The Power of the Press

Before everything became electronic, I was what was known as an ink-stained wretch. I loved the feel of newsprint in my hands. I also loved the romance of journalism. My favorite movie about “the press,” as it used to be known, is Deadline USA starring Humphrey Bogart as the tough-as-nails editor.

It’s not a great movie, but it certainly is a guilty pleasure whenever I stumble across it. “That’s the press, baby,” is one of the final lines of the movie as Bogie tells the gangster (played by Martin Gabel) that his newspaper—on its final day of publication, no less—is going to print the story about Gabel and Bogie doesn’t care if Gabel sends his henchmen to kill him. (Thank goodness Idon’t have to write about gangsters.)