"The Wire" creator David Simon: Journalists & the Public Squ

USC Law hosted a discussion with David Simon, creator and executive producer of the highly acclaimed HBO series "The Wire," and USC Annenberg Knight Chair in Media and Religion Diane Winston. The event was cosponsored by USC Law and USC Annenberg.
For more info, please visit law.usc.edu/.

[@stan00ca]

Now, I know why The Wire is the greatest show ever created - just listen to the genius of this guy.

[@abunigel13]

I've watched the whole series three times now. It's just keeps revealing more and more each viewing.

[@TribuneAquila]

2nd watch:rawls is gay 3rd watch:johnny 50 became homeless 4th watch:kimmy was killed by friendly fire

[@Anand-vx2xx]

@@TribuneAquila wtf i got all of that from the first watch?!

[@teiwaztim1482]

in season 1 [ep4 i think, but its more than once] chris partlow is in full police uniform and appears to be working, taking notes during deposition. it goes a long way in explaining his methods, but it sort of doesn't add up. on and on...

[@FrogmortonHotchkiss]

That was excellent. Must look out for Paths of Glory now!

[@Jamaleum]

6:27 for David Simon

[@KorrectErra]

David Simon is a genius. He has broken the boundaries of Television. "The Sopranos" was a great show, very poetical. However "The Wire" cleverly depicts a certain realism which has never been so portrayed so unbiasedly and fair. To me David Simon is more than a "writer" or a "journalist". He is a humanist and dare I say it a socialist(Back off conservatives, lol). Above all he is a great speaker and I hope due to his position of power he can pass the baton to new upcoming talent.

[@montuae]

Brilliant person with a straight cut thought process..Very inspirational.

[@Fish_Mans]

High ghg

[@Fish_Mans]

High ghg

[@Fish_Mans]

Ghgggggg

[@Fish_Mans]

Ghg ghgggggg. He. Gh. Ghg

[@htownhomie06]

yeah, this is definitely worth the time it takes to listen. it's been 2.5 yrs since the wire went off the air, but i've LOVE to participate in this kind've lecture/Q&A session. issues of crime, poverty and race haven't been solved yet.

[@gsian187]

At first I was thinking dam, 1hour22mins, thats long. But I watched the whole thing and thoroughly enjoyed so if you're thinking if you should or shouldn't, you should.

[@geekboy328]

So eerily relevant in 2020

[@LOLdongs510]

Thanks for this.

[@no9254me]

Love the show, and figured only a person like simon could make it. Bravo, hbo give this man more chances

[@joanitaylor]

The wire. My all time favorite!

[@CsquaredP78]

What do you think about his opinion from experience and the points he is making? Political views don't negate or validate the points he's made. He's speaking to his experience and is drawing from the experiences of his peers.

[@vidfreak56]

I never said he did speak against capatilism. Ive heard him speak in its defense many times. I agree that it should be regulated so that its effect doesnt marginalize some over the rest of us, (as far as social programs go, thats another story). He certianly earned every penny he's made.

[@Demeralda]

Don't be sad when it ends, I think you'll want to watch it over and over again. Each viewing reveals just how complex the show's world construct is. Characters pop up in places you didn't notice on first viewing, motives are more evident. The show does feel tragic, and I notice he uses a phrase often heard in the show: "The game is rigged." Another brilliant mind dismissed by a daily newspaper. Gosh, thanks Sun, we appreciate him if you don't.

[@TELaz1122]

Dude's a genius and should be president

[@Strand0410]

Hell, I'm an Australian and I'd vote this guy for Prime Minister (or President!) if he went for it. He's someone who knows what he talks about, doesn't juke the stats and is under no delusion as to the state of American industry and society (and by extension, much of the industrialised world)

[@nativesun7661]

Brilliant Stuff!

[@kfmaster0]

Simon's has a point when he says that "the other America has a show". As much as I love his interviews and I loooove the Wire, I'm shocked to realize that we never ever hear that kind of remarks.

[@mister9a]

when was this lecture given?

[@patoagada]

i love the wire

[@Strand0410]

@DarkShroom Maybe they'll go back to it in a few years. But the end of The Wire was goddamn heart-breaking. It went full circle. Michael's turning into Omar, Dukie's turning into Bubbles, Randy fell through the cracks. I love how Simon knows that a happy ending isn't necessary to telling a great story, but any 'sequel' to The Wire is going to be depressing as hell.

[@kfmaster0]

Yeah at first I was so excited to put the show in its own category but at the same time it was the most depressing thing ever.

[@Timzack]

Fight on!

[@illiteratethug3305]

Cheese is Randy's father? Holy fuck

[@LankanLatino]

speaking of Journalism. way to bury the lead on this video holy crap

[@1995yuda]

@@LankanLatino lmfao🤣

[@rch777]

that was cool...........

[@FrogmortonHotchkiss]

@TQmatt Recently did - you're right. I see the Greek tragedy in the show at least as much though.

[@MaarthyL]

Je radost tohohle pána poslouchat.

[@Defteats]

@mcfarlin505 Yep. It was a storyline that never happened, but Cheese is Randy's father.

[@themanwnoname3454]

2020(G) “Respect and dignity.” Furthermore:

[@colmhall]

You guys are great fun. Why did you stop bickering so soon? I was just getting into it.

[@CuttySobz]

BOOOOOORIIIING AF

[@TQmatt]

@FrogmortonHotchkiss Do so. It is a masterpiece, and you'll see The Wire's inspiration.

