Journalists of The Wire

"The Wire" is a fictional television drama series produced by the Home Box Office network. The fifth season of the show included a focus on the media and in particular a fictionalized version of "The Baltimore Sun". The series introduced many new characters who were professional journalists.

Editorial staff

Rebecca Corbett

*Played by: Kara Quick
*Appears in: :Season five: "More With Less", "Unconfirmed Reports", "Not for Attribution" (uncredited), "Took", and "–30–."Rebecca Corbett is the paper's Regional Affairs Desk Editor.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/rebecca_corbett.shtml|title=Character profile - Rebecca Corbett|accessdate=2008-02-12|publisher=HBO|year=2008]

She is named after real-life former "Baltimore Sun" editor Rebecca Corbett.cite web|title=Stealing Life: The crusader behind “The Wire”|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/10/22/071022fa_fact_talbot|author=Talbot, Margaret|publisher="The New Yorker"|date=2007-10-22|accessdate=2008-02-17]

Augustus Haynes

Augustus Haynes is the city desk editor for the paper and is a principled but unrefined presence in the newsroom. Haynes is played by Clark Johnson.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/augustus_haynes.shtml|title=Character profile - City Editor Augustus "Gus" Haynes|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008]

James Whiting

*Played by: Sam Freed
*Appears in: :Season five: "More With Less", "Unconfirmed Reports", "Not for Attribution", "Transitions", "React Quotes", "The Dickensian Aspect", "Took", "Late Editions", and "–30–."James Whiting is the paper's executive editor and is responsible for guiding the paper's reporting. He has ambitions of winning a Pulitzer prize for his paper and his fascination with the Dickensian leaves him often out-of-touch with the problems facing the city.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/james_whiting.shtml|title=Character profile - Executive Editor James Whiting|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008] His managing editor is a colleague from their days working in Philadelphia, Thomas Klebanow. Klebanow handles the day to day running of the paper and the handling of cut backs from the papers owners.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/thomas_klebanow.shtml|title=Character profile - Managing Editor Thomas Klebanow|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008] He is interested in pursuing stories that stir emotion in the reader over those that examine the context and roots of social problems facing the city. Whiting values his network of connections in the industry, and used his authority to prevent the paper from publishing a negative story about racism at the University of Maryland to protect his old friend Gene Robbins, the dean of journalism.cite episode
title = More with Less
episodelink = More with Less
series = The Wire
serieslink = The Wire (TV series)
credits = Joe Chappelle
writers = David Simon (story and teleplay), Ed Burns (story)
network = HBO
station =
city =
airdate = 2008-01-06
season = 5
number = 1] Whiting is based on former "Baltimore Sun" editor John Carroll. [http://www.stoopstorytelling.com/shows/19/storytellers/169 David Simon at My Nemesis (Stoop Storytelling Series) ] ]

Thomas Klebanow

*Played by: David Costabile
*Appears in: :Season five: "More With Less", "Unconfirmed Reports", "Not for Attribution", "Transitions", "React Quotes", "The Dickensian Aspect", "Took", "Clarifications", and "–30–."Thomas Klebanow is the paper's managing editor and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the paper. Klebanow is renowned for hiring young female reporters with questionable writing skills. He worked with executive editor James Whiting at the Philadelphia Inquirer and followed him to The Baltimore Sun. Klebanow is often left with the responsibility for cutbacks and buyouts by Whiting. He is vain and a bit of a nebbish, but has a good sense of the bottom line and the potential of a story to draw readers. Klebanow chairs the daily budget meetings and decides how much space to allocate to each story. Klebanow is based on former "Baltimore Sun" managing editor Bill Marimow.

Tim Phelps

*Played by: Tom McCarthy
*Appears in: :Season five: "More With Less", "Unconfirmed Reports", "Transitions" (uncredited), "React Quotes", and "–30–."Tim Phelps is the editor of the paper's State Desk. He is pressurized by funding and staff cuts. Phelps is particularly displeased to be beaten to a story by the Daily Record.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/tim_phelps.shtml|title=Character profile - State Editor Tim Phelps|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008] Phelps is a smoker and often spends time on the loading dock with his colleagues Gus Haynes, Roger Twigg and Jeff Price.

He is named after Timothy Phelps, the state editor during David Simon's tenure at the "Baltimore Sun".Cite web|url=http://www.esquire.com/features/essay/david-simon-0308|title=A Newspaper Can’t Love You Back|author=Simon, David|authorlink=David Simon (writer)|accessdate=2008-03-11|publisher="Esquire"|date=2008-02-16]

Phelps is played by actor Tom McCarthy. Another journalist character named Scott Templeton is played by a different Tom McCarthy.

teven Luxenberg

*Played by: Robert Poletick
*Appears in: :Season five: "More With Less", "Not for Attribution" (uncredited), "React Quotes", "The Dickensian Aspect", "Clarifications", "Late Editions", and "–30–."Steven Luxenberg is the editor of the metro section and oversees other editors including Rebecca on Regional Affairs, Phelps on State Desk and Gus Haynes on City Desk. Luxenberg is a hands on editor and likes to watch his writers as they work. His section lost its transportation reporter in the last round of buyouts.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/steven_luxenberg.shtml|title=Character profile - Steven Luxenberg|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008]

He is named after real-life former "Baltimore Sun" editor Steve Luxenberg.

