Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form
Robert Fisk & Yung Chang (This Is Not a Movie)

128 | Robert Fisk & Yung Chang (This Is Not a Movie)

Posted on September 17, 2019March 21, 2024 By Sammy Younan No Comments on 128 | Robert Fisk & Yung Chang (This Is Not a Movie)

My Summer Lair Chapter #128: Is This A Documentary About Robert Fisk Or Is This A Documentary About Journalism?

“Sometimes that’s really frustrating. But if the mark was that something has to change, you would end up going insane. For me—this is going to sound clichéd and hokey—but I do believe that there’s something important about bearing witness, and that there’s nothing worse than somebody dying in silence. And so I do believe that there is value in at least learning people’s names and telling their stories.”

That’s Anderson Cooper on the Howard Stern Show on March 31, 2014.

In terms of journalism and in terms of entertainment I am not an Anderson Cooper fan however with that insightful quote he does a fantastic job summing up one of the primary roles of journalism: learn people’s names and tell their stories. It is a type of journalism that is dying but it is a type of journalism that Robert Fisk has always practiced. Which is one of the reasons why his work resonates.

So it is no surprise that he would be the subject of yet another documentary however director Yung Chang smartly broadens the discussion to include a contemporary reflection on journalism. If journalism is about learning the names and the stories Chang’s documentary through exquisite editing subtly confirms how little the actual locations change: we continue to talk about the same places over and over and over again.

And though it was not my finest moment professionally it was an honour to talk to Robert Fisk and to hear from him and about his experiences. What a treat.

Yung Chang @ W • T • F

Host & Photography by Sammy Younan

Recorded: Tuesday September 10, 2019 at 10:30 am (at The NFB)

Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter so we can have some fun…like this is not a newsletter (actually it is!)!

My Summer Lair, Podcast Tags:Directors, Documentaries, Journalism, Robert Fisk, This Is Not a Movie, TIFF - Toronto Film Festival, TIFF 2019, Yung Chang

Post navigation

Previous Post: 127 | Henry Glassie (Field Work)
Next Post: 129 | Kat Rosenfield (Stan Lee’s Alliances: A Trick of Light)

More Related Articles

Sam Wils (WingaDoos) 120 | Sam Wils (WingaDoos) My Summer Lair
Ryan North (Slaughterhouse-Five) 169 | Ryan North (Slaughterhouse-Five) My Summer Lair
057 | Jesse David Fox (Good One Podcast) My Summer Lair
Michael Dobell (Jam3) My Summer Lair 100 100 | Michael Dobell (Jam3) My Summer Lair
184 | Jamie Allan (Illusionarium) My Summer Lair
Podcast episode cover for My Summer Lair featuring filmmaker Daniel Robbins discussing with Sammy Younan his comedy movie Bad Shabbos, starring Method Man. Episode 325 shows a dinner table scene with cast members looking surprised. 325 | Daniel Robbins (Bad Shabbos) My Summer Lair

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #SetTheVCR: September 08-14, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Lots of TV Recommendations for you to Sheen this week. Like your Cable Guy, I got you hooked up with #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 01-07, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Have I Got News for You: I got TV Recommendations for you Winter Spring Summer or Fall. From the Highest 2 Lowest this is #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 25-31, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is dedicated to my Stans.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 18-24, 2024
    by Sammy Younan
    Night Always Comes and like a TV Gambler you seek bold TV Recommendations without going Eenie Meanie. Once again #SetTheVCR is here to help, always cooler than Devo.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 11-17, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    This week’s TV recommendations are all locations from The Kingdom to Magic City to Alien: Earth. When it comes to Sammy Suggestions for #MustSeeTV I’m a #SetTheVCR Rainmaker.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 04-10, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    If your Hobby is to Pickup dope TV Recommendations like an American Prince this week's #SetTheVCR is funner than a Clown in a Cornfield.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 28 – August 03, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    From a Red Eye to Area 51 this week’s TV Recommendations will make you put up your Twisted Metal. I dunno what that means, either, though I do know it’s #SetTheVCR time.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 21-27, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    OPEN Happy Gilmore 2 is the TV Pick. TEXT This week’s TV Recommendations range from a Holy War to a Code of Silence. And Happy Gilmore is back…with a (golf) range like that it can only be #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 14-20, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Welcome To The Summer I Turned on The TV enjoying an Apocalypse and many Home Runs. With these recommendations #SetTheVCR is for TV Rif Raf and Amateurs.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 7-13, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    #SetTheVCR is your Institute for TV Recommendations: from Trainwrecks to Jaws I drop it like it's hot!
  • Morning Tea: Happy UFO Day 2025!July 2, 2025
    What's popping in popular culture? My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan steeps some seriously serious tea which prompts reflections.
  • Trial By Trailer: The Running Man (A Remake…)July 1, 2025
    Trail By Trailer is judging a book by its cover or in this case...a movie by its trailer. Are you 100% IN or is it a Hard Pass?
  • #CouchWorthy: Barbara Walters: Tell Me EverythingJune 22, 2025
    Exploring the pioneering career of Barbara Walters. Delving into her influential role in broadcast journalism and the challenges women face in achieving success.
  • #CouchWorthy: Bono: Stories of SurrenderMay 29, 2025
    Bono: Stories of Surrender is a vivid reimagining of his one-man stage show Stories of Surrender now streaming on Apple TV.
  • #CouchWorthy: Super Team CanadaMay 16, 2025
    Super Team Canada follows six lesser known and underrated Canadian superheroes, tasked with saving the world.
  • #CouchWorthy: Murderbot: Season 1 May 15, 2025
    Murderbot a private security cyborg hides its acquired autonomy, while completing dangerous assignments is simultaneously drawn to humans.

  • Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    Under-Review: Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    by Sammy Younan
    My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan reviews Batman - Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: OvertureL Volume 1,
  • New Book Alert: California Bear
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Music Was Just Getting Good
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Ascent
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: Fantastic Four by Ryan North Volume 2
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?

Copyright © 2025 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme