Journalism vs. Commentary; and Remembering Maurice Jarre

A lot of huffing and puffing here about my last post. The reading comprehension here can be rather surprising at times.

I said I was a fan of both Keith and Rachel. Watch them all the time. I suppose I hold them to a higher standard as I feel that now is our time. A time for real change. I didn't vote for Obama to savor the thrill of having our first black president. I did so because I thought he was smart and tough. I want Obama to undo much of what was done these past eight years by the crypto-fascists in the Bush administration. And a good part of that would involve a press that was on the ball. On the case. Keeping an eye on what is going on. Making sure that Americans are properly informed about what our government is doing. Something that was scarce during the Bush years.

Journalism is what is required now. And, yes, some commentary. But more journalism than commentary. That's what a newspaper does. That's why newspapers are quoted so often as the sources of actual news on this very site. Newspapers are about journalism. The internet, and sites like this, are about commentary. People sign on and give their opinion. But that is not journalism. That is commentary, internet style, whereby most people are not trained as journalists and the comments of many posters here are anonymous. You can piss on anyone you want, say anything you want, and so long as it is within the boundaries of HuffPo politesse, you are in.

The sine qua non to understanding the garbage barge of the internet is the AOL home page. The AOL home page, which makes Us Weekly look like Paris Match, wants its readers to focus on the latest unflattering photos of stars or their DUIs. The AOL home page is where polls rated George W. Bush as one of the ten greatest presidents, even as late as last fall. The AOL home page is where they wrote that I had "picked a fight" with Maddow and Olberman.

Perhaps this comes as no surprise, but there are never, ever any names that appear as authors of the monstrously boring and mind-numbing content on the home page of this popular server. Never. Ever. AOL just keeps churning out all of that trash on their digital welcome mat, and you never find out who is responsible.

That's the Internet. Some great, serious, lofty thinking, one click away. The AOL home page, like a filthy dinner plate, just begging to be scraped and washed, another click away.

I'll take the Times any day. Judith Miller, or no. As for Keith and Rachel, I would never pick a fight with them. You think I want Keith Olbermann gnawing on me on national television? You haven't been gnawed till you've been gnawed by Keith. And Rachel? I love Rachel. Doesn't everyone? But just as I don't want root beer for dinner, I like my "news programming" a little straighter, at least during these times.

Now a quick note on something infinitely more interesting.

I wanted to acknowledge the passing of the great Maurice Jarre, the composer who died last month. Jarre was nominated nine times and won the Oscar three times for Best Score for Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, and A Passage to India.

Music has clearly played such an essential role in great movie-making. I once had the rare honor to present John Barry the Oscar for his score for Dances with Wolves. Barry was nominated seven times and won five Oscars. In addition to the Kevin Costner film, Barry won two Oscars (score and song) for Born Free and best score for Lion in Winter and, my personal favorite, Out of Africa.

Whether it is Oscar winning scores such as those for The Wizard of Oz, The High and the Mighty, The Sound of Music, Star Wars, or Jaws, or other memorable music that propels certain images of films straight into your brain, like Gone with the Wind, Psycho, The Godfather, or A Hard Day's Night, music can contribute to making the difference between a popular motion picture and a classic.

What are your favorite movie scores?

The sun is just rising over the burning desert. Cue the incredible music of Maurice Jarre. What could be better than that?

Comments

[Jacobadle]

I agree with you Alec. Journalism as the third estate needs to be straight forward and clear and honest in it's reporting. I too love Keith and Rachel's shows. They both have often put it on the line in the name of what they see as truth and the necessity to communicate it. Sometimes, i think they can pull back a bit on the tit for tat style of slapping it right back in the face of the hate and nonsense that is often spewed by the "fair and balanced" talking heads. But it is also probably out of sheer frustration for the hate and lies those fox heads sling that must get to them.

BTW, My all time favorite score is from the film "The Best Years of Their Lives" by the great Hugo Friedhofer. That is closely followed by Leonard Bernstein's score for "On the Waterfront". Maurice Jarre is my favorite movie composer. My favorite scores of his are from "Is Paris Burning" and "Dr. Zhivago". Ps - you would make a great Komarovsky.

[mergina]

The truth is what is needed. The truth and less b.s. Is there anyone else out there that just gets sick to death of watching news people reporting about mindless news when this planet is such a mess?

