A documentary titled Steal This Story, Please! examines the professional philosophy and career of Amy Goodman, a 69-year-old journalist who has spent four decades pursuing independent news coverage. Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmakers Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, the film explores Goodman’s approach to journalism and her founding of Democracy Now!, an hour-long daily news broadcast funded by viewer donations that airs online and on public stations across the US, Canada, and internationally.
Goodman’s core editorial principle centers on avoiding conflicts of interest inherent in mainstream media structures. Democracy Now! accepts no advertising, sponsorship, or government grants, allowing the organization to cover contentious topics without financial pressure from interested parties. When reporting on warfare, the organization operates independently of weapons manufacturers; when covering environmental issues, it remains free from oil, gas, and coal industry influence. Goodman emphasizes the importance of covering stories that major news networks overlook and of centering voices from communities directly affected by events rather than focusing exclusively on official perspectives.
The documentary traces Goodman’s career from the 1980s through her work with co-host Juan González. A central narrative involves the 1991 Santa Cruz cemetery massacre in East Timor, during which Goodman and fellow journalist Allan Nairn witnessed Indonesian military forces open fire on protesters. Both journalists were attacked and beaten, with Nairn sustaining serious head injuries. Though their equipment was confiscated, they escaped the country and reported their account to international media, contributing to eventual international pressure that led to a 1999 independence referendum. Timor-Leste subsequently became an independent nation in 2002.
Democracy Now! recently marked 30 years of operation with an event at Riverside Church in New York, where activists and musicians including Angela Davis, Michael Stipe, Patti Smith, and Bruce Springsteen participated. The organization continues operating as a counterpoint to what Goodman describes as the consolidation of American news media through successive mergers. Goodman’s stated philosophy rejects the concept of exclusive reporting, instead advocating that significant stories be shared globally to maximize public understanding.
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