Ep 5. Amen

The Newsroom season 1 episode 5, titled "Amen," follows the professional and personal lives of the staff members of Atlantis Cable News (ACN) as they cover a story about a protest against a mosque in New York City. While covering the protest, the team also has to deal with issues in their personal lives.

At the beginning of the episode, anchor Will McAvoy returns to work after his suspension and is given the responsibility of reporting on the protests against the mosque being built near Ground Zero. The team is on high alert as tensions are high and there are constant clashes between the protestors and counter-protestors.

As the day progresses, it becomes apparent that the protests are not about the mosque being built on "sacred" ground, but rather an attempt to stir up anti-Muslim sentiments. The team works hard to maintain their objective stance on reporting while at the same time trying to cover all angles of the story.

Meanwhile, producer MacKenzie McHale is struggling with personal issues as she deals with the aftermath of her breakup with Will. She confides in associate producer Jim Harper and the two begin to connect on a deeper level. However, Jim's unresolved feelings for senior producer Maggie Jordan complicate things.

The episode also follows the story of Don Keefer, who is tasked with reporting on a story about a charity event hosted by a wealthy socialite. Don initially dismisses the story as trivial, but as he investigates further, he discovers a less savory side to the philanthropist. He struggles with the ethical implications of reporting on the story, but ultimately decides to go forward with it.

As the protest continues to escalate, Will chooses to take a stand on the issue and deliver an emotional monologue about the importance of religious freedom and tolerance in America. This puts him at odds with his boss, Charlie Skinner, who is concerned about the potential backlash the network may face for taking an opinionated stance on a controversial topic.

In the end, the team successfully covers the protest while maintaining their journalistic integrity, and manages to keep personal issues at bay while they work towards their common goal. "Amen" showcases the challenges faced by journalists as they try to balance objective reporting with personal beliefs, and emphasizes the importance of staying true to the profession's core values.