April 15, 2008...6:00 am
MTV’s “The Paper” Not Reality
There’s no reality like your job, so with more than 30 years of experience in the newspaper business I couldn’t resist tuning into MTV (it used to stand for Music Television) last night to see its latest reality show - “The Paper.”
If newspapers of the future operate like “The Circuit” at Cypress Bay High School (Weston, Fla.), their death is certain.
Then again, this is only a high school newspaper with all of the extreme teen drama to go with it as a handful of staff members competed in the premier episode to become Editor-In-Chief. We followed them in a fast-paced high school computer lab, partying on a Friday night or staying up late to complete the perfect application. And that was the best part of the show - hearing Queen’s classic tune, “Under Pressure,” - as the camera followed the prospective Editor-In-Chief candidates while the clock ticked down on the application process.
No surprises, either. (SPOILER) It was obvious from all her face time (and studious habits and copy-editor background) that Amanda would get the job. But, come on. At one point she said “Procrastination is a foe I have not met yet.” (Every newspaper reporter I’ve ever known thrives on procrastination and deadline pressure.) Early in the episode she looked at the list of past Editor’s-In-Chief and pointed out that all their first names started with “A.” And, while talking to other candidates, she let it slip that she had the adviser’s cell phone number. Just shows the stereotype that all it takes is who you know and a little luck to rise to the top.
Of course nobody liked Amanda’s appointment, creating thoughts of mutiny on “The Paper” and setting up plenty of opportunity for conflict in future episodes (Mondays at 9:30 p.m. Central Time). Even before the appointment was made, Adam (another “A” candidate) said, “If Amanda gets Editor-In-Chief this paper will be in shambles. Nobody respects her.” Another candidate talked about impeaching her. Then there was Giana, a “Clubs Reporter” more interested in her boyfriend than completing the essay application, who was passed over for top dog. She was named News Editor (the third highest position) and said “I’m not going to listen to her. She’s not above me.” (Sorry to break the news dear, but Amanda is.)
I feel sorry for Mrs. Weiss, the adviser. You wonder if she knows what she’s in for with all of this petty jealousy and rebellious behavior. But, as a Newsweek magazine story points out, “The Paper” is really a comedy about nerds who will some day be shredding the resumes of the beautiful people you see in all those other MTV reality shows. For that, I’ll tune in for another edition.
In the meantime, for fun, take the 10-question online quiz to see if you’d qualify to become “Editor-In-Chief” of “The Paper” or if you’d be relegated to one of the other positions. I won’t tell you how I did, but I will say it made me laugh.
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