Shattered Glass

“Are you mad at me?”

Stephen Glass apprehensively questions those around him. This small phrase he repeats throughout the film, Shattered Glass reveals a fundamental fallacy in his approach as a journalist.

Stephen Glass holds himself as a witty yet humble journalist as he hits homerun after homerun in his countless articles published in the New Republic Magazine. Despite his overwhelming fan base of readers as well as coworkers, Glass wrote fiction, deceitfully disguised as fact.

For Glass, the fulfillment of journalism came from the approval of other and his lust to gain fame through his work. The seemingly innocent office laughter fueled his grandiose tales, which eventually resulted in published articles. His addiction to approval and popularity led to his demise, as he was unable to survive in his sea of lies.

He rejected the responsibilities and ethics of being a journalist. The five principles of journalism include truth, independence, fairness and impartiality, humanity, and accountability. His only principle of writing was to benefit his own self.  Even as his lies are uncovered he fails to take accountability for his despicable acts.

Journalism is about finding the truth. The reality is the truth is often uncomfortable, and far from crowd pleasing. As he wrote each story, Glass was keenly aware of his audience and how to cater to their preferences.

Being a journalist consists of finding the truth and hopefully instilling a questioning and thoughtful internal dialogue between the reader’s position and the writer’s. The most influential articles take a reader beyond his or her own life and experiences and into a newfound understanding. The International Journal of Literary Non Fiction, The Truth about the Fact aims to tell personal accounts of individual truths.

The introduction of the journal features an Emily Dickinson quote stating:

"The Truth must dazzle gradually or every man be blind.”

This quote emphasizes the challenge of facing the truth. The truth is often heavy, underrepresented and emotional. Usually, the truth guarantees the price of both, distaste and praise. The truth is never black and white; it is flooded with controversy and reaction.  Finding and facing the truth is not absolute, but rather a process.

Stephen Glass neglected the truth, unable to accept the possibility of not receiving praise and resulting in “mad” readers.  The film acts as a warning and reminder of the unwavering and indisputable commitment journalists must have to the truth.  It is a commitment, Glass foolishly traded in desire for popularity.