He wished to set the film in a field he understood and opted for broadcast journalism . After talking with network journalists at the 1984 Republican National Convention , Brooks realised it had " changed so much since I had been near it " , and so " did about a year and a half of solid research , " into the industry . When he began writing the screenplay , Brooks felt he " did n't like any of the three main characters " , but decided not to change them and after two months had reversed his original opinion . Brooks stated that this also happens to the audience : " You 're always supposed to arc your characters and you have this change and that 's your dramatic purpose . But what I hope happens in this film is that the audience takes part in the arc . So what happens is that the movie does n't select its own hero . It plays differently with each audience . The audience helps create the experience , depending on which character they hook onto . " He did not decide on the ending of the film until the rest of it had been completed . Brooks was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay for '' Broadcast News '' . At the 38th Berlin International Film Festival , the film was nominated for the Golden Bear and Holly Hunter won the Silver Bear for Best Actress
1984 Republican National Convention
1984 Republican National Convention
James L. Brooks