The Paper: A New Generation of Journalists Chases Stories, Truth, and Workplace Drama
2025
Comedy, Drama
10 episodes
TheNextHint Score
8.2
8.2 / 10
Overview
The Paper applies The Office's mockumentary style to an entirely different type of workplace—a failing local newspaper. The show centers on Ned Sampson, a new editor who is committed to bringing the Toledo Truth Teller back to life, and the peculiar gang of journalists who surround him. The journalistic rivalries, awkward interviews, corporate meddling, and the pressure to generate stories that readers genuinely want to read all provide ample opportunity for comedy in the context.
The show's emphasis on journalism sets it apart from a straightforward Office sequel. Instead of merely serving as a backdrop, the dwindling newspaper industry becomes an integral aspect of the narrative.
Quick Verdict
The Paper is worth watching if you enjoy workplace comedies, mockumentaries, journalism stories, or The Office-style character humor. It is not a direct replacement for The Office, but its newspaper setting gives it a separate identity. The strongest reason to watch is the combination of an eccentric newsroom ensemble and stories about the increasingly difficult business of local journalism.
The Paper is a mockumentary comedy about the workplace that takes place in Toledo, Ohio. It centers on the Toledo Truth Teller, a historic local newspaper that is battling to stay relevant in a media landscape that is changing quickly. The documentary crew premise from The Office is used in this series, but the cameras are moved from Dunder Mifflin to a chaotic newsroom. The crew finds the newspaper and its upbeat new chief editor, Ned Sampson, who thinks he can help revive it with a team of volunteer reporters.
Ned finds himself working with a diverse group of people, such as the driven journalist Detrick Moore, the eccentric editor Esmeralda Grand, the ambitious reporter Mare Pritti, and the seasoned Office figure Oscar Martinez. The program focuses on the issues local media faces, such as dwindling audience, scarce resources, corporate ownership, dubious advertising tactics, and the need to create stories that garner attention, rather than merely replicating the formula of its predecessor.
The Paper, created by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, debuted on Peacock on September 4, 2025. Ten episodes make up its first season, and Season 2 debuted on September 9, 2026. The show blends character interactions, documentary-style humor, workplace humor, and a sincere interest in journalism’s future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Paper (2025) about?
The revival of The Truth Teller, a historic Toledo newspaper, is the subject of the same documentary crew that followed the workers at Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch in Greg Daniels and Michael Koman's mockumentary series.
Is The Paper a spin-off of The Office?
Yes. The Paper is set in the same universe as the U.S. version of The Office and follows the same documentary crew concept. Oscar Nuñez also returns as Oscar Martinez.
How many seasons of The Paper are there?
There are two released seasons as of September 2026. Each season contains 10 episodes.
Where can I watch The Paper?
In the United States, the series is available on Peacock. Availability varies by country, with different NBCUniversal distribution partners carrying the show in some international markets.
Story — Spoiler Free
A documentary crew searching for its next subject discovers the Toledo Truth Teller, a historic newspaper that is struggling to survive. New editor-in-chief Ned Sampson arrives with ambitious plans to rebuild the paper and relies on a group of reporters with very different personalities and levels of experience. As the staff chases stories, deals with corporate pressure and navigates their own relationships, the documentary cameras capture the increasingly chaotic attempt to keep the newspaper alive.
8.2
TheNextHint Score
8.2 / 10
The Paper is worth watching if you enjoy workplace comedies, mockumentaries, journalism stories, or The Office-style character humor. It is not a direct replacement for The Office, but its newspaper setting gives it a separate identity. The strongest reason to watch is the combination of an eccentric newsroom ensemble and stories about the increasingly difficult business of local journalism.
Rating breakdown
Story
8.0
Acting
9.0
Direction
8.0
Visuals
8.0
Sound
8.0
Entertainment
8.0
External Ratings
Scores from other sources, shown in their own scale. These are not TheNextHint's rating.
Strong workplace-comedy setup with a different setting from The Office.