[MyAudacity]

The really big problem for many of us is when Commentary and Journalism has blended to the point that you can't tell them apart. What I've chosen to do is to see if there is any integrity in the reporting, supported by facts, or if it's just partisan emotionalism using the media platform to sway my opinion. I usually read a story or blog with my own bias, and sometimes it's confirmed, and sometimes I have something to think about. But, I take most anything that is said in the form of reporting, but is really someone's opinion with a grain of salt, and sometimes they tick me off.

[vimmryan]

Great article, I always liked the ultra simple scores to John Carpenter's films. The Thing is my favorite from him.

[J G H]

What I particularly dislike is the trend for commentary and many news stories which are really diguised commentary, to take on the characteristics of sports reporting, in which opinion and predictions are more prominent than fact. Policy decisions, in particular, are invariably covered as political tactics and analyses on their effectiveness as such rather than for their effectiveness in achieving policy goals.
In the justice field, we have commentators such as Nancy Grace who spend a great deal of time expressing outrage and very little covering actual issues of justice. I think I tuned in only once when Grace was expressing doubt that the police had gotten off on the wrong track. There are plenty of instances in the heyday of print journalism when the outrage expressed by the papers resulted in miscarriages of justice, innocent people going to jail while the real culprits went free. If you hear a politician or commentator say "Somone must pay", turn against them; the proper statement is "The guilty must pay".. The first statement interpreted literally justifies the prosecution of scape goats.

[Gooberweevil]

Not a score, but the first scenes I think about when people talk about music in film are the hauntingly tense and erotic knife throwing scenes from Girl on the Bridge (La Fille Sur Le Pont). Maryanne Faithful's "Who will take my dreams away?".

(Johnny Depp is one lucky man!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaamZLKRul0

as for Scores... I think Joe Hisaishi's work for Kikujiro is quite beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjXvptz3pW8

[Pg1News]

Yes, we need journalism now. But newspapers are dying off by the dozens because they lack a 21st century business model. I'm an old-school journalist, and I miss it terribly. I can't help but wonder what will happen to our government when newspapers are replaced by "citizen journalists" on blogs. To me, it is a frightening thought. I like having a major metro daily and a weekly community newspaper. But papers are turning into something that I don't recognize. It's truly sad.

[attilathehoneycom]

Well Alec, this is probably the only time ( no I take that back ) the second time I've ever agreed with you.
1) Regarding the passing of Maurice Jarre, a truly great film maker 2) Sarah Palin is better looking that Tina Fey - oh come on man - I saw the look you gave her! She's hot - just admit it and you'll feel better. You know more transparency type thing LOL!

I missed out on your last blog regarding the importance of the New York Times. From a personal perspective, the only thing I like is the fashion page and the rest I use to potty train my new puppy. Secondly, I don't see the transparency you seem to see in the new administra­tion...per­haps we are viewing from a different consciousness, n'est pas? Regarding Keith Olberman - I would love to take him on...He's a lightweight compared to a Bill O'Reilly...now that's someone I wouldn't want to tangle with. In any case - Keep flying the good liberal flag as you're fast becoming a fav!
Best
Attila Honey
www.attilathehoney.com.

[shuk]

Thank you so much, Mr. Baldwin, for bringing attention to the passing of Maurice Jarre.

Here's another reason to honor this composer. While rightly celebrated for grand, romantic orchestral scores such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jarre also made the timely transition to electronic music, with rapturous results.

Maurice Jarre had an especially fruitful collaboration with director Peter Weir. Just listen as music raises the barn in Witness. Become hypnotized and moved by the score of Fearless. And even if a movie falls short, Jarre's music transcends. Visit The Mosquito Coast and you'll hear music which defines a tropical voyage.

Rick

[podi6]

Alec,

Here are some more great film soundtracks:

1) The Last Samurai
2) The Mission
3) Road to Perdition
4) Legends of the Fall
5) Braveheart
6) Little Buddah
7) Gattaca
8) The Piano
9) Love Affair
10) Shadowlands
11) Gladiator
12) I am a bit partial to Suburban Girl ;)

[SILVANUS]

In addition to the below, I also forgot to recommend Vladimir Kosma's score and use of music for 1982's import "DIVA", and for anyone who cares, Georges Delerue's jazz stuff for "The Pumpkin Eater", which is really rare, but worth finding.

