Five Star Final

The 1931 Five Star Final Film offers a powerful look at how newspapers can both inform the public and cause serious harm. While also giving insight on multiple different topics we have learned about in journalism history.

Penny Press Influence One idea that stood out to me was how the newspaper in the film focuses on attracting a large audience. This connects to the Penny Press era. In the 1800s, newspapers like The Sun, started by Benjamin Day, were sold for a very cheap price so that more people could afford them. Because of this, newspapers started looking for stories that would interest a wide audience.

The Gazette in Five Star Final follows a similar strategy. The editor wants to publish the old story about Nancy Voorhees because he believes it will attract readers and increase sales. The story is emotional and dramatic, which makes it a strong “human interest” story. However, the newspaper does not seem to care about how the story will affect Nancy or her family.

Yellow Journalism The film also shows examples of Yellow Journalism. Yellow Journalism focuses on shocking or dramatic stories to get attention, even if it means ignoring accuracy or ethics. A clear example in the movie is when the Gazette decides to dig up Nancy Voorhees’s past crime from ten years earlier.

Nancy had already served her punishment and rebuilt her life, but the newspaper still publishes the story just to create excitement and sell more papers. The situation becomes even more unethical when a reporter pretends to be a clergyman in order to gain the family’s trust and get information. This deception shows how far the newspaper is willing to go just to get a story.

The consequences of this decision are tragic. The intense media attention leads to the suicide of Nancy and her husband. The film shows how irresponsible journalism can cause real harm to people’s lives.

Press Barons and Power Another idea from journalism history that appears in the film is the role of press barons. Press barons were powerful newspaper owners who controlled large media companies and often focused on profit and influence.

Press Barons and Power Another idea from journalism history that appears in the film is the role of press barons. Press barons were powerful newspaper owners who controlled large media companies and often focused on profit and influence.

In the movie, the character Hinchcliffe represents this type of leader. He treats the newspaper mainly as a business and does not worry about the harm caused by the story. When Randall expresses concern about publishing the story, Hinchcliffe quickly dismisses it. This shows how the people in power at newspapers can control decisions and push reporters to focus on profit rather than ethics.

Journalism Ethics The film also raises questions about journalism ethics. Journalists have responsibilities both to the people they write about and to the people who read their work. They should try to report the truth, avoid causing unnecessary harm, and respect people’s privacy when possible.

In Five Star Final, many of the characters ignore these responsibilities. Hinchcliffe clearly does not care about the ethical side of journalism. His only goal is selling newspapers. The reporter who pretends to be a clergyman also shows unethical behavior because he lies and manipulates the family to get information.

Randall is one of the few characters who seems to think about ethics. He understands that publishing the story could hurt Nancy and her family. Throughout the movie, he appears uncomfortable with what the newspaper is doing. However, even though he recognizes the ethical problem, he still follows orders and allows the story to be published.

Were the Characters Thinking About Ethics? It seems like most of the characters were not thinking very much about the ethical questions involved in their work. Hinchcliffe clearly only cares about profit and circulation. For him, the success of the newspaper is more important than the well-being of the people involved in the story.

Randall, however, does appear to struggle with these questions. His behavior shows guilt and stress, which suggests he knows the newspaper is doing something wrong. Even though he questions the decision, he ultimately goes along with it, which shows how pressure inside a newsroom can make it difficult for journalists to stand up for ethical values.

The film shows how ignoring journalistic ethics can lead to serious consequences. It reminds us that journalists have a responsibility not only to inform the public but also to think carefully about how their reporting affects real people.

EOTO #2: The History Of Fashion Journalism

Fashion is something we see everywhere today, whether it be on social media, in magazines, or even on TV. But fashion journalism did not always exist the way it does now. It has a long history that shows how people started sharing and talking about clothing over time.

Fashion itself began to take shape during the Renaissance in Europe. Before that, clothing was mostly used to show social class. Rich people wore certain styles to show their status, while others wore simpler clothes. At first, people learned about fashion through portraits of wealthy individuals. These paintings showed what was popular, but they were not made to spread trends widely.

The real beginning of fashion journalism came with something called fashion plates. These were detailed drawings and engravings that showed the latest styles in clothing, hairstyles, and accessories. They made it easier for people to see and copy new trends. Because of this, fashion plates are often seen as the first step toward modern fashion magazines.

One of the first publications to focus on fashion was a French newspaper called The Mercure Galone. It included a special section just for fashion, which was a big change at the time. The founder, Donneau de Visé, was one of the first journalists to write about fashion trends in a way that is similar to today. This publication was also important because it was aimed at women, who had not been a main audience for newspapers before.

In the nineteenth century, printing technology improved, and magazines became more common. At the start of the 1800s, there were only a few hundred magazines, but by the end of the century, there were thousands. One early example was Gallery of Fashion in England, which ran from 1794 to 1803. It included detailed illustrations to show readers what was in style. Even though many women helped create these magazines, they were not often officially recognized as editors.

Fashion journalism was not only for women. There were also magazines made for men, such as Gentleman’s Magazine of Fashions. This shows that fashion has always been important to everyone.

In the early twentieth century, fashion magazines began to change. Instead of drawings, they started using photographs. This made fashion look more real and modern. Around the same time, more women were joining the workforce, and magazines began to reflect these changes in society.

By the 1950s, newspapers started covering fashion more regularly. Publications like the Chicago Tribune and The Buffalo News reported on seasonal trends, similar to how sports are covered. This showed that fashion was becoming an important topic in everyday news.

