Tricamo-Palmer-State of Play

State of Play shows the relationship between the press and democracy in America, or at least how it is suppossed to work. The idea, as I see it, is that with a free press, able to report anything that happens, will give people the truth about politicians so that people know who they are voting for. Politicians are then expected to keep their image up so that they can get re-elected.

The scene in State of Play where the main guy meets with the congressman on the steps of the congress building shows this relationship. The main guy threatens to print some bad stuff about the congressman. This is not exactly how the relationship between democracy and free press is supposed to work, but when we see this we understand how the press is able to keep the politicians in check.

However, the movie also shows how this system is failing, for two reasons. The first is demonstrated in that same scene. After the congressman is threatened, he completely dismisses the main guy and it is clear that he actually has more power than the press. The other way in which the system is failing is shown in every scene with the editor. She continually explains that their job is not to dig around and do police work but to print stuff that will make them money. The movie is saying the the press has chosen non-important news over difficult subjects that need to be dealt with, because that is what makes them more money.