why do he need a short cut for his victory? Although he knew to himself that he could do it. If he did, he would not lose his job. And. He is still a writer at The New Republic. Sometimes, we became blind for the things that we already have. We do not know how to be satisfied. To aim high is not bad. Just do it right. It will lead you to success.
"You don't wanna hear all these stories about journalistic ethics, do you? All you care about is seeing your name published on that paper."
-Stephen Glass
That perception of Stephen Glass put him into the downfall of his writing career. It really seems like what he really want from his job is to experience the glory of byline rather than telling the public about facts. He misunderstood the essence of his job which is a very unfortunate one. He definitely ruined the chance to stay long in a prestigious publication company. All the efforts he exerted to build up his name are useless because he more chose to stay with all his liars than to do the right thing.
If I were in Stephen Glass’ shoes, what I will do to get out of such sticky situation with my editor is to just tell the truth. All the liars that Glass did only worsen the situation. Though I remembered what Cicero said that a liar is not believed even though he tell the truth. The thing is, if I can prove not only to my editor but also to everyone that I can really change, I will put my 100% effort to be a lot better and honest just to save my job. For in this kind of situation, the surest way to convey misinformation is to tell the strict truth.
Jun Frank says...
the quotation really fits me being a broadcast communication student, this is my reference point to show how i feel about the line from the movie.
let's be frank, everybody want to be on the spotlight and take the opportunity of fame. But is this case, one must realize that seeing his or her name on the paper comes next the responsibility.
journalist is a profession of writing news articles, and dissemination substantial information to public. To feed them with your journalistic side, it's important to know first the profession's ethics; here you'll know things more rewarding than fame.this mindset of thinking this profession is not about fame, could only happen if you have
learned the real concept of journalist ethics as
well as the profession itself.
A beginner is after fame
A true journalist is after ethics.
kristel says...
Principles journalist code of ethics include the truthfulness side of journalist. Shattered glass tag line 'Read between lies' and 'He'd do anything to get great story', from the tag line cited, Stephen Glass will do anything to make himself famous or can I say to read his name on every articles he published. As a journalist you are giving you
r readers accurate and true stories and information. But in the case of Stephen Glass it doesn't matter, the important for him is that his name was written on every article he published. Giving advices to the class wherein the students want to become part of the industry, will affect them by giving Stephen Glass a statement "All you car
e about is seeing your name published on that paper". Not all the journalist has the perspective in life, in what he thinks and feels about the story they published. He has these principles in life, and in the end he becomes loser. His parents wanted him to be a lawyer, but he chose to be a journalist at the age of 20.
Many of us dream to become a journalist but if you are so desperate to become one you will do what was Stephen Glass had done and if I were in his shoes, I will sincerely say sorry and tell the editor that I was so desperate to become a journalist, and tell her/him it was the only way to reach my dream. Tell my editor that I need to invent new people and story to make my story unique and famous. Whatever his/her decisions will be I will accept it with all my heart and respect his/her decisions because I know within myself that giving my readers wrong information and wrong people was wrong and I violated the code of journalist ethics.
Aira says..
I think what Stephen Glass meant when he
said "You don't wanna hear all these stories journalistic ethics do you? All you care about is seeing your name published on that paper". Is not all people taking up journalism is interested in
journalism itself. Mostly do not even care about the true essence and nature of journalism. Most of them are only after prestige, stardom and popularity that this kind of profession offers.
That principle really affected is career because, as what we have seen on the film, he didn't bother to come up with true story articles. All that he had written is just a fallacy. He made up fake articles for the sake of submitting and printing out of the news.
If I were in his shoes, the very first time that they ask me if my writings were fake, right there and then, I will confess the truth so that I won't make so much chaos in my life and on the people affected as well. But I will reason myself out. I'll tell my editor that
kind of thing because it's for the benefit of our paper. My writings are indeed very good and no one noticed that it's all fake.
Juztine says...
"You don't wanna hear all these stories about journalistic ethics, do you? All you care about is seeing your name published on that paper". Stephen Glass became famous with a snap of a finger be
cause of his "imagination" stories. This thing that Glass said to the class affects his career a lot. When Glass knew that he is being praise and admire with his story, he decline the fact that the journalists had their ethics. Journalists must be responsible, sensible and honest every time they write their articles. Glass ignored his
ethics as a journalist, and continue writing his "imaginative" articles for he just believe that readers is just looking at the byline, not on the story itself. Fame ruined his mind.
For me, what he have done is definitively a w
rong thing. Writing an article with untrue stories are already a sin, that you're fooling the public. If I were Stephen Glass, I will accept all my faults and to make it right, I'm gonna reveal everything to my editor. I'm ready to accept what penalties he is going to give
me. Also, I'm going to have an press conference to apologize and explain to my readers.
Ana says...
Being a new writer, it is a dream come true to have your name in the Byline. Anyone wants to be recognized on his line of work. Stephen Glass was one of them. He wanted so much to be recognized that he managed to create his own stories. As he stated, journalist should be responsible for his work. But he was depending on his editors. Unlike what a responsible journalist should do.
As a journalist, you shouldn't run away from something you've done. If I were in Stephen Glass' shoes, I'll face and answer what was accused of me. If I try to get away from it, and was proved it was me. If i try to get away from it, and was proved it was me, it'll be my name that will be put at risk.
Mike says....
Who wants to hear anything about that mumbo jumbo stuff on journalistic ethic and all? for ever young aspiring journalistic writer it's hard to put yourself inside a box following specific rules things to do and NOT to do, it's a hard enough task to just keep up with the latest buzz, the latest feed and after all that's been said and done you nee to deliver everything responsibly and at most ethically. Well enough of y insights, let's go back, the principle basically DESTROYED his career;Stephen Glass wrote a bunch of fictional articles posting it as fact. Now with this principle in hand and applying journalistic ethics that a journalist is responsible and stuff, well it doesn't really fit in Glass should have started his career as a novelist, a creative writer, maybe in that way he could gain the recognition he deserved. Now writing for a publication for the White house is a very huge burden to carry-writing for a newspaper company could be one thing, but to write for the heart of the most powerful country in the world is another. If I were in his shoes and I was stuck in this situation with my editor, I'd simply tell the truth, if I find myself a hard time writing as a journalist I'd just quit and start a career as a creative writer, relieving myself of all the burden. Well we all have our reasons.
Garing says...
Yes, it is a glory to have a byline. But you still need to be responsible in having it. It’s a step by step process. I would still love to hear the journalist ethics. If we do, it would be easy for us to gain more byline. What is glory if you know in yourself that you do not exert your best and your only goal is to see your name printed in your article? If I were Stephen Glass, I will do things in a proper way. He has the ability and a brilliant mind in writing. Why do he need a short cut for his victory? Although he knew to himself that he could do it. If he did, he would not lose his job. And. He is still a writer at The New Republic. Sometimes, we became blind for the things that we already have. We do not know how to be satisfied. To aim high is not bad. Just do it right. It will lead you to success.
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