Journalists love the movie Spotlight , directed by Tom McCarthy, inspired by a group of reporters from Boston Globe which revealed a pedophile scandal involving Catholic priests. Although the method of work of investigative journalists is the dramatic focus, the 5 team members Spotlight in 2003 received a Pulitzer Prize in the category of Public Service, not Research Report. They do not found anything new, one condition required by investigative Pulitzer. The essential facts were known from 2001, when three of the victims have sued one of the abusive priests. The Pulitzer in assigned category rewards the effort to improve the lives of people – Catholics of Boston in particular, who left to live with sexual predators, but the human community in general, as the news coverage for nearly two years was instrumental in create awareness and rejection by the complacency of religious hierarchy before the crimes.
In the end, more facts were known, a collective vision on the events and their connections was more extensive and profound and the victims felt more comforted morally. Something rotten in a system had been identified and corrected. Be that difference is the dream of good journalists. We see it in the eyes of incandescent Mark Ruffalo when faced with child victims of similar violations, nearly two decades after the first allegations were made. There is no specific grudge against offenders. Priests are not demonized and Cardinal is a cynical but friendly character. Lawyers guaranteed private and discrete agreements between the parties, contributing to the silencing just did their job, as advisers of the Catholic Church who pressured the victims and journalists. Judges stalled public disclosure of incriminating documents which validated the research, they acted to prevent the misappropriation of sensitive details. It is with this conviction, the antithesis of any righteous crusade, the editor of Boston Globe insists that the angle should be the denunciation of the “system” and not fulanização stories.
From the point of view of the research method, implies a working collection and verification of comprehensive and credible data. The narrative point of view, guides the recovery and the creation of meaning between the unique facts and individual actors in the public interest at the expense of human interest. From an ethical point of view, the pursuit of truth, loyalty to the citizens and reporting of independence are the core values.
The public recognition obtained by the Boston Globe shows that things They can run well even when we place in normative ideal almost utopian. But of course, there are basic conditions. The first is the existence of news organizations committed to this ethical framework. The second are directors and editors that protect the autonomy of journalists, while the confront their errors and omissions, including adjectives the most in the text (it’s a joke in the film but it does mean that the journalistic content is scrutinized and debated peer) . The third is a degree of professionalism matured for this professional culture is rooted, streamline ethical correction tools and promotes interaction with the public. One might argue that none of this flourishes in economically depressed or politically hostile environments. The opening scene of the film joins the wording of Boston Globe . Are concerned, the newspaper lowered sales and the future is uncertain. But what is the reason for the meeting? One of the oldest publishers will retire, tell jokes and eat cake. Are the moments of unity and brotherhood that precede the big fights.
In the everyday life of a journalist, manage all these interests is a complication.
Lecturer at FCSH-UNL
