This film looks to shed light on the rigor behind journalism and why it's all worth it. “The Truth Is Worth It” campaign makes a statement about the power of journalism today, with stories that have the potential to shift perceptions and culture. “Courage” delves into the courage of Azam Ahmed, Bureau Chief for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, as he untangles the web of leads and sources behind the Mexican government’s surveillance of journalists—ultimately finding himself at the center of his own story and the target of the Mexican government’s tactics. The spot was released at a time of intense discussions about the safety of journalists and the conduct of the Mexican government, making it even more critical to reiterate the importance of the truth and the value of NYT journalism.

The film launched at a time when the issue of espionage and our relationship with Mexico were being hotly debated. The script had to deliver the scale of this important story while balancing the journalistic integrity of The New York Times. The script is intended to put viewers in the reporter's stream of consciousness, adopting his tone of voice while also maintaining The Times’s inimitable house style. The script, a connected thread of words that appear on screen, was central to putting the viewer in the psyche of the journalist as he unpicked a story of government surveillance in Mexico.

“The Truth Is Worth It” stories were told with a combination of pre-existing elements, source material provided by New York Times reporters, stock footage and footage shot by the directors to fill in the story gaps where needed and match the tone of the archival footage. The directors(s) oversight included collaboration on every aspect of the films; the scripts, copy, graphics, visuals, voice recordings, sound design and edit. The film uses a single, creative-writing approach: a connected thread of animated words that appear on-screen as though a continuous writing and rewriting of headlines. The directing looks to bring together a unique visual approach, to put viewers in the shoes of the journalists, making them experience their stream of consciousness. It takes viewers through the journalists’ stories, mimicking their psyche, intentions and actions.