Press is a 2018 television series focusing on two opposing British newspapers, The Herald - Intrepid Reporters whose Honor Before Reason status have led to them falling behind in a more modern age - and The Post - an Expy of The Sun, who generally follow the principles of If It Bleeds, It Leads and frequently feature PageThreeStunnas, which makes them immensely popular largely to the Lowest Common Denominator.
The series contains the following tropes:
- The Artifact: Amina asks how many of the staff actually read the print edition of the paper, resulting in one or two hands going up. However, when questioned if they would miss it and prefer to go exclusively online, the entire staff objects.
- Evil Costume Switch: Of a sort; when Holly briefly moves to The Post, she sheds off her usual casual appearance, straightens her hair and sporting a business skirt/dress and Badass Longcoat
- Friendly Enemy: Amina and Duncan are seen having dinner perfectly amicably.
- Hot Scoop: Most of the cast really - particular Leona, Ed and - though not a journalist until the last episode - Holly.
- How We Got Here: The series begins at the very end, with Holly making a statement to the press; the rest of the series shows the events that led up to that moment.
- Intrepid Reporter: Many of the cast, notably James and Leona at The Herald. Ed eventually becomes a more ruthless example.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Duncan is incredibly rude to Holly when she takes part in his morning meeting, but as she has been employed that very day, she should not assume that she has the same privileges as she did back at The Herald.
- Lonely at the Top: Duncan lives far from his wife and son Freddy, and resorts to hiring an escort just to keep him company rather than for any sexual reasons. This only gets worse when he splits up with his wife, who will not let him see his son again.
- Mean Boss: Duncan Allen has no qualms about ripping his employees to bits for the smallest slight, but he has a lot of respect for those who work hard and achieve success.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Holly gives Duncan the suggestion to turn around the public feeling that The Post was responsible for a teenage boy's suicide into heading an anti-bullying campaign. After seeing the boy's grieving mother being strongly encouraged to film an insert for them mere hours after her son's death, Holly is horrified what her suggestion has brought about and leaves her temporary position for good.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Lucy, Duncan's secretary, tells Holly she does this to stay on Duncan's good side.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: George Emmerich tries to curb Duncan's more ruthless tendencies (forcing him to apologise for the Prime Minister for example), but also encourages the potential he sees in him. He is however, driven by his own business interests.
- Screw the Money, I Have Rules!: The attitude that seperates the Herald from the Post. It is also because of this that Ed finally decides to resign and become a more moral journalist.
- Smart People Wear Glasses: James sports a pair of glasses, and they fit his demeanour perfectly.
- Smug Snake: Joshua West gives a smug rant to Holly about the power his money provides him and how he can prevent any story emerging that might ruin his career. Later, he discovers Money Is Not Power and he undergoes a major fall from grace.
- Took a Level in Cynic: The show illustrates how easily the job turns idealistic journalists bitter and lonely, notably with Duncan, and later with Ed.
