Webster- state of play

State of Play definitely shows the relationship between the government and the free press; although whether or not this is a true depiction of how the relationship truly works is unknown. I say this because in the movie Cal, played by Russell Crowe, was college roommates with congressman Collins, played by Ben Affleck. State of Play shows a story of a politician who has just been caught for having an affair because his mistress dies, and a journalist trying to uncover the truth about what truly happened. One of the first scenes we see is congressman Collins coming to stay with Cal after his wife has kicked him out, that is when Cal decides to start investigating the story. Then the Collins’ come into the Washington Globe offices to give what they believe to be the truth of the story, and then finally we see Cal invite congressman Collins to a motel where Cal has the mistress’s friend answering questions about her shady background. This movie really portrays the relationship between the government and the press as a very close one, as if they both protect each other’s secrets. We see Cal helping Congressman Collins get out of being targeted, and in return Cal is allowed exclusive rights to the story, albeit a false one. I don’t know what the true relationship between the government and the free press is, but State of Play seems to suggest that the government feeds the information they want the public to believe to the press, and in return helps them sell papers.