A full room of professors, journalists, students and Marty Baron fans are waiting for the 17th Annual Kesterton: Spotlight On Journalism to begin. Twenty minutes until scheduled start.
Susan Harada (@SHarada3) opens the event with Spotlight's trailer. Allan Thompson (@ElectAllanT) introduces Marty and Robyn.
Baron says the move to the Globe was tough. Not knowing anyone in the office or city.
"It was a tense time for everyone. For me it was kind of a lonely time."
"I didn't decide to go after the Catholic Church, I decided to write a story."
"It was a journalistic impulse," says Baron on the investigation of the Church.
Baron read half a dozen books on Boston before his move. Says he was aware of the power and place the Church held in the city.
Baron speaks of his meeting with the Cardinal. Both fully aware of what was going on. Baron says he didn't want to bring up the investigation.
Says he admires people who we able to still keep their faith and instead were angry with the individuals involved.
"It emboldened a lot of news agencies around the world to do the same kind of work."
Baron addresses the difficulties and weak approach the Church took following the publishings.
Says Church is still to do anything other than hold discussion.
Bresnahan brings up audience reactions. Baron says the film's reception in Rome was the warmest reception they had received throughout the promotion process.
"I think we have the capacity in our news agencies. Our readers expect this of us."
RB: "Is investigative journalism just big papers?"
MB: "I don't think so. It's a matter of will."
"I'm a realist. I think realism should cause us to reflect on what our readers want from us. We know that people aren't going to be happy with us all the time. Ultimately, I think
people want us to tell the truth."
Baron says how Spotlight Team has grown to six people since investment in investigative journalism.
Of all things.."resting b*tch face" has become a topic of discussion.
"I hope I don't have that," says Baron as he jokes with Bresnahan.
Bresnahan asks about new media.
Baron says it's reality and that the numbers on online readers show where everyone is.
"In order to succeed we have to learn some new things."
"It doesn't mean we have to give up our principles. But we have to understand how communications work today."
RB: "Who is your competition?"
Baron lists Facebook, Google, Twitter and other platforms that can sell ads and profile their users. Says they suck up a lot of advertisers and readers.
Bresnahan brings up journalism job cuts.
"There is no one thing that will save newspapers," says Baron.
"We're always looking for the moonshot that will get us to our goal. We need to try a lot of different things."
"I suggest we stop looking for the moonshot."
Crowd erupts in applause as Bresnahan thanks Baron for the conversation. Floor opens up to those in attendance.
Question: "Is there an investigative story you started and never saw the light of day."
Baron says they invested a lot into an election story but eventually had to drop it based on inaccuracy.
Says he can't say what it was..
Question on the film and romanticizing investigations.
Baron says he hopes it showed all the hard work as opposed to just the end result.
Hope that Spotlight causes people to rededicate themselves and shows other the value of investigative journalism.
"There was a lot I learned from this movie," says Baron. Spotlight gave him the chance to go back and see how everything unfolded.
Question on finding more "Snowden" types.
"We will find out. At some point there will be somebody else, but they might not have the same impact."
