'Newsroom : The Idealist vs The Realist

there's nothing that's more important in a democracy than a well-informed electorate I just want to make sure you know you're still on the side of the door there's no information on much where's wrong information it can lead to calamitous decisions in club or any attempts at vigorous debate that's why I produce the news we're all grateful to you you're spinning out of control no I'm not you're terrified you're going to lose your audience and you'd do anything to get them back you're one pitch meeting away from doing the news in 3d this isn't nonprofit theater it's advertiser supported television you know that I'd rather do a good show for a hundred people than a bad one for a million if that's what you're saying what is it you're talking to me about right now I've come here to produce a news broadcast that more closely resembles the one we did before you got popular by not bothering anyone Leno I think Jay and I would rather be employed if it's all the same to you it's not all the same to me you punk I've come here to take your IQ and your talent and put it to some patriotic [ __ ] use and where does it say that a good news show can't be popular Nielsen ratings we're going to do a good news show and make it popular at the same time that is impossible in your brains charm looks and affability and my refusal to live in reality it's impossible that our social scientists have concluded that the country is more polarized than in any time since the Civil War the Civil War people choose the news they want now but we do max they want now so what you've just described is impossible only have you think an overwhelming majority of Americans are preternaturally stupid I do I don't and have you let me I can prove it you know what you left out of your sermon that America is the only country on the planet that since his birth has said over and over and over that we can do better it's part of our DNA people will want the news if you give it to them with integrity not everybody not even a lot of people 5% and 5% more of anything is what makes the difference in this country so we can do better what I'm thinking yeah that whole speech did nothing for me now I'd like you to listen to these words which were written 500 years ago by Don Miguel de Cervantes hear me now o thou bleak and unbearable world thou art base and debauched as can be but a knight with his banners all bravely unfurled now hurls down his gone coat to thee that was Don Quixote those words were written forty-five years ago by lyricist for Man of La Mancha didn't think you'd know that but the point still the same it's time for Don Quixote you think I'm here no I think I'm him you always horse you wrote a donkey well I can't help you there I have to write mine I'll write it for you the volcanic eruption in Iceland is believed to have started on March 20th and has led to a worldwide transportation disaster the suspension of air traffic was in no way caused by America which I love you have to believe well what me in the same shouting matches everybody I want you to not apologize for saying something like you got yourself in the shouting match when he took vertigo medicine I'd have you winning it what does winning look like to you reclaiming the Fourth Estate reclaiming journalism is an honorable profession a nightly newscast that informs a debate worthy of a great nation civility respect and a return to what's important the death of bitchiness the death of gossip and voyeurism speaking truth too stupid no demographic sweet spot a place where we all come together we're come into a tipping point I know you know that there's gonna be a huge conversation is government an instrument of good or is it every man for himself is there something bigger we want to reach for or is self-interest our basic resting pulse you and I have a chance to be among the few people who can frame that debate that's MA it's it's quixotic

Channel: undefined

Views: 1,476,466

Rating: 4.8664885 out of 5

Keywords: newsroom hbo, jeff daniels, emily mortimer

Id: ZUQJKMngrYo

Length: 4min 20sec (260 seconds)

Published: Thu Jul 05 2012

Reddit Comments

[u/Jhonopolis]

Fuuuuuuuuuck, I need to rewatch the Newsroom.

[u/BoldChoices]

"Speak truth to stupid" deserves to be embroidered on pillows and printed on tee shirts. I love Aaron Sorkin's mind.

Throughout Trump's campaign all I could think about was Will's opening speech whenever I heard "Make America Great Again". I'm not sure how Trump's policies are going to achieve that goal. It's going to be a long four years.