MovieChat Forums > Absence of Malice (1981) Discussion > Megan is a poor excuse for a reporter

Megan is a poor excuse for a reporter

posted 14 years ago by caladon
21 replies | jump to latest

In spite of what Newman's character says at the end of the movie; the character of Megan is a lousy reporter.

Although instructed by the paper's lawyer to make the effort to contact Gallagher for his side of the story, she obviously doesn't or just goes through the motions and makes a half-hearted effort.

She asks Gallagher the name of his boat when it's plainly printed on a life perserver in plain sight (not very observant.)

She figures out that Rosen left the file for her to see, and later in the law library scene she acts like it's a sudden realization.

And for some foolish reason tries to persuade another reporter into downplaying a shark attack. A paper's function is to inform the public, especially when public safety is the issue. Papers have no obligation to the Miami tourist board.

All in all a pretty pathetic excuse for a reporter.

Her editor was also just as bad.

The paper where they worked sounded more like a tabloid than an average daily paper.

[–] Stevicus-2 14 years ago

Well, at least in this sense, the movie was realistic. A lot of reporters are just plain bad, and from what I can tell, the quality has gotten worse and worse since the time this movie came out.

[–] uvl 14 years ago

caladon said: "And for some foolish reason tries to persuade another reporter into downplaying a shark attack. A paper's function is to inform the public, especially when public safety is the issue. Papers have no obligation to the Miami tourist board."

I hope you bitched about this in the discussion about Jaws, since Chief Brody clearly did not do his job either.

[–] caladon 14 years ago

No, but please feel free to do so.

[–] Ed-145 13 years ago

O/P do you really think that reporters at newspapers around the world are any better than Megan? She and her editor are par for the course.

[–] Hatrack 13 years ago

I haven't seen this movie for years but I think I'll give this a shot. From what I remember the paper's lawyer made it pretty clear that she didn't have to put much effort into contacting Gallagher. Just as long as she tried.

She was going on a cruise with a man that was as far she knew, a suspect in a murder/kidnap investigation. She rightfully seemed to be a little nervous. Or, maybe she was just making conversation. Trying to break the ice.

I think earlier on in the movie she rhetorically asks her editor why Rosen would leave the file on his desk. She doesn't have a reason to suspect his true motives until the end when all the facts come out. Seems reasonable enough to me.

There was no evidence of a shark attack. The authorities were searching for missing men. The reporter only asked if there were any sharks in the area.

True, the press doesn't have any obligation to the Miami Tourism Board. But boosterism part of media as well. It's not a big surprise that the media in a coastal tourist city wouldn't speculate on the possibility of a shark attack without pretty strong evidence one had occurred.

[–] joshlong79 13 years ago

the part that always bothered me, and i love this film, was when sally field and her editor were talking about the guy who saved gerald fords life or whatever it was, who turned out to be gay. the editor comments, "that's news right?". i still hate that....because, no, it isn't news by any definition, it's. i do wonder if they put that in to show that reporters, even supposedly the seasoned ones were a bit "lost", but that doesn't seem right to me. regardless...i hate the line, because i have no doubt it reflects reality in newsrooms, and those are supposed to be the people guiding the next generation. love the film though. one of the best journalism inspired films ever made, along with 'all the presidents men', 'the paper', 'shattered glass', and some others.

[–] den_quixote 9 years ago

Today the issue of Sipple's orientation would probably not be an issue but the events in his case took place in 1975 in a city that was probably the headquarters for the progressive gay movement. Harvey Milk was not yet a member of the Board of Supervisors but he was "the mayor of Castro Street" and the most prominent gay person in San Francisco and was said to have outed Sipple to the gay newspaper, suggesting that it would be a public relations coup for gays. It was news for the simple reason that there was an enormous amount of prejudice directed towards gays and recognizing that there were heroic gay ex-Marines was relevant. Sipple later sued for invasion of privacy and lost because the court said that he became a public figure, with a lesser right of privacy than a non public person, when he deliberately injected himself into the public eye by saving the President. It still would have been news when the movie was made also.

[–] RainyCloudz 13 years ago

She was very sexy though, and that is why she makes an excellent reporter!

[–] Prismark10 12 years ago

A lot of reporters go through life hoping to get that one story that makes them famous. As time goes on, the y do not care how they get it.

Its that man again!!

[–] LPurch6636 11 years ago

I totally and whole-heartedly agree.

I just couldn't believe all the accolades that her boss was bestowing on her.

And as a former journalist myself, she didn't present herself as a professional "with chops."

They really shouldn't have hired someone like Sally Field to play the journalist.

Flanagan

[–] rizdek 11 years ago

"They really shouldn't have hired someone like Sally Field to play the journalist."

Now that's funny. Good one.

[–] MsLadybird99 10 years ago

Getting "involved" with the subject of her reporting, and not disclosing it, was her biggest ethical lapse I thought.

~~

[–] jmillerdp 9 years ago

She is an idiot. And, it's strange to see Field, so good in "Norma Rae," play a ditz like this.

I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP! - Daniel Plainview - There Will Be Blood

[–] jchcin1 9 years ago

There was no shark attack, so it sounds like you'd make a terrible reporter yourself!

[–] jmillerdp 9 years ago

I have no idea what that's supposed to mean! But, on the issue of being a reporter, I wouldn't lower myself to that level, thanks.

I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP! - Daniel Plainview - There Will Be Blood

[–] jchcin1 9 years ago

I wasn't replying to you.

Reading comprehension is a lost art.