1. Chinatown by Jerry Goldsmith. (74)
2. Don't Look Now by Pino Donaggio (74)
3. Vertigo and Taxi Driver, both by Bernard Herrmann (58 and 76)
4. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg by Michel Legrand (64)
5. The Year of Living Dangeously by Maurice Jarre (83)
6. Last Tango in Paris by Gato Barbieri; Orchestrations by Oliver Nelson (73)
7.Kieslowski Three Colors Red by Zbignew Preisner (96)
8. A Man and a Woman by Francis Lai (66)
9. Un' altra Vita (Another Life) by Ralph Towner (94)
10. Once Upon a Time in the West by Ennio Morricone (70?)
11. La Dolce Vita(!!!) by Nino Rota (60)

[vimmryan]

Nice! I would add EVERY Herzog film to that list for me personally as well.

[SILVANUS]

Gosh, yes, Popul Vuh music was great!

[Ed Urbanowski]

Jarre's contributions to classics such as "Lawrence Or Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago" cannot be underestimated. Having seen Mr. Baldwin on TCM's "Essentials" series it is apparent that he has an impressive knowledge of film and the gift of self expression to rival it.
I loved Jarre's score for the miniseries "Jesus Of Nazareth," as well as "Ghost" and "Witness." So much of this music is magnificent, touching and intimate. He will long be remembered along with the other greats, Barry, Rosza, Bernstein and Goldsmith.

I cannot agree more that it is of utmost importance to restore the United States. It is the media who hold the most responsibility in this task. A few voices cried in the wilderness of the Bush years (Bill Maher, Jon Stewart and Arianna Huffington) but the majority of the press was ineffective. Every citizen has a right and an obligation to be informed and to care. Our democracy is such a fragile thing, if we don't look after it this grand experiment may yet fail and if so, what are the alternatives?

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

Alec, keep writing and keep acting. You're a smart guy, a very strong actor, you don't hesitate to stir things up, and you also give us humor and silliness. I like you, the person, as well as the actor.

[dougiec]

Good, if obvious points about what passes for journalism these days. It seems as if 90% of "journalism" is opinion, especially if you're checking out the wrong sources.
Favorite film scores. Oddly, when I heard of Maurice Jarre's death I paused and thought about the films he had scored and realized that any two could be picked and pointed to as a career accomplishment.
Then I thought of Ennio Morricone and his staggering output and my own favorite film score for " Once Upon A Time in the West".
Then I thought of Claudia Cardinale.

[daddysboy]

Words have impact and meaning or they don't. The word log and the word journal are essentially synonymous. Your attempts to compartmentalize traditional media from new media are demonstrative of a form of elitism I didn't think existed anymore and seem like very weak arguments. You write as if a person officially charged with expounding on a particular topic or investigating something somehow has access to language and resources that individuals are incapable of accessing on their own. The great information carrying power of the internet has forced people that write to do it well or face obscurity. Monetary compensation does not imply quality EVER despite what most people want to believe. The writers and artists that really shine will get their audience and will eventually get their due, but don't assume that it will be in the spotlight of traditional media. Losing control over the packaging can seem like it has it's downsides, but what we are gaining in inclusiveness trumps everything. Instead of seeing a thousand websites of commentary, imagine the essay-writers as journalists and the commentators as REAL opinion page contributors rather than the traditional in-house writers for newspapers. Why every major newspaper didn't bring their opinion section online years ago is beyond me.

[SharpDressedMan]

Part 1of3

"Your attempts to compartmentalize traditional media from new media are demonstrative of a form of elitism I didn't think existed anymore and seem like very weak arguments."

I can see how some see my comment as elitism but it's not. I see like this. I wouldn't let a bicycle mechanic fix my car. I don't see the traditional media (or MSM) as strictly professional and the new media as strictly amateurish. Many professionals migrated from the traditional to the new media. The traditional media has a large presence on the internet and it's hard to avoid.

"You write as if a person officially charged with expounding on a particular topic or investigating something somehow has access to language and resources that individuals are incapable of accessing on their own."

Professional journalists have far more resources available to them and they have the backing of their employer if employed. For example, so few citizen journalist have the financing to pay for travel expenses incurred when following President Obama on a visit to another part of the country or the world. A videographer, sound person will be needed for periodic reports. Some news gathering is very expensive and beyond the reach of part or full time citizen journalists. How many citizen journalists have the time, energy and funds to hang around a state capital for weeks or the entire duration of the legislative session? How many can travel with candidates to cover length elections? Very very few.

