Journalism in the Movies

From cynical portrayals likeThe Front Pageto the nuanced complexity ofAll the President's Men,andThe Insider, movies about journalists and journalism have been a go-to film genre since the medium's early days. Often depicted as disrespectful, hard-drinking, scandal-mongering misfits, journalists also receive Hollywood's frequent respect as an essential part of American life. Matthew C. Ehrlich tells the story of how Hollywood has treated American journalism. Ehrlich argues that films have relentlessly played off the image of the journalist as someone who sees through lies and hypocrisy, sticks up for the little guy, and serves democracy. He also delves into the genre's always-evolving myths and dualisms to analyze the tensions-hero and oppressor, objectivity and subjectivity, truth and falsehood-that allow journalism films to examine conflicts in society at large.