The Importance of Effective Journalism in Movies

Image of David Corenswet as Clark Kent, a journalist in 2025 movie Superman l https://www.cbr.com/superman-david-corenswet-clark-kent-journalism-fake-news/

With the recent release of Superman, directed by James Gunn, ethical journalism has become a topic of discussion. 

Currently on the press tour, lead actors for Clark Kent and Lois Lane have been speaking out about the importance of journalism, and how the news shapes the perspective of everything. The ethical goal of the news is to inform for the betterment of society, and Superman takes that seriously.

After my watch through of the movie, here are some ethical journalism plot points I picked up:

• The use of source confidentiality and off/on record interviews

• Fact checking of all information posted about both Superman and Lex Luthor

• Using investigative journalism to take down Lex Luthor

This is not the only recent movie featuring effective journalism. Movies such as September 5, which covers ABCs coverage of the 1972 Munich Olympics goes in depth on both the ethical and unethical practices the journalist team performed during the first ever broadcasted terrorist attack.

As a journalist, it has been amazing seeing the perception of journalism change based on a superhero movie. While ethically, there are a variety of conflict of interests and bias throughout the movie due to Superman (aka Clark Kent) working for the main paper in the film, if that is the only ethical issue being held by the main news outlet, I feel like they did justice for journalists who are trying to be ethical and tell a story for the betterment of society.

Works Cited: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8M3e2CEQQQ&ab_channel=AssociatedPress