The Paper

The last independent newsroom in the country is taken over by a construction magnate for the reasons that have nothing to do with love or respect for journalism.

The Paper (2016-2020) is a Croatian national-television political drama series created for HRT 1, produced by Drugi plan and originally aired under the title Novine. Set in contemporary Croatia, it follows the staff of the last independent newsroom in the country after a construction magnate takes control of the paper for reasons that have little to do with love or respect for journalism. Dijana Mitrović (Branka Katić) sits at the center of the newsroom, while Mario Kardum (Aleksandar Cvjetković) and Martin Vidov (Zijad Gračić) represent the reporters and editors caught between their principles and the new owner's demands. The engine of the show is the daily negotiation over which stories run, which get buried, and what a journalist can afford to say when a livelihood depends on the answer. Its three seasons, totaling thirty-four episodes, unfold as one continuing story rather than a case-of-the-week format, with each episode built from editorial meetings, late-night deadlines, and confrontations over headlines. The tone is sober and tense, with a restrained atmosphere of compromise and quiet resistance. Themes of press independence, ethics under financial pressure, and loyalty within a newsroom run throughout. Viewers who enjoy the newsroom politics of The Newsroom and the power games of House of Cards will find resonance here.

• The Newsroomshared newsroom setting and press-versus-power tension in a serialized political drama
• House of Cardsshared corporate and political pressure on an institution's integrity, serialized drama
• Scandalshared media-industry drama about journalism compromised by money and power

Release Date

2016-10-16

Episode runtime

50 min

Rating

8.0 / 10 (10)

What is The Paper about?

When a construction magnate takes over the last independent newsroom in Croatia, its journalists must defend their integrity against a owner who cares nothing for the craft.

What is The Paper like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Paper as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.

Is The Paper violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Paper.

Which shows are like The Paper?

Shows with a similar feel include The Newsroom, House of Cards, and Scandal.

How long is The Paper?

The Paper: 3 seasons, 34 episodes.

Is The Paper still running?

Yes, The Paper is still running.