AllMovie

Documentary filmmaker Aaron Matthews offers an insider's perspective on one of the most distinguished college newspapers in the country with this emotionally charged, cinema-verité-style look at a year in the life of the Penn State Daily Collegian. Viewers are invited to take a fly-on-the-wall look at a newspaper that is produced entirely by undergraduate students - from the story assignments and the writing to the editing, press supervision, and circulation. Over the course of this year, the stress of remaining topical and fresh on a daily basis weighs heavy on the entire staff as campus politics and university bureaucracy make the prospect of penning a compelling story much more difficult than one might imagine. From the administration's attempts to maintain a favorable public image to race relations, GLBT rights, and the creative attempts by a female sports reporter to bypass the wranglers who surround the star football players and get her big scoop, maintaining such an esteemed reputation doesn't come without it's fair share of heartache and hard work. While the rewards can be great for those who possess the constitution, there's no question that the stress of the job can take it's tool on even the most ambitious of college journalists.