These journalism movies should have run some corrections

Hollywood has a long track record of screwing things up when depicting the newspaper business. Here are a few of our favorite gaffes, exaggerations and things that would simply never happen in a newsroom:

▪ This year’s “True Story” showcases a hotshot New York Times reporter (Jonah Hill) crafting his Pulitzer-primed exposé … while drinking beer and playing cards with his co-workers … in the newsroom … on deadline.

▪ Russell Crowe makes a slightly more convincing Roman gladiator than journalist in the drama “State of Play.” Not only does the reporter hold the presses for hours while he and a blogger (Rachel McAdams) finish writing a story, but the completed piece immediately gets slapped on the front page without any editing.

▪ Drew Barrymore plays a junior copy editor assigned to go undercover as a high schooler in the romantic comedy “Never Been Kissed.” But that’s not the most implausible aspect of her job: She has a large private office and an assistant.

▪ The Gotham Times could use a junior copy editor. In “The Dark Knight Rises,” Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) and Alfred (Michael Caine) research their frenemy Selina (Anne Hathaway) by checking out a front-page article titled “Police Suspect ‘Cat’ Burglar in Jewel Heist.” Except the last word is spelled “Hiest.” (OK, typos can happen. But still.)

▪ Speaking of costumed crime fighters, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) earns his living as a photojournalist for the Daily Bugle in the original “Spider-Man” trilogy. Anyone ever notice he breaks the primary ethics rule of his profession? All his photos of Spider-Man are staged.

▪ In the thriller “Arlington Road,” Jeff Bridges’ obsessed professor goes to The Kansas City Star’s website to research domestic terrorism. The Web banner proudly proclaims, “The leading source of news in Kansas.” Never mind the other state where the newsroom is actually located.

This story was originally published October 31, 2015 at 6:00 AM with the headline "These journalism movies should have run some corrections."