ARTICLE

[Review] 'The Menu' Sheds Light on Ethical News Reporting.

By InCinemas / 24 Mar 2015 (Tuesday)

Ethical or not, that is the question.

The media plays a big role of the gatekeeper to our society, but have you wondered how did these story come about? And were they gathered through legal, or ethical means?

Hong Kong’s drama ‘The Menu’ sheds light on the boundaries of journalistic integrity; safeguarding freedom of the press in Hong Kong while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of news reporting ethics and morality.

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[About the Show]
In The Menu, ‘media ethics' is the constant struggle among a group of reporters working for a free newspaper ‘Smart Post’ (囧報). While their profit-motivated chief editor is willing to abandon ethical responsibility and make exaggerated reports, her team, on the other hand, are passionate in helping disadvantaged groups voice out their social injustices. Facing a commercial reality, a newspaper that is disrespected by its peers chooses each day whether to reveal or hide the truth for different purposes. How can reporters highlight justice and defend their ideals? Ultimately motivated by different goals, staff of the newspaper continues to struggle daily to reveal – and, in some cases, hide – the truth. In such a pressure-filled environment, how will the news agency’s staff uphold righteousness while at the same time protect their own reporting aspirations?

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[Review]
Principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity and public accountability are basic foundations of ethical journalism and are emphasised in academic textbooks. Just ask yourself: Would you feed on bread the entire day just to capture a few pictures that could possibly make headlines? Perhaps. How about going undercover in a shady club to get leads for your story? Maybe not.

As a former ‘journ student’, as we used to pride ourselves as, morals and ethics was my favourite class because it tested our moral values and journalistic integrities. Through various case studies and reports, I’ve learned that there isn't a 'fine line' to determine if methods of obtaining news stories are right or wrong. It all boils down to one’s personal honesty, and stories featured in ‘The Menu’ tackles just that.

Though Singapore’s media is considered tame and civil compared to Hong Kong or other countries where paparazzi would be a better word to describe their jobs, it is still exciting to see what goes behind a news agency. Of course, no TV drama goes without the ‘drama’. The Menu not only touches on how these ‘juicy articles’ and ‘exaggerated headlines’ came about, it also explores the struggles these reporters go through in order to produce something that ultimately aims to inform the public on.

To increase the series’ dramatic element, the storyline will bring the rush of minute-by-minute news gathering techniques, coupled with elements of romance, thriller and suspense.

Directed by former TVB director Ben Fong (Moonlight Resonance) and written by also former TVB scriptwriter Poon Man Hung (The Hippocratic Crush), the cast consists of both veteran and newbies, including Kate Yeung, Catherine Chau, Noel Leung, Gregory Wong and Samuel Kwok.

‘The Menu’ airs first and exclusively on cHK (Singtel TV 510) from Mondays to Fridays, at 10pm.

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[Review] 'The Menu' Sheds Light on Ethical News Reporting.