'Spotlight's real-life editor Marty Baron talks about Oscar-winning film, future of Washington Post

He was the editor at the Boston Globe for more than a decade and was at the forefront of the investigation that is depicted in the Oscar-winning film "Spotlight".

Now, Marty Baron works in D.C. at the Washington Post.

FOX 5's Kevin McCarthy sat down with him to discuss the film and its success.

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

"Spotlight" may have taken home best picture at the Academy Awards but the real winner was investigative journalism. The film took a look at the 'spotlight' division of the Boston Globe as it exposed child molestation and its cover-up within the Archdiocese of Boston.

Baron, current Executive Editor at the Washington Post, was editor of The Boston Globe when he uncovered the story.

"The work on investigating the church was distinct and had an immediate and important impact on the lives of everyday people," he said. "It caused reforms in the church -- although I think there's more work to be done there -- and it probably influenced how other major institutions deal with the issue of credible allegations of sexual abuse."

OUTSIDER

"I was viewed as outsider. I was nervous going into an environment like that," he said about his first day at The Boston Globe.

He said work on the story began almost immediately -- and after that -- he was off and running.

BIG SCREEN

In the film, Barron is portrayed by acclaimed actor Liam Schreiber.

"Of course it's a surreal experience," he told McCarthy. "The fact that millions and millions of people around the world are going to be plugged into this was an emotional moment."

SEPTEMBER 11TH

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Barron and his news team had to put the "Spotlight" story to the side.

"For me there was no question. But for the people who were working on the team they knew they were on to a really good story and they were kind of reluctant to be dragged off that story at that particular time," he said.

FUTURE OF WASHINGTON POST

"Well there's no question that it's fully digital-- and yet I think we hold on to our core mission," Barron said. "I think it's really important that we hold powerful interests accountable. I think this movie makes the point that the press plays a vital role in society."

"What's important to me is the journalism that we do - not the platform on which people read it," he said. "It's not so important that they read it in print as they read it at all."

And as far as the Oscar ceremony - Barron said Jeff Bezos, Washington Post owner and Amazon founder, was there -- but had a much better seat than he did.

WATCH the full interview above and find out more about the movie here: http://www.fandango.com/spotlight_184742/movieoverview