A journalist's crusade

Good Night and Good Luck, George Clooney's directorial debut of how crusading journalist Edward R. Murrow went head-on and won against the witch hunt of Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s, is a must-watch for any of us who have contemplated becoming a member of the press, print or broadcast. A bit of a background: The power-hungry (and some say crazy) McCarthy used Americans' fear of Communism to indict and cast aspersions (on a national level at that) on individuals and groups he suspected of loyalty to the Red cause. This happened in the post-WW2 era when the U.S., standing for democracy, and U.S.S.R, representing totalitarianism, were in race to become the leader of the world. Anyone that McCarthy ranted against - regardless of his innocence - was immediately branded a Red, and was immediately ostracized by the world around him; even if he were spared jail, he could lose his job, his social standing, his reputation, his circle of friends.

It was against this abuse that the tough-as-nails Murrow launched his campaign against. Murrow (played by David Straithairn) rightly deduced that it was this tyranny and the abuse of power that free, clear-thinking, courageous citizens must denounce. Though Murrow was at the peak of his popularity, his one TV show could not hope to stand against the arsenal of the government - and worse, the advertisers of his show who would pull out if Murrow becomes too outspoken.

Murrow's boss, the head of CBS (played by Frank Langella), struck a delicate but firm balance on the divide between the responsibilities of honest, dedicated journalism and the pragmatic concerns of the TV station which just might close under the onslaught.

Needless to say, Murrow won - and McCarthy fell from grace. But the price that the journalist - and his station - paid was steep. Yet in his last speech before an audience, Murrow cautions that the war was far from over. His last lines are unforgettable and serves as a warning to those who take their freedom - and the freedom of the press - for granted.