Absence of Malice

I felt that Absence of Malice was a very interesting move. From a journalistic viewpoint, the main character played by Sally Fields, is a bad reporter. First off, she did not find out any background information on Michael Gallagher. Secondly, she did not check with multiple sources on the information she did receive. She usually only spoke with one person and wrote her story based on the information she received from that source. Also, when first "receiving" information, she was wrong to use it. She took files that were left on the detective's desk and used that information to write a one sided story putting all the blame on Michael Gallagher's character. She was also very unprofessional in going about her work. She went out on dates with Gallagher and shared alcoholic drinks with him to try to get more information. This is not a wise professional move.

Another problem with Fields' character is when she decided to publish the story on Gallagher's friend who received an abortion. The friend asked if she would not publish what she was telling Fields. However, Fields refused to comply with her and pried the information out of her. Basically, the friend was trying to speak off the record but did not know how to mention that to Fields. Fields did not tell her that she could speak off the record and it would not be in the paper but decided to get the information just so she could write a story. She was very unprofessional and put her job in front of the belief's of this woman.

Sally Fields may have been a good reporter but she made a ton of mistakes. She committed mistake after mistake and each resulted in a terrible consequence. In the end, she and everyone else all got what they deserved when Michael Gallagher set each one of them up. It was a lesson that she needed to learn and she found out the hard way.