In the 1980s, fashion journalism expanded to television. Shows like Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood began talking about celebrity fashion. Later, entire channels focused on fashion, including FashionTV, which launched in 1997.

The biggest change came with the rise of the internet in the 1990s. Blogs and online platforms made it possible for anyone to share their opinions about fashion. People no longer needed to work for a magazine to be heard.

Today, social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter spread fashion trends quickly through photos and short posts. Fashion journalism has grown from simple drawings to a global, fast-moving industry.

Overall, fashion journalism has changed a lot over time, but its main purpose is still the same: to share ideas about style and help people stay connected to what is trending.

Disclaimer: Artificial intelligence (AI) was used in the development of this blog post solely to help organize ideas and structure the content. All writing, explanations, and final wording were created and reviewed by the author.

National Press Club

How It All Started

By: Angelina DeCosmo

On March 12, 1908, thirty-two newspapermen met at the Washington Chamber of Commerce and officially created the National Press Club. Their goal was pretty simple: they wanted a place to relax, play poker and pool, have a few drinks, and swap stories after long days of chasing news around the capital.

But this wasn’t where they wanted to stop; they had bigger ambitions. These journalists wanted to turn their profession into something respected, with standards, ethics, and a real identity. So they wrote up a mission statement promising to promote friendship among reporters, help members who were struggling, and encourage high standards in journalism.

The Club's first location was pretty modest: a second-floor room at 1205 F Street NW with only $300 in funding. Within a year, they'd upgraded above Rhodes Tavern at 15th and F Streets. The Club kept growing and moving to better locations, eventually landing in the National Press Building at 14th and F Streets in 1927, where it still operates today.

The Club chose the owl as its symbol, representing "wisdom, awareness, and nights spent working." A pretty understanding choice for journalists, especially if you've ever pulled an all-nighter for a story, you get it.

But the Club really took off when President William Howard Taft visited on New Year's Day 1910. Taft became the first sitting president to visit the Club. He traded a rosebud from his lapel to the bartender for a glass of water, a small moment that kicked off a major tradition.

After Taft broke the ice, other big names poured in. Theodore Roosevelt dropped by. Woodrow Wilson visited and famously said the Club was "the one place in town where he could relax." Even celebrities like actress Sarah Bernhardt, Charlie Chaplin, and business magnate Andrew Carnegie made appearances. By the 1920s, if you were someone important in Washington, you probably spoke at the National Press Club at some point.

So why does a club that started as a poker hangout for newspaper guys matter in 2026? Because it represents something bigger than just a place to grab drinks after work.

The National Press Club became a symbol for journalism as a real profession with real standards. It created a space where reporters could build relationships with each other and with the people they covered. Through the newsmaker luncheon series, it gave the American public direct access to world leaders explaining their decisions and answering tough questions.

Although everything has its flaws 

The National Press Club also has a complicated history with inclusion. For decades, it excluded women and African Americans, which led to the creation of alternative press clubs like the Women's National Press Club (founded in 1919) and the Capital Press Club for Black journalists (founded in 1944). The Club didn't admit its first Black member, Louis Lautier, until 1955, and didn't allow women to join until 1971. These exclusions are an important part of journalism history that remind us the profession hasn't always lived up to its ideals. But what started as thirty-two guys wanting a place to play cards has become one of the most important institutions in American journalism.

AI Disclaimer: This blog post on the history of the National Press Club was developed with the assistance of AI for information that was not found in the websites cited in the blog such as Press.org/leadership and Press.orghistoryfacts.  

 

Me In 500 Words 

Lily DeCosmo
Celebrating my acceptance into HPU with all my friends who made it possible

From Dreaming It All, To Making It Happen

By: Angelina DeCosmo

I don’t know what I want to be for sure,

Just that I want to possibly write for a fashion magazine, 

I want to be successful and have an amazing family, 

I want to travel the world and have good friends that mean the world.

I have had poems published before but all I know is for the longest time I have always loved to write. 

People have always told me I was great at it, but it really is something I love, to write about things I'm passionate about, it calms me, makes me happy, and is the only way I know how to express my true feelings. 

I have a great family but I pray to create my own someday, I am specific when it comes to jobs, I want to write but I also want to be successful enough to be able to give my family the world and more, I want to see the world, everywhere and beyond, places no one would think about going, I want to see creation. 

I grew up in Downingtown PA, a small town outside of Philly. I have an amazing family with a mom who does everything in her power to make me happy, and a dad who works harder than anyone I know to make sure that happens. My mom is a teacher, and my dad is the head of Internal Audit for his company. 

I have always believed that I am able to do anything as long as the people around me are there to pick me up when I fall. Life is hard, achieving your dream is hard, but not impossible. It is important to believe in yourself as everyone will tell you, but I wouldn't be where I am today if I did not have the army that stands behind me to pick me up each and every time.

 I guess someone that was a huge influence on me was not really one person; it was them all. It was my soccer coach every time I cried on that field, my teacher every time I failed a test, my mom every time I had a bad day, and my friends every time I felt lost. 

So yes, I suppose I wanted to be a writer for a magazine, I wanted to become a mom someday, I wanted to get married someday, I wanted to travel the world someday and keep the treasures I hold in my friendships I have always had. And I thought when you grew up your wishes and dreams turned into a past fantasy. 

Not with the people in my life, and those who stand behind me, there is no need to add the want "ed" being past tense as if it was something I once wished for and is unachievable. 

I "want" all these things and will continue to want them because who says you can't live the way you dream. 

If I can dream it all, I can make it happen