[SharpDressedMan]

Part 2of3

"The great information carrying power of the internet has forced people that write to do it well or face obscurity."

I believe the internet caused more to write worse especially when using acronyms, abbreviations or emotes. Most readers don't distinguish good vs. bad writing, many overlook typos. Many want to know how what they read correlates with their ideology and perceptions.

"Monetary compensation does not imply quality EVER despite what most people want to believe."

That's sometimes true on an individual basis but not on a mass scale. Professional journalists must be paid more. It's a stressful job especially when much time is spent away from home.

"The writers and artists that really shine will get their audience and will eventually get their due, but don't assume that it will be in the spotlight of traditional media."

Good writing is not synonymous with good reporting. Journalism doesn't ask for artistry. In fact it usually discourages it. Good writers are in demand in any field involving writing. Some journalists in the MSM also write books and achieve fame through such publications. Good writers also exist among citizen journalists but that doesn't mean they are good reporters.

[SharpDressedMan]

Part 3of3

"Losing control over the packaging can seem like it has it's downsides, but what we are gaining in inclusiveness trumps everything. Instead of seeing a thousand web sites of commentary, imagine the essay-writers as journalists and the commentators as REAL opinion page contributors rather than the traditional in-house writers for newspapers."

That's a fraudulent way of looking at internet commentators. I want to know who are the reporters, analysts and commentators because those functions are different.

I support the digitalization of the news media but not at the expense of professional journalists. The newspaper and magazine industry is centuries in the making. Journalistic careers are built over years, not overnight. It's a shame to throw most of that away especially when our democracy needs it the most.

"Why every major newspaper didn't bring their opinion section online years ago is beyond me."

Some newspapers went online years ago but a mass shift of consumers to electronic format was needed. Many consumers are interested in online news but refuse to pay the fees required to keep news organizations in business. Also internet software didn't become useful enough till this decade.

A sizable segment of the population still wants news from a TV instead of a computer.

Another factor keeping many away from internet news is their inability to type. They have lived long productive lives without typing and composing. Expecting them to write eloquently through a keyboard is a challenge for many.

[Jim Brannigan]

For many, The Times remains the high water mark of journalism. Baldwin feels 'newspapers are about journalism.' They're also about getting money. In exchange they'll report stories that their statistics, demographics and corporate ownership dictate.

Baldwin feels for news, it’s the Times or nothing. To rely only on their bias for all opinion-forming is giving the brain short shrift. A global perspective on a story, needs reading of papers from outside the USA. It's akin to saying I'm only going to get my yucks from watching NBC sit-coms. Wouldn't I be a more informed laugher of the 30 Rock if I watched a BBC Brit-com? We can't all drink the Kool-Aide, Alec -- we need to sample other beverages.

By decrying Blogs and Web sites as nothing more than 'commentary' is a failure to recognize that this site and others such as CNN's 'I-Report' are putting 'journalism,' reporting and content creation -- such as editorial or 'commentary' -- into the hands of average citizens.

Once newspapers stuck up for the average person and gave a voice to those that didn't have a forum to use their own. They were the 5th Estate in checking and balancing the power structures. As newspapers fall and moguls owns more and more, the onus is on the average person to report the stories others won't touch for fear that the advertising dollars will dry up. It's up to citizens to offer commentary and regain their voice in society.

[SharpDressedMan]

Newspapers are about journalism and business. That's why most have a chief editor and a publisher. They have to make a profit in order to survive. Newspapers and other print media have one value that other media don't. Newspapers are one of the best records of living history. Historians have referred to newspapers for the last 4 centuries. Except for NPR, radio news is non-existent. Talk radio doesn't count. With the exception of PBS and CSPAN, TV news doesn't record history very well, especially during the last two decades of budget cuts and shallower reporting. Videos are nice but they lack in-depth coverage.

Professional journalists in the print media provide the best daily news. We don't always agree with what they report or don't report but we are better informed by them.

Citizen journalists and bloggers will take a larger role in reporting. I am not sure that's a good thing because most are hardly aware of good journalistic practices and lack editors. Some bloggers and citizen journalists cover meaningful stories or catch discrepancies or add useful information but nothing can replace professional print media journalism. It's hard enough to trust some professional journalists. How do you trust someone whose hobby is reporting and day job is unrelated to journalism? Maybe we need board certification to demarcate the professionals from the amateurs.

I strongly recommend this NYT article on the historical controversies of journalism.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/arts/design/24muse.html