Ep 6. Night of Living News

Murphy Brown Season 5 Episode 6, titled "Night of Living News," is a comedic and satirical commentary on the fast-paced, ruthless world of journalism. The episode begins with a power outage at FYI, the fictional news program that Murphy Brown (played by Candice Bergen) anchors. The crew is left in darkness, but the show must go on, and they quickly improvise with a flashlight and some candles.

As the team scrambles to make do with what they have, they receive a string of news alerts on their cellphones, all of them related to a high-profile event, which demands their immediate attention. The reporters at FYI decide to forego their normal approach of fact-checking and verifying information, opting instead to deliver breaking news in real-time, no matter what the cost. In the process, they dispense with even basic standards of professionalism and ethical reporting.

Meanwhile, Murphy is still grieving the recent loss of her friend and mentor, a journalist named Leland Banks. She is struggling to come to terms with the fact that her friend’s death might have been the result of unethical reporting practices. As the team frantically churn out news stories on the latest development, Murphy becomes increasingly despondent and frustrated with the sensationalism of the coverage.

As the episode progresses, the journalistic ethics of the team continue to erode. They disregard facts, sensationalize headlines, and play up tragic events for the sake of ratings and clicks. While there are moments of levity and humor, the overall tone is critical of the news media’s prioritization of entertainment and spectacle over responsible and informed journalism.

“Night of Living News” exposes the ways in which the corporate culture of media has transformed journalistic values and practices. It demonstrates how the race to get more clicks, views, and shares has caused a shift in focus - from informing the public to entertaining them. The episode also delves into how such practices can have serious consequences for individuals and society at large.

Murphy and her team are presented as a microcosm of a larger trend - one that is more interested in hype, sensationalism, and profit at the expense of truth and accountability. The episode leaves viewers with a sense of urgency to question their own consumption of news and to demand better from news outlets. The themes explored in this episode are still relevant today, making it a timeless commentary on the state of modern journalism and the state of our society.