# Movies and shows about journalists doing their jobs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 25, 2018, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540 "2018-07-25T03:06:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/21 "2018-07-25T15:08:50Z")
How about [Ace In The Hole](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043338/)? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/22 "2018-07-25T15:24:01Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The climax of that movie is two editors having a fistfight around the press over a headline. That’s not a serious movie about journalism. I worked in an actual newsroom where a reporter and editor got into a fistfight. So maybe … ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/23 "2018-07-25T15:31:48Z")
Not a whole series, and possibly not what you are looking for, but the last season of [the wire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire_(season_5)) depicts what many people said was an [accurate depiction of a newsroom](https://variety.com/2007/voices/columns/the-wire-gets-the-newsroom-right-1117978111/). Of course it is mostly about the police drama, but the whole series made a point of examining different aspects of Baltimore institutions, with the fifth season focusing on Journalism. //i\ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/24 "2018-07-25T17:02:18Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Speaking as a journalist myself With 30 years experience I think it’s reasonable to say that I don’t expect dramas to be **dicumentari s** about my life. > > When I say daily slog of journalism what I mean is that the shows focus on journalists going around talking to people in person or in the phone rather than engaging in car chases, shootouts, or superheroics … or whatever that stupid shit was on “Newsroom.” And also not primarily focusing on introduce romance and stuff like that. Haven’t made it to copy editor yet, I’m guessing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/25 "2018-07-25T18:38:11Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If we’re going in offbeat directions, there’s _The Night Stalker_ series (two made-for-TV [movies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Stalker_(1972_film)) and a short-lived [TV series](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolchak:_The_Night_Stalker)). > > Okay, it’s a horror series with vampires, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. And the series hasn’t aged well. But Darren McGavin’s performance holds up. And it does show Carl Kolchak doing his job as a newspaper reporter. > Reading the Wikipedia article, I just found out that Carol Ann Susi, who played a young intern on the series, was also the voice of Mrs Wolowitz on _The Big Bang Theory_. I loved that show! It’s running on one of the rerun networks, Cozi, or MeTV, or something, and I have a bunch of eps on DVR. I know exactly which actress you’re talking about! I never put it together that she was Mrs. Wolowitz! But the last time I watched an episode, I thought there was something about her voice I couldn’t place. I just thought it’s because I’ve seen the show so many times, from a young age. I must have been 8 or so the first time I saw it. It was pretty scary to me then-- scary good, but still scary. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/26 "2018-07-25T18:47:17Z")
It is not a movie nor a show, but the Longform podcast features interviews with journalists and authors. I find them fascinating to listen to. > **[Longform Podcast](https://longform.org/podcast)** > > A weekly conversation with a non-fiction writer on how they tell stories. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/27 "2018-07-26T00:10:30Z")
> [@icon](#): > > Not a whole series, and possibly not what you are looking for, but the last season of [the wire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire_(season_5)) I considered this, but I’m leaning against it, because I don’t want to jump in on the last season of a five-season crime show without knowing all the backstory and characters, and I don’t want to watch four seasons of a crime show to get to that. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/28 "2018-07-26T02:01:59Z")
_Five Star Final_ (1931) > **[Five Star Final (1931) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021873/?ref_=nv_sr_1)** > > Five Star Final: Directed by Mervyn LeRoy. With Edward G. Robinson, Marian Marsh, H.B. Warner, Anthony Bushell. The City Editor of a sleazy tabloid goes against his own journalistic ethics to resurrect a twenty year old murder case... with tragic... "The City Editor of a sleazy tabloid goes against his own journalistic ethics to resurrect a twenty year old murder case… with tragic results. " - from IMDB _Shakedown_ (1950) > **[Shakedown (1950) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042953/?ref_=nv_sr_4)** > > Shakedown: Directed by Joseph Pevney. With Howard Duff, Brian Donlevy, Peggy Dow, Lawrence Tierney. Unscrupulous and opportunistic San Francisco news media photographer Jack Early steps on and uses folks to get ahead, but in the end he tangles with... “Unscrupulous and opportunistic San Francisco news media photographer Jack Early steps-on and uses folks, to get ahead, but in the end he tangles with the wrong people.” - from IMDB _Deadline U.S.A._ (1952) > **[Deadline - U.S.A. (1952) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044533/?ref_=nv_sr_3)** > > Deadline - U.S.A.: Directed by Richard Brooks. With Humphrey Bogart, Ethel Barrymore, Kim Hunter, Ed Begley. With his newspaper about to be sold, crusading editor Ed Hutcheson tries to complete an exposé on gangster Rienzi. “With his newspaper about to be sold, crusading editor Ed Hutcheson tries to complete an exposé on gangster Rienzi.” - from IMDB _Park Row_ (1952) > **[Park Row (1952) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045009/?ref_=nv_sr_1)** > > Park Row: Directed by Samuel Fuller. With Bela Kovacs, Herbert Heyes, Tina Pine, George O'Hanlon. The Globe