Rory Gilmore is not a good journalist
This post *now* contains spoilers about Netflix's Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
LOS ANGELES -- In the new series Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Rory Gilmore seems at a crossroads with her career.
She had just been freelancing around the globe (specifically London), and now she's back in Stars Hollow soul searching.
For some, it may be hard to see why Rory didn't make it big in the journalism world.
You May Also Like
Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino said in a recent interview she wishes people were less obsessed with which boyfriend Rory ends up with and more with her career path.
"It’s just such a small part of who Rory is," she told TIME. "I don’t see people debating 'Did she win a Pulitzer yet?'"
But if you're a journalist in 2016, you know exactly why Rory has yet to be on a Pulitzer-winning team. You also probably know exactly why Rory isn't a successful full-time journalist: There's never been much evidence that she's any good at it.
Like any good journalists, let's go straight to the evidence.
1. She didn't know what The Franklin was
The first day at a new school can be overwhelming. But seemingly, aspiring journalist Rory Gilmore didn't really do her research about Chilton's journalism extracurriculars (which feels out of character with her over-planning, always-wanted-to-be-a-journalist ways).
"Are you going out for The Franklin?" Paris Geller (Liza Weil), high school enemy asks in the hallway.
"The what?" Rory responds.
"The school paper, are you going out for it?" an already annoyed Paris replies.
"I don't know, I have to find my locker first."
Come on Rory: You're an overachiever. Do your homework and look up the school's paper ahead of time.
2. She doesn't respect conflict of interest
In Season 5, when Rory is at Yale, she follows her journalistic instincts after seeing a girl in a plastic gorilla mask mysteriously go in a fancy black SUV and declare a phrase in Latin.
She googled the phrase and finds it linked to a secret Yale society, one which her flirtatious classmate Logan happens to be part of. He offers to help.
That's all fine ethically ... until she finds herself participating in the group's main stunt.
"You jump, I jump, Jack," she says to Logan.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST JOURNALISM NO-NO.
Unless Rory was intending on writing a first person account, she should not have participated. And if she was writing a first-person account, she should have put a "full disclosure" on the top noting how she ended up going to this secret society event (without outing Logan as her source, of course).
Secondly, she should not have GONE ON to date Logan, HER MAIN SOURCE for this story.
Respect conflict of interest Rory. RESPECT IT.
3. She let one powerful man's opinion bring her down
A main journalism rule is "trust, but verify." In Season 5, Rory lands an internship thanks to Logan's dad Mitchum Huntzberger, who is a newspaper conglomerate CEO.
I'm not hating on the nepotism because that happens across all industries on a regular basis. I am hating on how Rory handles the internship.
During her performance review, Mitchum tells Rory she doesn't have what it takes to be a journalist.
Fairly, Rory gets upset. This is not an easy thing for any young, aspiring journalist to hear.
But stupidly, instead of doubling down and proving everyone wrong -- or verifying ONE MAN'S OPINION with a few other people -- Rory takes Mitchum's words as gospel and decides her best option is to drop out of Yale and live with her grandparents. Oh, and worst of all: She stops talking to Lorelai.
A fellow friend in journalism provided a valid counterargument: Rory eventually did everything in her power to get her job back.
True, but Rory took way too long to wallow. Don't let the patriarchy get you down.
4. She didn't earn the editor-in-chief role
The first Yale Daily News editor-in-chief we meet is beloved Doyle (Danny Strong), the editor who stole Paris' heart and became a fan favorite of the show.
Then, in Season 6, came Paris -- who as we all know is a born leader.
But the young student journalists couldn't handle Paris' tough love.
Many of the staff members quit and ousted her as editor when she had a breakdown.
They then elected Rory, who at this point is Paris' BFF and roommate, as their new leader.
On one hand, sure, it's great that Rory got the opportunity. But it's also a telling bit that once again, Rory really didn't seem to try too hard for something that many people would kill for.
5. She failed to network with Christiane Amanpour
Rory's No. 1 idol is Christiane Amanpour (we have this in common). She even tells the principal of Chilton that she wants to be Amanpour when she grows up.
Fast forward to the Season 7 finale and everything has come full circle. The end of the series is near (until, you know, Netflix) and Lorelai tells Rory that Amanpour is staying at the Dragonfly Inn.
Amanpour is the COOLEST (obviously). But Rory has no chill.
"I just think you are so inspiring, your reporting is so bold and moving and fascinating," she says. "I know you've won nine Emmys but I just don't think that's enough, not that you care about that kind of thing, but I just want to say thank you."
Amanpour says "thank you," and compliments her on her being editor of the Yale paper.
She asks Rory if she's interested in print or broadcast, "CNN maybe?"
Instead of saying "I love CNN please get me a job" (or you know, a better iteration of that), Rory says: "Oh I'd love to work for a major daily ... any one that will take me."
Amanpour says "that's the spirit," and gives Rory her card.
"Stay in touch."
DID RORY STAY IN TOUCH? CLEARLY NOT.
I should note that I, too, met Amanpour and it was the best day of my life. She did not, however, give me her card.
6. She turns down a real job while waiting for a fellowship
Rory got a firm offer from the Providence Journal Bulletin, but she turned it down because she was waiting to hear about the New York Times fellowship.
Full disclosure: My first job post-grad was a fellowship. And I did wait to find out if I got it before accepting any job offers.
Still, it's not the smartest idea because spoiler alert: The Grey Lady rejected her.
Eventually, in the series finale, she finds out she got her first job offer: Covering then-Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign for an online publication, a truly incredible opportunity that I sort of suspect she will fail at.
Now what?
As the trailer suggests, Rory didn't make it to the White House with Obama.
Netflix recently released images where we see Rory in a classroom. Hmmm.
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life streams on Netflix Nov. 25.
UPDATE: After watching the revival, it's clear: Rory is still a bad journalist.
She doesn't get how freelancing works. Just because you had a few great stories published (yeah yeah The New Yorker, Atlantic and Slate we get it), doesn't mean you get things just handed to you.
Yes, Condé Nast is going to keep rescheduling that meeting, Rory. Editors are busy. APPLY TO OTHER JOBS.
When Rory finally does decide to tackle an assignment for GQ, she falls asleep while interviewing someone.
She also then decides to sleep with a source (the WOOKIE in line). Never chill.
On that same note, she did a pretty horrible job overall reporting on the lines story. We never see her actually write it or follow up with Condé Nast.
She decides she's better than Sandee Says, the up and coming web platform that is trying to poach her. But when she sucks it up to go in for a meeting, she doesn't come prepared with ANY pitches. She also knows nothing about the website. She proceeds to get ANGRY at Sandee for suggesting she have pitches ready. IS THIS A JOKE?
In "Summer," she is very upset the Stars Hollow Gazette is shuttering, and yet she had NEVER written for it before in her YEARS of living there.
She's never met any of the people that worked there, either. These people could have been journalism greats or people who could have least written her letters of recommendation!
Topics Netflix
Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
