Is the 'NYT' Media Desk HBO-Bound?

The New York Times' media desk has become the focus of a possibly HBO-bound film from documentary filmmaker Andrew Rossi.

Rossi, who has produced and directed documentaries such as “Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven” and “Eat This New York,” told the New York Observer that he wanted to take a cinematic look at the Times’ media team because, “Reporting on a lot of bad news must have a sort of negative psychic effect. It makes what these writers are doing now that much more emotionally heart-wrenching.”

Rossi originally intended to follow just media columnist David Carr, but after Carr became uncomfortable with the solo focus, he suggested that Rossi document the experiences of the entire media desk. After gaining approval from Executive Editor Bill Keller, he began trailing the every move of television and digital media reporter Brian Stelter last week and plans to film the entire desk over the course of the next few months.

While the specifics on the documentary aren't available yet, Rossi does currently have a development deal with HBO and told the media desk that the network had expressed interest in the project. However, he cautioned that the project is still not fully developed and could end up not going through
as planned. -- Elaine WIlliams