Written for Writers: 7 Journalist Role Model Characters Across Movies and TV

They say art imitates life but sometimes its like looking in a mirror. From the moment it was pointed out to me, I could not stop noticing it. Time and time again, in nearly everything I watch, there is a female character at the forefront, working in journalism.

It’s not what makes me fall in love with the stories, it’s not even something I know about the character before I start watching but, without fail, there they are. To say you want life to be like the movies would be fairly called unrealistic and potentially problematic, but in these cases I can only see it as inspiration.

So, if you’re a writer, a journalist, or just looking for new TV and film recommendations and some female characters to live by - Keep scrolling! Here are just some of the characters that come to mind.

1. Gilmore Girls, Rory Gilmore

Being a TV show, Gilmore Girls goes more into the journalism storyline than most others on this list. As much as the driving force of the show is relationships, whether that be Rory discovering who she is meant to be with romantically or her beautiful idyllic relationship with her mother, the plot is largely split into defined sections, marked by her education and career steps, all targeted towards the same end game. You guessed it, Journalism.

It’s honestly crazy how closely Rory’s journey resembles mine. She’s a feature writer, I’m a feature writer. She has been focussed on this career path since she was really young, so have I. She wrote for her school publication and worked her way up to editor, just like I did. Not that I ever fooled myself thinking that’s how it would be - I’m still mad watching Rory get a random call from the top newspaper in one of the most well known cities for media as she’s casually walking down the street of her home town, or comparing my experience as writer to editor in the student run magazine at the University of Portsmouth with her days at the ‘Yale Daily News’.

While I wouldn’t call the confidence shakes she endured an easy ride, I would be lying if I said that I felt no pangs of jealousy at how naturally she sweeps through this experience. I have her passion, I know that. What I don’t necessarily have is her seemingly mansion-sized mind, able to read and read and never get bored or confused or threatened by the sheer weight of all the knowledge there is to obtain in this world. Rory Gilmore is beautiful and passionate and kind and intelligent and absolutely a worthy role model for all areas of life. Hence, number one.

2. Bridget Jones Diary, Bridget Jones

Similar to Gilmore Girls, Bridget Jones’ Diary takes us on Bridge’s journey into the industry. The unique selling points, an insight into broadcast journalism and a somewhat sudden career change leading her down this road.

Some people say that Bridget’s inexperience and cringe-worthy slip ups, airhead moments and occasionally complete lack of filter is a key factor in making the film a comedy, and it certainly sets it apart from the others on this list - I mean, I’m simply acknowledging that she is a journalist, I never said she was a good one.

Earning a spot on this list doesn’t mean that they’re capacity for inspiration in my life is limited to their work. There is a pleasure in just knowing that, across highly revered media content like this, journalists are considered such genuinely nice people, especially when this is not generally the real life experience today.

My focus when following Bridge’s life is the fact that she has great friends and lives comfortably, without a dull moment - and that’s okay with me. In fact, it may even be encouraging.

3. Brain on Fire, Susannah Cahalan

Brain on Fire is a movie I will never stop recommending. Where Bridget Jones demonstrates the fun a working, writing, woman can have outside of work, this fascinating film shows us the community of the work environment. It paints a picture of life as a journalist filled with a beautiful sense of contentment and camaraderie. It is the closest I have come to a perfect reflection of what I imagine and wish working in the office of a big time newspaper to be like and, given that it is a true story, that is hugely comforting.

Again, the journalism isn’t the focus of the film, through most of the movie we watch as Susannah Cahalan grapples to understand the seemingly unexplainable things happening to her, but a lot of scenes do take place in the office of the iconic New York Post as you witness regularity of assigned stories coming from research and the beautiful reading, and now viewing experiences, of stories from life experience, telling tales that would otherwise go unsaid. The magic of journalism in a nutshell honestly, yet it is so subtle. Like a tune played in the background so beautifully, encompassing the entire journey.

