The Happiest Ever After

[ Trigger Warning: This post contains discussions of self-harm and substance abuse. ]

[ Spoiler Warning: This post contains details about the Australian television drama, The Newsreader. ]

Have you ever watched a movie or television show that hits your heart so hard that you can’t watch it again? Or you at least need a breather before you hit the replay button? For me, that show is The Newsreader.

I confess, what originally drew me to the program was Sam Reid’s insanely talented (and handsome) self. I mean, have you seen his performance in the television adaptation of Interview with the Vampire? He IS Lestat! (Sorry, Tom Cruise.) But a show about the news industry? In Australia? IN THE 1980s?! Don’t threaten me with a good time! It was worth the price of an AMC+ subscription (and a VPN.) (Side note: In 2008, I was a DJ for a now defunct 80's radio station, and as many times as my boss made me play "Kyrie" by Mr. Mister, I never paid much attention to it. But I love it now! Thanks for the earworm, Newsreader!)

I started watching the show as a Sam Reid fan, but quickly started watching it as a journalist and history nerd. And what I can say is, it’s the most accurate depiction of life in a newsroom I’ve ever seen on screen. The script, the set, and the diverse cast of lead and supporting characters bring a phenomenal realism that reflects the news channels of today (and if you know where to look, you can still find some of that 1980's equipment in modern newsrooms.) If I had to sum up this compelling and spectacular series it would be: Journalists can be honest about everybody else. Can they be honest about themselves?

My philosophy has always been, it’s an honor and a privilege to accurately inform the public about what’s going on in their community, country, and world. And by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, it’s our duty. The fictional journalists on The Newsreader live by that credo. To report a story that impacts someone in a major way, or even save a life. But the narrative of the show digs for something deeper – it reveals just what it takes to live by that philosophy. It’s not just about the glory and adrenaline rush of being first to report exclusive or breaking news that could one day earn you an invite to the White House Correspondents' Dinner or a Pulitzer Prize, or Marconi, Murrow, or AP Award. It’s about something that’s rarely openly discussed about the news business: what some people sacrifice – willingly or unwillingly – for a career in this industry.

To give the balance we're duty bound to provide – I assure you there are benefits and privileges to being a journalist. The thank you letters I've received from a former servicemember about my veterans clinic story, and a woman who is rethinking her view of racism after my 2020 Election story. The exclusive interview I scored with Vice-Presidential Candidate Joe Biden just before the 2008 Election. Jumping from one Naval ship to another in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean to witness how the military takes down a pirated vessel. Flying upside-down in a World War II-era plane. Seeing multiple stories I produced on CNN's sister station and the supportive HLN staff that trained me to be a national network level journalist. An invite to a House of the Dragon screening, and a year of free HBO! Meeting Arrested Development and Dionne Farris. Seeing President Barack Obama, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and several other politicians and celebrities in person. Free tickets to Disney World and an overnight stay at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. An all-expense paid trip to see a live performance of the musical, Wicked in Louisville, Kentucky. And my personal favorite: free concert tickets for me and some friends to see Duran Duran! And as every starving journalist will tell you, the free food and swag ain't too bad either.

But those perks can be few and far between, and outweighed by the sacrifices of time with friends and family that we'll never get back. Sacrifices of being a journalist include holidays, anniversaries, vacations, parties, baby showers, an affordable apartment in a safe part of town, among other cost of living, job security, and work/life balance related concerns.

For other journalists, the sacrifices can be more drastic. They lose their self-worth, their identity, their dignity, their physical health, relationships, or peace of mind. All in the pursuit of broadcast excellence. And in the most severe cases, journalists have lost control due to addiction and substance abuse, they've lost their freedom due to being arrested, and some have lost their lives. Each journalist will have a different – and in some ways similar – story when it comes to how these sacrifices and downfalls occurred. In-office support can be difficult to access and being reprimanded for using company allotted time off is not unheard of. So, it's of no surprise that some therapists have said journalists are among their most frequent clients. And the U.S. National Library of Medicine revealed another troubling sign. Their study found that media and communications professionals are among the occupations with the most binge drinkers.

