You won’t hear about best movie at Oscars

Rep. Stefanik rubbing shoulders with the lunatic fringe at CPAC

By Ken Tingley

When the Academy Awards are handed out Sunday night, there will be no mention of the best movie of the year.

That’s because “She Said” was not nominated.

You won’t be surprised to learn that “She Said” is a newspaper story.

But it is more than that.

It is a story about great journalism that made a difference.

It’s the real story of a couple of super heroes who are not named Woodward and Bernstein.

“She Said” chronicles the work of New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey in exposing three decades worth of crimes by of one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers, Harvey Weinstein. Published five years ago, their investigation exposed allegations of sexual harassment and abuse by Weinstein while also revealing settlements and non-disclosure agreements that were used to cover up his crimes.

Why anyone would opt for three hours of blue people when you can be inspired by the good work of these two journalists?

I’ve watched close to 30 movies and 8 of the 10 best picture nominees and none is within a football field of “She Said” for the quality and importance of the story it tells.

Kantor and Twohey were honored with a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 and their book “She Said” was made into a movie.

Seven years ago, the subject matter of “Spotlight” - pedophile priests -probably scared movie-goers away. That may be the case here as well. The accusations of sexual assault and harassment that arose in Hollywood soon reached into every part of our society.

It spawned the #MeToo movement and a sea change in workplace behavior that was light years overdue.

A couple of newspaper reporters did that.

That’s not only important, it’s a worthy way to spend two hours when the good guys win.

Considering the times we are living in and the continued attacks about bias and partisanship in the media, this movie is a must see for every citizen.

For those who believe the New York Times is a liberal rag, I challenge you to explain how investigative journalism such as this is partisan.

The journalists’ work paved paved the way for Weinstein to spend the rest of his life in prison. It led to others being exposed as well.

What drives most reporters and editors is reporting that makes a difference.

This was one of those stories that continues to make profound differences in our culture for the better.

“She Said” It is not playing at any local theaters this week, but you can rent it online for $5.99.

But there is even an even better option.

Wellspring, which provides domestic violence and sexual assault services in Saratoga County including emergency shelter and a 24-hour hotline, is hosting a series of events on consecutive Mondays around the movie “She Said.”

On March 27, “She Said” will be screened for free at Wellspring in Malta at 6:30 p.m.

On April 3, there will be a community conversation at Wellspring at 6:30 p.m.

And then on April 10, Megan Twohey will be speaking at Skidmore College at 6:30 p.m. A $20 donation to Wellspring is required to attend.

You will be forgiven if you pass up the Oscars this week to set aside for one of these events.

Where are the shorts?

The past few years I have ventured down to the multiplex in Saratoga Springs to see Oscar-nominated shorts. The shorts are one of cinema’s most underrated pleasures and that is obvious by the small turnout in Saratoga.

I am often among just two or three people in the theater.

That may have something to do with why the shorts are not being shown in Saratoga this year. If I want to see them,  you have to go to the Spectrum theater in Albany.

Long lines

Having spent most of the past week at the Cool Insuring Arena watching the Section II Basketball Tournament, I was surprised to see some of the longest lines I have ever seen for concessions on Saturday.

This was championship Saturday where champions in four classes.

The fact Glens Falls was playing in the first game assured that the crowds would be pretty strong most of the day. Between the second and third games - the Class A and Class AA championships - the line at the concession stand stretched almost out to the lobby.

It was also the only one of four concession stands open.

Getting into the arena could be slow at times, too. There were two to three ticket windows open at any time, but after buying tickets, you had to get in a long line to get into the arena because there was only one door open.

With the state tournament coming in a couple weeks, I hope the folks at the arena can address some of these issues.

Elise Stefanik @EliseStefanik

Team Trump at @CPAC 💪💪🇺🇸🇺🇸 @KariLake @laurenboebert @WesleyHuntTX @mattgaetz #Trump2024 @MAGAIncWarRoom

Stefanik at CPAC

The Conservative Political Action Commitee event has also been a place where the conservatives of all stripes would gather to hear from conservative politicians.

This year, it was not about conservatives but Republicans on the extreme fringe.

It should be a concern locally that Rep.Elise Stefanik was one of the speakers and had her photograph posted on social media with Republicans with extreme views.

Here is part of what she said:

“Friends, the fabric of America is under attack by the radical left, their loyal stenographers in the mainstream media and the failed and corrupt leadership of Joe Biden. Believe me, I know firsthand that the left, the entire corrupt Democrat ecosystem and vicious Never Trumpers will smear, threaten, cancel, lie and do anything to try to silence us and suppress the will of the American people."

I’ve asked before who she is referring to when she mentions the “mainstream media” but I have yet to see that clarified.

Is Rep. Stefanik talking about constituents and Democrats in her own district who I believe are mostly moderates?

Does this sound like the people you know in the North Country?

Future of newspapers

Thom Hallock of Mountain Lake PBS interviewed me last month about the state of newspapers and my new book “The Last American Newspaper.”

It is a 30-minute interview, but I hope you get a chance to check it out.

Greenwich event

It’s March, so it is time to get out of the house.

Hope you get a chance to join me, former Schenectady Gazette Editor Judy Patrick and  Albany Times Union reporter Wendy Liberatore to talk about community newspapers past and present on Thursday at the Greenwich Free Library.

I’ll be kicking off the evening at 6:30 with a short presentation about the value of community newspapers that will be followed by our panel discussion at 7 p.m.