“Enervate sells products made out of paper. That might be office supplies, that might be janitorial paper — which is toilet tissue, toilet seat protectors — and local newspapers. And that is in order of quality,” explains an exasperated Ken Davies, Enervate executive, to the documentary crew before leading them on a tour of Truth Teller Tower.
For sitcom fans, the fake company “Dunder Mifflin” is a well known name from the 2005 comedy “The Office.” A new “mockumentary” style spinoff, “The Paper,” set in a newsroom, engages viewers with awkward, ironic moments, and then captivates them by asking the question, “Why should we care about newspapers?” In doing so, “The Paper” tackles head-on the dilemma of dwindling local newspapers.
“The Paper” was released on Sept. 4 and is available to stream on Peacock.
While “The Paper” offers laughable moments and fast-paced storylines, a closer look shows it reflects the steep decline of the perceived importance of journalism.
In the first episode, Dunder Mifflin has been bought by Enervate, which also owns a newspaper in Ohio, the Toledo Truth Teller. The documentary crew from “The Office” has now decided against following Dunder Mifflin on its new adventure under Enervate, instead following the Truth Teller and how one man plans to reform it.
“The Paper” centers in-over-his-head protagonist Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson), who has been hired as the Truth Teller’s new editor-in-chief. Upon arrival, Sampson is promptly trapped in an office by his new employees and soon realizes he’s bitten off slightly more than he can chew — but nothing excites the preppy editor-in-chief like a journalistic challenge. The Truth Teller, while having a history of success, had declined to nothing more than a wire agency. But when Sampson takes over he recruits the employees — from an accountant to the toilet paper sales person — to volunteer their time to become journalists, investigating stories in their town, and creating original work.
In the intro of “The Paper,” newspapers are used for everything but their intended purpose, demonstrating how the newspaper industry is on the decline. By pushing to promote newspapers, “The Paper” advocates for the importance and power that newspapers hold.
By focusing on local journalism rather than national, or even global, coverage, “The Paper” humanizes journalists. Using humor and stories of citizens reporting truths to their community, “The Paper” strives to be an advocate for the value of journalism.
Whether you’re a sitcom enthusiast or returning fan of “The Office,” “The Paper” offers a comedic spin on a slice of life. While still poking fun at journalism — “The Paper” shows the value of reporting the truth, and defends journalism in one of its darkest hours.
