Panelists Eugene Jarecki (L), Rory Kennedy, Jessica Sanders, and Charles Lewis spoke with Scholastic Student Reporters Jamie Sanders, Wai Kee Chang, and Kamay Jin. (Photo: Carrie Kreiswirth)

When people sit down to watch the news at night, they usually assume that they're hearing the truth. The panelists at the "Doc at Tribeca: Where We get Our News . . . Now" panel at the Tribeca Film Festival warned everyone to watch the news with a critical eye. The panel discussion focused on the quality of news today and the growing importance of documentary filmmaking.

The panelists were award-winning documentary filmmakers Eugene Jarecki, Rory Kennedy, and Jessica Sanders, as well as journalist Charles Lewis. The group began by sharing with the audience about how they got started in their field. Most of the group shared similar stories.

"I came to documentaries out of the interest of making an impact," said Rory Kennedy. "It's an important medium to inform people."

Truth and fairness were the topics of the day. All of the panelists agreed that news organizations have lost sight of what it means to be fair and honest. They said that today's news networks are more concerned with making money than with actually telling the truth.

"I think there's a serious problem with the news," said Charles Lewis. "It's understood that [news] is a profession and industry that has lost its soul."

Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki expressed his agreement with Lewis. "We face a definite media crisis," Jarecki said. "Job security, success, and aspirations [of reporters] are pitted against the truth."

If you are looking for the truth, the panelists reminded the audience, don't forget that the television is not the only place to hear the news. Documentary films have become an important source of getting the news out to people.

When the panel began to take questions from the audience, Scholastic Student Reporter Jamie Sanders asked the panelists what kind of advice they could offer to the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.

"Somebody's got to repair this," said Jarecki. "Pursue the truth. Stay committed to staying behind what seems right to you."