Jay Spry

*Played by: Donald Neal
*Appears in:Season five: "More With Less;" "Unconfirmed Reports;" "Transitions;" "The Dickensian Aspect" (uncredited); "Clarifications"; "Late Editions"; and "–30–."Jay Spry is the overnight copy editor, or rewrite man, for the metro desk of the paper.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/jay_spry.shtml|title=Character profile - Rewrite man Jay Spry|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008] He is a veteran reporter and now takes pride in ensuring the standards of the paper are maintained. He has a dry sense of humor and is diligent, detail-oriented and a veritable newsroom wordsmith. He often has to correct the mistakes of younger reporters like Alma Gutierrez.

He is named after Jay Spry, the rewrite man during David Simon's tenure at the "Baltimore Sun".

Reporters

Alma Gutierrez

Alma Gutierrez is an eager and talented young reporter. Gutierrez is played by Michelle Paress.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/alma_gutierrez.shtml|title=Character profile - Alma Gutierrez|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008]

cott Templeton

Scott Templeton is an unscrupulous and ambitious young reporter. Templeton is played by Tom McCarthy.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/scott_templeton.shtml|title=Character profile - Scott Templeton|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008]

Jeff Price

*Played by: Todd Scofield
*Appears in::Season three: "Dead Soldiers" (uncredited):Season five: "More With Less"; "Unconfirmed Reports"; "Not for Attribution"; "Transitions"; "Took" (uncredited); "Clarifications"; "Late Editions" (uncredited)Jeff Price is the city hall reporter for the metro desk. He has covered the beat since before Tommy Carcetti became Mayor and was once leaked a story about police department funding by Carcetti.cite episode
title = Dead Soldiers
episodelink = Dead Soldiers (The Wire episode)
series = The Wire
serieslink = The Wire (TV series)
credits = David Simon, Dennis Lehane
writers =
network = HBO
station =
city =
airdate = 2004-10-03
season = 3
number = 3] His experience has given him a touch of complacency.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/jeff_price.shtml|title=Character profile - Jeff Price|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008] Price misses a potential story in the zoning section of a council meeting agenda that is picked up by his editor Gus Haynes. Price is quick to explore the story further and Haynes still gives Price full credit for finding the story.

Bill Zorzi

*Played by: William F. Zorzi
*Appears in::Season one: "The Buys":Season five: "More With Less", "Transitions", "React Quotes", "The Dickensian Aspect", "Took", "Clarifications", "Late Editions", and "–30–."Bill Zorzi is a veteran reporter for the Baltimore Sun facing an increased workload since the last round of buyouts. He is now covering the court house and working the rewrite position on the weekend. He is an acerbic and profane presence, particularly when his workload increases.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/bill_zorzi.shtml|title=Character profile - Bill Zorzi|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008] Zorzi often smokes with his colleagues Phelps, Twigg, Haynes and Price.

Mike Fletcher

*Played by: Brandon Young
*Appears in: :Season five: "More With Less", "Not for Attribution", "Transitions" (uncredited), "React Quotes", "The Dickensian Aspect", "Took", "Clarifications", "Late Editions", and "–30–."Mike Fletcher is a general assignments reporter for the metro desk of the paper.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/mike_fletcher.shtml|title=Character profile - Mike Fletcher|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008] He is often called Fletch. He is a talented writer but sometimes struggles to submit his work in time for deadlines. Fletch has a relaxed approach to his work and a sometimes flippant attitude. While he is still young he is savvy enough to know that a victim's background is more important than good writing in getting a murder story on the front page. Fletch's failure to meet deadlines brings him a reproach from City Desk Editor Gus Haynes.

While researching a feature on the homeless, Fletcher spent significant time with Bubbles.cite episode
title = Clarifications
episodelink = Clarifications
series = The Wire
serieslink = The Wire (TV series)
credits = Anthony Hemingway
writers = Dennis Lehane (story and teleplay), David Simon (story)
network = HBO
season = 5
number = 8] Over a span of a few weeks, the reporter becomes familiar with Bubbles by visiting him in various settings; the Soup Kitchen where he volunteers, a NA meeting, and while selling newspapers.

After getting permissions from Bubbles, Fletcher's article about Bubbles is published. The article was received favorably by both Haynes and Bubbles.cite episode
title = -30-
episodelink = -30-
series = The Wire
serieslink = The Wire (TV series)
credits = Clark Johnson
writers = David Simon (story and teleplay), Ed Burns (story)
network = HBO
season = 5
number = 10] The quality and depth of the article is in contrast to what David Simon says is a major theme of the season; The Sun misses the important stories about the city.cite web
author = Alan Sepinwall
title = The Wire: David Simon Q & A
publisher = Blogger
accessdate = 2008-07-02
url = http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/03/wire-david-simon-q.html]

Roger Twigg

*Played by: Bruce Kikpatrick
*Appears in: :Season five: "More With Less", "Unconfirmed Reports", "Not for Attribution", "Transitions"Roger Twigg is a veteran police reporter for the City Desk.Cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/paper/roger_twigg.shtml|title=Character profile - Roger Twigg|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=HBO|year=2008] He has been working at The Baltimore Sun for twenty years. Twigg has heard enough tall tales to see a newspaperman's joke coming long before the punchline and his humble attitude and wealth of police department sources often enable him to get the truth on a story. Twigg often smokes with editors Tim Phelps and Gus Haynes. Haynes dispatched Twigg to report on a rowhouse fire that Haynes spots from the Newsroom window. He left the Sun after accepting a buyout, depriving the Sun of its most senior police reporter, and leaving Alma Gutierrez in the position of senior cop reporter.

References