Fit to Print
Fit to Print is an American documentary film by Adam Chadwick, produced by Nancy Wolfe, which began production in 2009 and is scheduled to be completed in 2012.
Synopsis
Fit to Print examines the on-going crisis within the U.S. newspaper industry and its impact on local investigative reporting. The film includes InterViews from reporters, staff members, and media experts within several major U.S. newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among others.
Through interviews with former executives at the leading newspaper companies, Fit to Print illustrates a change in business practices, beginning in the 1960s. Newspapers became less a public service then a business enterprise designed to please stockholders. Newspaper companies historically neglected investments in new technologies and expanded classified advertising online, despite direct proposals from major internet search engine companies and advertising entrepreneurs. They missed their opportunity to take advantage of these powerful new technologies, and as a result have cut their staffs to compensate for the monetary losses. Meanwhile, journalism evolves from print to digital, with online publications surging even as major newspapers struggle.
Fit to Print gives those laid-off staffers a voice in this film. Interviews include reporters, editors and photographers who are only a few of the over 15,000 newspaper layoffs since 2008. The film also provides interviews with newspaper publishers, including Al Neuharth of USA Today. In addition, the film follows several laid off-investigative reporters as they struggle to publicize important watchdog stories that have fallen by the wayside as their newspapers have closed. These stories are emblematic of the crisis that is currently facing The Newspaper industry.
Cast
Reporters:
- Robert Kaiser, Washington Post
- David Barstow, New York Times
- Jeff Leen, Washington Post
- Stephen Janis
- Laura Frank
- McNelly Torres
References
- "An Interview With the Makers of the Documentary 'Fit to Print.'" Vimeo, 1 January 2010.
- Buckner, Randy. “'Fit to Print'-Must-See Documentary About Newspapers." It's All About Guitars, Music, and Life, 14 May 2012.
- "Fit To Print Trailer." Florida Center For Investigative Reporting, 29 November 2010.
- Fleischer, Matthew. "Journalists Making a Film About Journalism." Fishbowl LA, 18 May 2012.
- Gavin, Patrick. "Documentary: Newspapers aren’t going extinct." Politico, 4 June 2012.
- Gillin, Paul. "Audience Expands As Business Contracts." Newspaper Death Watch, 13 May 2012.
- Gillin, Paul. "‘Fit to Print’ Filmmakers Forge Ahead." Newspaper Death Watch, 29 May 2012.
- Gordon, Chet. "'FIT TO PRINT' A documentary film." Chet Gordon Photography, 30 August 2010.
- Kaufman, Rachel. "Fit To Print: The Documentary About The Newspaper Industry." MediaBistro, 26 January 2010.
- McAthy, Rachel. "US documentary to highlight stories 'fallen by the wayside.'" Journalism.co.uk, 29 May 2012.
- Older, Susan. "'Fit to Print' — A Documentary Film on the Newspaper Industry." Displaced Journalists, 15 May 2010.
- Ordonez, Sandra. "What Skills Will Future Journalists Need?" PBS, 9 June 2010.
- MacMillan, Gordon. "Life After Print – A Documentary On The Future Of Investigative Reporting." BrandRepublic, 24 May 2012.
- Rinaldi, Andrea. "Page One." Vogue Italy, 3 February 2011.
- Rothstein, Betty. "Fmr. NYT Staffer Begs for Cash for Film." Fishbowl DC, 18 May 2012.
- Salisbury, Barbara. "Interviewed For “Fit to Print” Documentary." Barbara L. Salisbury Photography, 8 October 2010.
- Sweet, Diane. "Fit to Print?" Occupy America, 1 June 2012.