[@BigBayBear]

Interview with David Simon where he connects Randy and Cheese wagstaff as Father and Son

[@saintdenis11]

David owns that girl that talks about blogging at 55:40 -56:36. She was talking about how reports don't own the story just the presentation, therefore blogger can write whatever they want. He put her and all bloggers in their place.

[@tylerdurden1803]

david simon for president

[@andrehendrik]

@davyjames interesting point - I hadn't heard about that . . . if it's true I share your disappointment . . . though I imagine David emphasized the importance of news outlets that offer quality journalism. Thing is, I don't think major newspapers qualify for that title . . . maybe he emphasized local news

[@compactdisk2]

@DarkShroom It should also be noted, that while the internet is wonderful in a lot of ways, it also allows a lot of people who are ignorant, uneducated, or just plain badly informed to speak with authority, and be treated as credible sources of information. The internet is filled with ludicrous misconceptions about science and politics, and completely stupid conspiracy theories. I constantly see young people who are supposedly being well educated believing some of the dumbest shit around.

[@TheYungen10]

MORE WIRED DA WORLD LOVED IT COME ON

[@vidfreak56]

BTW the person to which my original post was in reply to was AliKhaderKhan. I suggest you find the original thread of his/her before you continue this argument because you clearly dont understand. I believe that all the listed posts were marked as spam somewhere.

[@mskcouric]

He most certainly is a socialist. Look at his depiction of state-funded outreach programs in Season 3. And when it comes to our responsibility to help alleviate human suffering at the bottom rungs of our socioeconomic ladder, he was right. And still is.

[@crazybeff]

Congratulations on getting the MacArthur Grant!

[@FrogmortonHotchkiss]

Seriously, you should flag *SPOILERS* prominently on this vid somewhere.

[@positivevibesandmorelife7307]

1:04:00 best part randy becomes the new marlo

[@vidfreak56]

Are you joking? You do know you are replying to a post that was placed over a month ago right? And that comment was in response to an argument that I was having w/ someone else. What does that have to do with you?

[@DavosJamos]

I was disappointed to see David Simon testifying to congress about the decline of newspapers or something. I wouldn't have thought somebody who'd written the wire would think that politics was anything more than completely morally bankrupt. The idea he'd want those same people legislating newspapers shocked me.

[@Monscent]

@DarkShroom f*k that back in the day shit, right? In a way, I agree. I know many like to glorify the old school of press rooms and newspapers, but I really wonder how biased they were and how correct their reporting actually was..

[@JackMoranRain]

@AnotherMasterMind Same last name. Plus there's something in the smile if you ask me ;p.

[@ditlo-km3dj]

42;31 on>

[@DarkShroom]

wow what a smart chap, but regarding the doom and gloom of the media being dead, i do not agree. I am glad the media is being killed by the internet, i don't think they ever trancended bias. Maybe yes for older people there was a golden age of jouranlism that I wasn't born in but seriously, i'm sitting here watching this on the internet! my generation will solve and create it's own share of problems, very little changes, they said it at the end of season 5, there aint no good ol days

[@Toftdal]

@StrangeLoopGames SPOILER!!!

[@compactdisk2]

@DarkShroom (The internet is a form of media, so saying the internet is killing media makes no sense.)

[@choiboyx012]

he's pretty liberal. he admitted his left-leaning political/social views in one of the episode's commentaries.

[@1995yuda]

Yes. It's a damn shame. Still a great show, though.

[@vidfreak56]

You werent meant to get "into it" since that conversation didnt involve you. You should learn to see arguments and leave them to the arguers.

[@Wobbothe3rd]

He's specifically sais that his political leanings are "mostly to the left of the Democratic party"

[@vidfreak56]

RoFL you really dont get it do you. You think being a hypocrit is a bad thing. Now no, its generally not an achievment that most people aim for, but that doesnt mean they cant become one. We all are hypocrits more or less. Its simply a matter of how much one wants to admit that fact. David is somewhat of a hypocrit when he criticizes the system but shares in its exclusive benefits. Thats the nature of the beast. Im not blaming him, rather im defending him. Read the spam post - next page.

[@Mdriver1981]

There are many advantages to internet news. Many internet journalist DO go to locations such as zoning meetings and war zones. A lot of news sites are free, but free only on money- they are paid for by sponsors/advertisers. I see internet news as an opportunity for journalist, not as a disadvantage. Simon harks to a time that does not exist. He talks about how the integrity of journalist is declining rapidly... I would ask Simon to read old archives of newspapers from the 1940s and before.

[@vidfreak56]

I havent seen the show, but his benefit from capitalism is a side effect of the success of the show. With the 300+ shows on TV, on a multitude of networks, luck plays a role. And capitalism doesnt benefit a nation, it benefits a person (namely the few that are lucky enough to make a success out of it). Capitalism demands that we minimize and marginalize those that arent of use to it. Im sure David understands hes somewhat of a hypocrite, believe me.

[@biglebufski]

To Ajay and others below, is it not better to engage with the content of what he is saying, rather than to start taking aim at wherever his political stance might be? Also, just for information, left of the Democratic Party is still pretty far right in most of the rest of the world. Alternatively, label him a liberal, dismiss the show and then relax cause everything is ok in America after all.

[@DavosJamos]

It's a shame Simon doesn't seem to understand economics, or why the economy gets worse. He seems to be confusing capitalism with people losing jobs which isn't how it works. When he says people are "worth less" it isn't really true, except possibly in the worst of the inner cities where politics has destroyed everything. In actual terms humans are worth more in terms of the assets we hold. A poor person today has a tv, a microwave, often a car, 100 years ago they'd be strugling for food.

[@1995yuda]

It's been 12 years, but you are absolutely right.