Spotlight Film Analysis

The lead editor of Spotlight Walter "Robby" Robinson stated, “It’s like everyone knows the story, except us and we work right there.” This quote demonstrated that this story was known by many but was not publicized. The fact that people would cover it up provided more of means to actually get the story out so people can be aware. The team took a different approach since this story was very covered numerous times. Michael Rezendes (one of the investigative reporters) thought that the story would attack the law but it was attacking the semester. The story would go unnoticed if they sole purpose was to attack the law. In order to make an effective boom, they would have to attack the head of the system. “We have close to stories on 70 priests, we nail that along with one of those letters. This is proof that this is bigger than the law. It’s the whole system.” The solution to go after the law was not the best one, but instead going after the system would be more prove to be more effective.

Spotlight was a movie meant to be an eye-opener to promote awareness of priests molesting children. Spotlight was a group
of four investigator reporters working the Boston Globe. They sought to provide evidence which would state that the priests actually committed the crimes. It’s not normal for someone or a couple of people to attack the church, so Spotlight had to come correct. Throughout the whole movie, the team would stumble at times due to people withholding information like lawyers, judges, and a host of others. Although things may have slowed the process down, there were victims and other people willing to help and share their story.

There were a couple of methods the journalist would use to go to the church. Even though going after the system was the main technique shown, other methods were just as important. Statements of sexually molested victims was another important method. The victims who actually spoke out would help by becoming a primary sources. The victim story became essential because it tied the priests to the crime, even if they did not want to admit it. With the victim’s account, the law could not deny it, and the accounts were heavily weighted. When Robinson was talking to Alumni and the President of his high school, he recounted a conversation he had with a victim. Robinson questioned the victim on Father Talbot Once hockey team coach. The victim was surprised that Robinson, he even claimed that his wife did not know. This showed the church very effective in covering the situation up. He started to break down after 10 minutes of talking, and questioned why the father targeted him. There would almost be an effort of blackmailing the lawyer into giving them information. Robby asks for information and when the lawyer refuses, he states the two stories that the globe could run would not benefit him. The conversation started with Robby threatening the lawyer by saying “You're going to give me the names and the names of their victims. Are you threatening me? Then stating “ we got a story about degenerate clergy and we got the story about lawyers turning child abuse into a cottage industry. Now which story do want us to write, because we’re writing one of them.”

The reporting efforts of the reporters definitely added to the story. In a way it showed how big the story was the intensity of it. The way the reporters went about the story, it also put emphasize how this story was different. Initially, the reports had reason to believe that there were 13 priests in Boston alone who may have molested children. With Richard Sipe a trained psychotherapist they later questioned that it could be 6 percent of all priest, with 1,500 priest in Boston which makes 90 priests. In the beginning the story seems an as though it was story would require a lot of effort. When the story, had a slow start in the beginning, it could raise the question in the audience's mind about why there was not enough information to bring this case down effectively. If they did not report the story the way they did, including people spoken in the case may not have made a significant impact. The reporter's effort certainly enticed the audience by making them wonder people would try to cover up what happened to the priest. As an audience member the reporters had me questioning how this had become hidden for a long period time. It also raises other questions, but two important questions about society: first if they were able to cover this up and stop people from speaking about it, what else are they covering up and second why are living in a society that does this. Thus, I came to the conclusion that if a story is horrific enough society will try to essential brush it under the rug so to speak.

This film did add to my appreciation of investigative journalism.
I have never heard of investigative journalism until I watched the movie. Thus, I did have any preconceived notions about it and it proved to be very informative. I admire their persistence in pursuing stories from times to an end. Rezendes deliberately went out of his way throughout the movie to get the story and his determination was continually shown. Rezendes had been determined to get sealed document which was supposed to be made public. Once he took up with the judge, the judge would question what's the editorial responsibility in publishing theses records of this nature and Rezendes responded by saying what’s the editorial responsible in not publishing these records of this nature. This is just one example where someone was hesitant to give out any information towards the
story,

This movie was very important in making the world more aware of the priest committing these crimes. It showed how far society is willing to cover something which clearly involves the public. The reporters methods proved effective they were able to find information by doing so, whether if it was done by asking victims, or threatening people. Their reporting efforts made the audience question why society deemed it correct to cover it up. My editorial appreciation did increase while watching the journalist research the story. “ Over the course of 2002, the Spotlight team published close to 600 stories about the scandal. There were 249 priests and brothers who were publicly accused of sexual abuse with the Boston archdiocese.The numbers of survivors in Boston are estimated to be well over a 1,000”