If you’re in the media you know the internet has changed life at most newspapers. Some have gone out of business, and others have downsized. Massive layoffs have also affected one of the largest newspapers in the country, The New York Times.
On Wednesday, members of Hispanic Communicators DFW and their guests gathered to see the documentary “Page One: A Year inside the New York Times” at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas. The documentary is about the New York Times massive layoffs due to a drop in advertising revenue and subscriptions and the impact of the internet.
Here’s a trailer of the documentary.
I thought the documentary focused on some interesting reporters and editors who work at the New York Times. But I noticed right away that no minorities or women we’re part of the chosen journalists who were the stars of the documentary. An African American man and a woman did make cameo appearances at the Times’ planning meetings, but that’s about it.
I’m no movie critic, but I will say I found the documentary very informative and entertaining. It did leave me unsure about the future of newspapers.
Karina Ramirez, a reporter for the Denton Record Chronicle is a member of Hispanic Communicators DFW. She made it to the documentary viewing. Karina says “It painted a realistic picture of what we’re going through. There’s
always the fear that someday someone will come up and say you’re gone.” Her guest, fellow Denton Record Chronicle reporter, Britney Tabor says “I think it showed a lot of what we’re going through as reporters to make it.”
I’m glad that on a busy Wednesday night, more than 30 people got together to see a documentary that is a reflection of our industry. Karina Ramirez says “This was very educational for us as journalists and it was good to be here tonight with other journalists who understand the business.”
Rebecca Aguilar is a freelance reporter in Dallas. She’s part of the Hispanic Communicators Planning committee. She’s also the Officer, At-Large with NAHJ.