"The Post" by Lale Perez

The Post

History has shown how important investigative journalism has played an enormous role in government decisions. The Post, directed by Steven Spielberg, illustrates on film how the Washington Post affected the presidency of Nixon regarding the Warfare policies and decision-making strategies at the time. The movie explicitly narrates the story of how the Washington Post managed to publish the Pentagon Papers and all of the troubles the reporters had to go through to publish them. The movie is filled with a thrilling and dramatic story on how all journalists part of the newspaper industry was trying to prevail and maintain the First Amendment.

Another incredible story is told in the film, that supports women’s right and the struggles that women had to face in all different industries at the time. Meryl Streep plays the role of the first female publisher, Katherine Graham. This character, in particular, evolves throughout the movie to become a bolder and savvier publisher and a stronger woman. Katherina Graham’s position as the publisher of The Post was taken slightly since this job was passed onto her after the death of her husband. However, Meryl Streep interprets the character to show the audience how powerful a person can be, even after all of the obstacles she faced due to her gender.

The entire scenery of the movie takes the viewers back to the late 50s and early 60s. The difference in technology is something astonishing the recognize. Admiring the work of reporters back in the day where reporting was not as easy as it could be today. Technology-wise, news can spread around faster nowadays than how they could back in the 60s. Reporters had to find information, confirm it through their sources, and publish to inform the entire nation and even the world.

Steven Spielberg’s take on the film portrays the sensation of stress coming from the reporters. The raise between newspapers to write a game-changing article first, but reassuring the credibility and the facts that what they are publishing is true. Also, the movie shows all of the factors that influence the entire newspaper to publish against the government. Not only expecting the worst for them individually but fearing for the sake and reputation of the company that is the Washington Post. Luckily, history taught us that the government should be watched and that newspapers are there to force them to give answers.