For some, I think the avalanche of anxiety starts with a saying I frequently heard at the beginning of my career: Flawless execution. A phrase managers (who often played favorites among their employees) used to instill the fear of God into new and experienced journalists alike in this intensely competitive business. But let’s be real – even Olympians can’t routinely pull off flawless execution. Michael Phelps is the most-decorated Olympian of all time, but not all of those medals are gold. Simone Biles has five gymnastics routines named after her, but even she suffered a mental health issue that caused her to bow out of the 2020 Tokyo Games. The pressure to be perfect weighs differently on us all. Some can handle the pressure. Some tolerate it. Some thrive under pressure. Some grow. Some rebel. Others break. And I'm just talking about the pressure from within a newsroom. Critique from the public is a whole other guillotine.

Knowing the pressure for perfection in the news business is what made me appreciate the conclusion of The Newsreader even more. Not knowing that, I think, is what has divided some viewers of the show. They wanted the series to end with a happily ever after love story between Sam Reid’s character, Dale Jennings, and Helen Norville, who is masterfully portrayed by Anna Torv. (My God, if only I could unload a dump truck full of Emmys on this show!) What people don’t realize is that Dale and Helen DID get their happily ever after.

Both characters were heading down a dark road, all in the pursuit of broadcast excellence. For Dale, that looked like finding anything outside of himself that defined, justified, and epitomized his worth. For Helen, that was the battle to be a storyteller in an industry of men that would never take her seriously. Dale struggled with his identity, intimidation from an authority figure, his need to be seen as the flawless, dependable “King of News,” and his search for genuine love. Helen struggled with constantly being underestimated, undermined, and browbeaten by the men in her workplace, plus the shame she lived under for addressing her own mental health issues.

Throughout the story, Dale and Helen take turns supporting each other. It climaxes with a major breakdown for Dale, leading to the implosion of his personal and professional life. I became viscerally nervous for Dale – a fictional character – because I know how this story ended for a real-life, on-air personality. Someone I spent a day shadowing in high school, which included sitting next to them on the anchor desk during the last five minutes of the local newscast. After years of looking up to this broadcaster, and more than a decade after I met them, they died by suicide. Viewers, colleagues, and loved ones were left stunned and broken-hearted. I won't presume to know the full reason behind this individual's decision. However, what was later reported about this light-hearted person, is that they struggled for years with depression.

So how did this journey end for Dale and for Helen, if not in a romantic love or a devastating tragedy? They got the greatest happily ever after of all: a second chance. A second chance to discover who they are, not defined by what they do or how others see them. Dale Jennings didn't want to be DALE JENNINGS, KING OF NEWS anymore. He didn't know who or what he wanted to be, but he could breathe in the fresh air of peace while he found out and accepted himself. And not only did Helen succeed at achieving the newsreader position she was more than qualified for, she developed the confidence to bet on herself – even in a room full of men who bet against her.

Happily ever afters come in a variety of ways in the news business. I know several journalists with an abundance of integrity and a wealth of stories to be proud of. Some have endured and reached their own healthy level of success in the industry. Some, like Diana Moskovitz, have left their old newsrooms behind to blaze their own trails. Some, like Jared Halpern, took time to put their mental health before their career. Some, like Leslie Rangel, educate on the importance of being a human first, and a journalist second. Some, like Paula Faris, escaped the burnout and used the pressure to catapult themselves to their true calling. Some, like Dan Harris, overcame their anxiety and overwhelm, and used their experience to help others. Some, like Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and her Director of Strategic Initiatives & Press Liaison, Melissa Ross, both left the industry – to not just report on their city, but to make history and lead it.

I do not regret becoming a journalist. I'm proud of what I've accomplished and the work I've produced continues to motivate me and bring a smile to my face. As a professional in the news business, I've experienced many joyful and thrilling moments and moments that called on me to be fearless. But there have been hardships. And from what I've learned, young journalists are still carrying the same challenges and troubles I did 20 years ago. The industry hasn't changed, but I have. Now in my forties, I'm making room for a dream I've held onto throughout my journalism career. What does my happily ever after look like now? Publishing my women's fiction/rom-com novels and hopefully living a love story of my own someday. As Sam Reid wholeheartedly said, I'm putting my hope in my art.

But fear not, my fellow romance lovers! There's ample opportunity in The Newsreader for Anna Torv's character to be adored and for Sam Reid to be the heartthrob that he is. But the best happily ever after just might be loving yourself and your journey without the pressure to be anyone but yourself.

Visit @NewsAtSix1986 on Instagram for more behind the scenes details about The Newsreader.

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