Page One: Inside the New York Times

Page One: Inside the New York Times a film by Andrew Rossi

Andrew Rossi's film Page One explores the role of print media in a rapidly changing technological landscape.  The documentary goes inside the Eighth Avenue tower and we watch events unfold and become shaped into articles that eventually get delivered to our doorsteps. 

The Internet has redirected the way in which many people seek information and this proves to be a financial threat to the survival of every newspaper.  When Julian Assange's initial YouTube barrage is dropped on the heads of the public, the Times writers  not only have to think how to cover the event, they also need to ponder how it affects journalism on the whole.  The WikiLeaks organization may upload footage, reach millions of people in a matter or moments and have little accountability in how they present their broadcast.  The Times realizes that though they must follow the guidelines of responsible reporting, they still need to compete with this brand of information giving on some level.

Staff members are also profiled and followed around through the course of pitching and working on articles.  We go inside meetings and presentations, too.  David Carr, arguably the star of this film, is seen laying down the law in a meeting with Vice personnel, seeing his elderly father and giving a presentation on technology and media.  Carr and many of the staff on screen, discuss the role of technology and Twitter and other social media.

Though the advertising and subscriptions that power the New York Times are at all time lows, the paper continues to move forward.  Page One documents this tense, transitional period and shows the organization working on the fly to stay in the business.