giving back
B y D r. J o s h u a S h e r m a n
The Power of Journalism
A SCREENING OF THE ACADEMY AWARD ®-WINNING FILM SPOTLIGHT ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, FOLLOWED BY A TALKBACK WITH MARTY BARON, SERVES AS A FUNDRAISER FOR THREE WORTHY CAUSES.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, Marty Baron, the newly appointed editor of The Boston Globe, launched an investigation into the cover-up of serial sexual abuse by priests within the Boston Archdiocese. The team of journalists ultimately won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for their work.
Ten years ago, on February 28, 2016, the film Spotlight, based on The Boston Globe’ s investigation, won Academy Awards ® for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
Just prior to that victory, Marty Baron( by then, editor of The Washington Post) wrote a first-person editorial about the film. The title of the piece?
I’ m in‘ Spotlight’, but it’ s not really about me. It’ s about the power of journalism.
GREGORY CHERIN
In the article, Baron, of course, discusses Liev Schreiber’ s portrayal of him. With his dry humor intact, Baron admits being depicted accurately as a“ stoic, humorless, somewhat dour character.” He also shares his gratitude“ to everyone who made a film that captures, with uncanny authenticity, how journalism is practiced and, with understated force, why it’ s needed.”
When Baron and his real-life team of journalists received a standing ovation at The Toronto Film Festival, Baron admitted,“ It was an emotional moment. I thought about the long-ago work that led to the movie, and how its impact would now be magnified. I thought about how the public might now see why journalism is necessary.”
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the investigation’ s launch— and on the 10th anniversary year of its OSCAR ® win— Berkshire Magazine invites you to a special screening of the film, followed by a talkback with Baron.
Join us and find out why honest journalism still matters in 2026. n
ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT TICKETS & INFO: thetriplex. org
90 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Fall 2026