‘The Paper’: HS journalism at its best & worst
April 29th, 2008 by Kim
I like watching The Hills, but sometimes I find aspects of the MTV reality show difficult to relate to: the Hollywood lifestyle, the high fashion, the excess of blonde…
That’s why I was excited to watch MTV’s newest reality series, The Paper, about the student staff of The Circuit, the award-winning student newspaper of Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Fla. It’s got just the right combination of drama, comedy, touching moments and dorkiness.
The first episode opens with: “Journalists are the most important part of world. They really are,” a surely indisputable truth spoken by the show’s best character, a power-tripping egomaniac named Amanda who also happens to be editor-in-chief. Naturally, just about everyone on her staff wants to do her in. They exclude her from all social activities, gossip about her behind her back and plot at every chance they get to undermine her power.
Fittingly, Amanda has been afforded space to write on The Paper’s web site. To give a taste of her character, here’s what she wrote after watching Episode 2, where she has just won the editor-in-chief position and her staff is still stewing about it:
After watching the episode, I noticed a glaring familiarity between the situation between my peers and me and Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama during the most recent democratic debate. I watched the screen and noticed the consuming glimmer of passion that seized our eyes, the exchange of heated glances, and the putrid stink of unrelenting competition.
It’s this air of self-importance — every reporter has it — added to the deliciousness of high school drama that make the show worth watching.
The Paper airs on Mondays at 10:30 p.m. HST. I’d say it’s the best thing to hit MTV in a long time — but I guess I might be a little biased.
photo: www.mtv.com
Tags: dorky, high school, journalism, TV
April 29th, 2008 at 4:42 am
Hmm, I tried to watch this with my wife (big fan of The Hills), but I couldn’t hack it. Felt like I needed to drop-kick Amanda halfway thru. I think its because she reminds me of my boss at work (who is similar to Steve Carell’s character from The Office).
April 29th, 2008 at 9:16 am
hi kim,
i was just wondering what got you into journalism and the news biz. i never liked writing, but as a 7th grade history teacher, there are times when i have had to do some creative writing and over the years, i’ve actually begun to enjoy the process. it’s different from newswriting, but nevertheless, writing is writing. a powerful tool in a democracy.
April 29th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I like The Prep on that new MBC Korean channel (90 for you digital cable fans). It’s about Korean kids taking courses to get into the best school possible . . . and that’s about it!!!!! Ha ha!!!! Closest thing to what I think the REAL “American Idol” should be, which is achievement in academics. Yeah, boring, but, really, that’s what I think should be celebrated. Ah, heck, it’s TV. Who wants to see kids learning?
April 29th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I write for my school newspaper and let me tell you, it’s not NEARLY as dramatic as this show. sure there are arguments and bickering especially during deadlines and whatnot but what newsroom doesn’t? At least everybody gets along. There’s also none of this “plotting against the editor in chief” and “going behind the editor in chief’s back stuff” though I have to admit, Amanda is a little too perky for my taste. But hey its MTV. What can you do? Great blog btw
April 30th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I watch The Hills, I ain’t gonna lie. I also watch the paper and find it HILARIOUS! It’s like a mini-newsroom in there!
Did you know that Amanda got a nose job?
April 30th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Thunderball: Thanks! Actually, “The Paper” reminds me more of my college paper than my high school paper.
John: What!? High school is too young for cosmetic surgery.
What did her nose look like before?
May 1st, 2008 at 3:01 pm
That’s exactly what I thought! Way too young…
But here’s a couple of links that’ll show her new nose:
Video of her taking bandages off:
http://jezebel.com/382672/the-papers-editor+in+chief-gets-a-new-nose-for-news?cpage=2
Before/after photo
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=4q6akk&s=3
I like her attitude and personality, though…