4. The Carrie Diaries, Carrie Bradshaw

I have never seen Sex and the City but I absolutely ate up The Carrie Diaries. Starring such names as Austin Butler and AnnaSophia Robb, The Carrie Diaries tells the story of Carrie Bradshaw in her teen years, beginning to experience the building blocks of her adult life in romantic attachments and an inspired, determined working life at Interview Magazine, once again eventually growing to become a feature writer, interviewer and even occasional reviewer! I mean, come on you must be getting the no-way-this-is-uncanny tingles by now too, right?

The storytelling of the show, as such, features huge inspiration from magazines. The narration is very much in a writers voice, filled with profound, creative imagery and metaphors effectively guiding us through pages and mood boards of Carrie’s life, emotions and dreams. Then, diving deeper, the titular character exhibits an undeniable, practically contagious, passion for writing which is such a complete joy to watch.

At it’s heart, the storyline of Carrie’s creative endeavours in journalism shows a girl who effortlessly finds a place where her voice, as well as what she chooses to use it for, just fits like a puzzle piece. This together with her unshakeable prioritisation of her writing, the thing she loves and was born to do makes for an incredibly inspiring story which works to build you up just as much as the romance melts you. Plus, it’s not short of classic American teen drama.

5. The Holiday, Iris

As the title fairly warns you, this movie takes place in the time outside of the office for that very special festive season, but it is made clear from the start that Iris is a columnist for the Daily Telegraph. In fact, at the start of the film we see her, in most relatable fashion, submitting her story down to that last wire so gravely named - the deadline.

Not much actual journalism going on from scene to scene but as I say, what makes this phenomenon so uncanny is that it’s just the slightest detail in the character and yet it keeps happening! The character of Iris is also passionate and caring and at every point 100% loveable.

Plus, ladies and gentleman, number 5 takes it the extra mile with reference to our screen-writing and composing kings and queens! Written for writers 2.0!

6. Bridgerton, Lady Whistledown

You may say they are the same thing but given the choice of adding Gossip Girl or Lady Whistledown to this list, it will always be Lady Whistledown. An unexpected delight Christmas morning of 2020, Netflix’s Bridgerton truly took the world by storm. From the Bridgerton’s to the Featherington’s, it’s hard not to draw connections to todays publications of royal weddings and dating rumours across culture and entertainment channels.

That concept of a fly on the wall making comments on societal developments, a gossip column to the max, will never not be the highest of intrigue. The epitome of write what you know. Words on a pages turn to eyes on them. Whistledown writes and people listen. At the end of the day isn’t that the power we all want?

Now wrap it all up in the delicious candy coating that is the romance and drama and music and the kind of fashion that you can only write about with a capital F and speak about emphasising very syllable. I’m sure you already have but this is a definite must see.

7. Newsies, Katharine ‘Plumber’

As some of you may know, or even just guess from seeing the title for the first time, journalism is not just a driving force but the overall theme of this musical.

Growing up in dance, and eventually musical theatre, classes, I would often wonder if I could actually find success on stage. Although it was largely my confidence and fear that held me back I also started to notice that roles for young girls in musical theatre were slim to none. Either they were really young, only suitable to child actors sharing the role with three others, or grown ups, already expected to be professionals in the industry, perfected talent oozing from every pore. The space between was a literal void.

So, to see a character in a musical who fit me to a tee, from the profession all the way down to the voice, not to mention a female lead who is a major driving force of the story as well as a love-interest, is amazing.

I’ve accepted that I’m not going to be a well known star of the stage, that it probably was never even in the cards for me, but this sets me up for some of the greatest daydreams of all limelight daydreams.

Plumber’s journalism journey demonstrates the power of writing for the purpose of change, what it’s like to know that your writing talents can help and do anything it takes to get it out there, and so number seven she is.

So, my fellow writers, do you feel seen? What is your favourite from this short list? What have I missed out? Let me know in the comments.