is a small, but visionary newspaper started by Phineas Mitchell, an editor recently fired by The Star. The two newspapers become enemies, and... This is a super cheap film whose primary purpose seems to be extolling the virtues of a free press. Written and directed by a former reporter. _-30-_ (1959) > **[\-30- (1959) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052526/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_13)** > > \-30-: Directed by Jack Webb. With Jack Webb, William Conrad, David Nelson, Whitney Blake. A managing editor of a LA newspaper must put together headlines for the next day in a way that'll attract the potential readers, deal with hectic going-ons at... “A managing editor of a LA newspaper must put together headlines for the next day in a way that’ll attract the potential readers, deal with hectic going-ons at the workplace and have a serious talk with his wife about her wish to adopt.” - from IMDB _Between the Lines_ (1977) > **[Between the Lines (1977) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075744/?ref_=nv_sr_2)** > > Between the Lines: Directed by Joan Micklin Silver. With John Heard, Lindsay Crouse, Jeff Goldblum, Jill Eikenberry. Story of an underground newspaper in Boston about to be taken over by big business. "Story of an underground newspaper in Boston about to be taken over by big business. " - from IMDB ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/29 "2018-07-26T12:12:02Z")
[The China Syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_China_Syndrome) – This is often remembered as a thriller about the dangers of nuclear power plants, but the main through-line of the film is a reporter (Jane Fonda) determined to report on a serious news story that is being covered up. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/30 "2018-07-26T12:33:01Z")
How about [Call Northside 777](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_Northside_777)? 1948 movie starring Jimmy Stewart as a reporter who tries to prove that a convicted man was innocent. And it’s based on a true story. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/31 "2018-07-26T12:40:14Z")
I don’t know if non-American newspapers are of interest at all, and it isn’t out yet, but the BBC are making a new ‘headline’ series called ‘Press’ which looks like it could be great. It will air late this year on Masterpiece on PBS in the US. Great writer and cast, so [looks promising](https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2018-06-19/when-is-bbc-drama-press-on-tv-what-is-it-about-and-who-is-in-the-cast/). ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/32 "2018-07-26T12:59:27Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I don’t know if non-American newspapers are of interest at all, and it isn’t out yet, but the BBC are making a new ‘headline’ series called ‘Press’ which looks like it could be great. > > It will air late this year on Masterpiece on PBS in the US. > > Great writer and cast, so [looks promising](https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2018-06-19/when-is-bbc-drama-press-on-tv-what-is-it-about-and-who-is-in-the-cast/). _[The Hour](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1778108/)_ looked promising, too. But it stumbled along to a mediocre end. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/33 "2018-07-26T13:11:56Z")
[State of Play](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Play_(TV_series)), a six-part UK series about a newspaper investigating the death of a political researcher. It was remade as a [movie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Play_(film)) in the US, which wasn’t as good. And an unconventional choice; Almost Famous. It’s the based-on-true-events story of a fifteen-year-old writer who is embedded with a touring rock band while he is writing what becomes a Rolling Stone cover story. ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/34 "2018-07-26T15:44:06Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > … > > _Between the Lines_ (1977) > > [Between the Lines (1977) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075744/?ref_=nv_sr_2) > > "Story of an underground newspaper in Boston about to be taken over by big business. " - from IMDB Did that newspaper feature _The Straight Dope?_ ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/35 "2018-07-26T18:17:22Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Speaking as a journalist myself With 30 years experience I think it’s reasonable to say that I don’t expect dramas to be dicumentari s about my life. > > When I say daily slog of journalism what I mean is that the shows focus on journalists going around talking to people in person or in the phone rather than engaging in car chases, shootouts, or superheroics … or whatever that stupid shit was on “Newsroom.” And also not primarily focusing on introduce romance and stuff like that. Understood! I was a PI for years and there were many times I would be sitting in a hot van watching a house for 12 hours at a time and thinking, “Hey! I’m a private detective. Where are the beautiful women trying to get information from me?” ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/36 "2018-07-26T19:16:33Z")
Season 5 of The Wire was focused on a fictionalized version of the Baltimore Sun newsroom. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/37 "2018-07-29T04:06:07Z")
Deadline USA is the most revered among my colleagues. ---
**Author:** ![Panther\_Modern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@Panther\_Modern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panther_Modern)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540/38 "2018-08-05T16:05:35Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Season 5 of The Wire was focused on a fictionalized version of the Baltimore Sun newsroom. Ugh. The reporter (I can’t remember his name. Good riddance, probably) who made up stories made my blood boil. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-shows-about-journalists-doing-their-jobs/818540.md?page=1)