Opinion on “The Post”

When I heard about “The Post,” I was intrigued. I’ve seen past films such as “All the President’s Men” and “Broken Glass.” How was this movie going to compare? After seeing the movie, I can say that “The Post” inspired me to be a better writer and a better journalist.

The overall story covers the issues of free press and the First Amendment. The film is set during the Vietnam War era, when the press sat in the government’s lap and editors were too nervous to publish bad articles about the government officials they spent time with on a regular basis.

I thought “The Post” was an excellent reminder that the press was created for the people, not for the government. I think the film came out at a good time, since the press is frequently under fire today.

Actor Tom Hanks played Ben Bradlee, executive editor of the Washington Post from 1968-91, and Mery Streep played Katharine Graham, first female publisher. The two characters fought with the decision to publish while the New York Times was in court. Knowing what was legal and not legal kept the editors questioning everything. The stakes were high, and I could feel it. The movie had the suspense factor keeping viewers interested. The soundtrack was also very good.

What stuck out to me was how Katharine Graham frequently found herself in meetings where she was the only woman present. I could tell that she was present as a figure head and not a real leader. But as she grew into herself and her role as leader of the Washington Post, I thought she became more powerful, and I loved how the movie showed the importance of her decisions.

I think her role in the movie was important for women today to see.

I found this movie to be a powerful reminder for what journalists are here to do and the importance of free press.

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