Domhnall Gleeson gives Ned an energetic and likable central presence.
Sabrina Impacciatore makes Esmeralda one of the show's most unpredictable characters.
The newsroom setting creates plenty of story possibilities.
Oscar Nuñez provides a familiar connection to The Office.
The series gradually becomes stronger as its characters develop.
Journalism and the decline of local newspapers give the comedy a meaningful subject.
Cons
The first few episodes can feel less polished than The Office.
Some jokes depend heavily on awkwardness and cringe-style humor.
The ensemble takes time to settle into its roles.
Viewers expecting another The Office may find the new characters very different.
Some storylines are stronger than others.
Who Should Watch
Mockumentary Fans
Journalism Fans
Character Comedy Viewers
Who Should Skip
Action Fans
Cringe-Comedy Haters
Release Date
2025-09-04
Runtime
26-32 minutes
Director
Jeffrey Blitz, Jennifer Celotta, Tazbah Chavez, Greg Daniels, Yana Gorskaya, Ken Kwapis, Paul Lieberstein, David Rogers, Matt Sohn, Jason Woliner
Producer
Greg Daniels, Michael Koman, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Howard Klein, Ben Silverman and Banijay Americas serve among the executive producers. The series is produced by Universal Television.
Writer
Greg Daniels, Michael Koman, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Eric Rahill, Mo Welch and other episode writers
Cast
Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, Tim Key, Oscar Nuñez, Eric Rahill, Duane Shepard Sr., Allan Havey, Tracy Letts, Molly Ephraim, Mo Welch, Nate Jackson and Nancy Lenehan
The optimistic new editor-in-chief of the Toledo Truth Teller. He arrives determined to turn the struggling newspaper around.
Sabrina Impacciatore
as
Esmeralda Grand
An eccentric and unpredictable newsroom personality whose behavior frequently creates chaos.
Chelsea Frei
as
Mare Pritti
An experienced reporter who becomes one of the newspaper's important journalists and a key part of Ned's newsroom.
Melvin Gregg
as
Detrick Moore
A journalist whose personal and professional storylines become increasingly important within the newsroom.
Gbemisola Ikumelo
as
Adelola Olofin
A member of the reporting team who brings her own personality and approach to the chaotic newspaper environment.
Alex Edelman
as
Adam Cooper
A reporter and member of Ned's developing newsroom team.
Ramona Young
as
Nicole Lee
A quieter member of the staff who gradually becomes more confident and assertive.
Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
10 episodes September 4, 2025Completed
The documentary crew moves from Scranton to Toledo and begins documenting the staff of the struggling Toledo Truth Teller as Ned Sampson attempts to revive the newspaper.
1Pilot
30 min September 4, 2025
The documentary crew discovers the Toledo Truth Teller and Ned's attempt to revive it.
2The Five W's
30 min September 4, 2025
Ned begins working with his volunteer reporters while Esmeralda pushes the team to find stories.
3Buddy and the Dude
27 min September 4, 2025
Ned joins Mare on a consumer investigation while other staff members deal with their own problems.
4TTT vs the Blogger
30 min September 4, 2025
Ned and Esmeralda react after discovering that a teenager's blog attracts more readers than the newspaper.
5Scam Alert!
30 min September 4, 2025
Ned investigates a dating-app scam and discovers that Esmeralda may have been one of its victims.
6Churnalism
30 min September 4, 2025
Ned takes control of advertorials, prompting Esmeralda to retaliate with a story of her own.
7I Love You
30 min April 9, 2025
Marv's presence in the newsroom brings tensions about authority to the surface.
8Church and State
30 min September 4, 2025
Mare finds a story that puts the newspaper at odds with its corporate owner.
9Matching Ponchos
29 min September 4, 2025
Ned and Mare travel to interview a possible cult leader while other newsroom problems escalate.
10The Ohio Journalism Awards
30 min September 4, 2025
The newsroom attends the Ohio Journalism Awards as Ned struggles with his desire to win.
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