Superman may not be a great reporter but the 1978 Superman movie is a good film about journalism. With Christopher Reeve as the famous Man of Steel and a newsroom that feels like a classic reporting style.
Okay, let’s start with Clark Kent. I like the guy but as a reporter? Not good. He’s supposed to be a great reporter at the Daily Planet but he’s clumsy, awkward and hardly ever gets a story done. Seriously, Clark, your superhero side is out there saving the world but you can’t meet a deadline? He seems to disappear whenever something important happens like when Lois Lane is trying to get info on Lex Luthor. Somehow he still has a desk next to Lois, the best reporter. It’s like his glasses are the ones keeping him in his job. Superman is great at many things but reporting isn’t one of them.
But here’s the point: the Superman movie is a love letter to journalism. The Daily Planet feels like a character itself—messy, lively and full of the vibe of a 1970s newsroom. You can hear typewriters clacking, phones ringing and reporters talking loudly at the same time. It really shows the busy energy of a big city newspaper. Perry White, played by Jackie Cooper, is the top editor. He gives orders and always wants the latest news. “Don’t call me boss!”—that’s a classic. The newsroom is buzzing with energy, showing the hard work and dedication everyone has to get the story right even if Clark isn’t pulling his weight on his byline.
Then there’s Lois Lane, the key to the movie’s journalistic credibility. Margot Kidder’s Lois is strong, brave and always looking for the truth. She’s out there talking to people, looking for Lex Luthor’s plans and even putting herself in danger for a story. In that helicopter scene Lois is fully prepared with her notepad, ready to take notes and report. She’s the kind of reporter any editor would be happy to have and her relationship with Clark (or Superman) adds an extra layer of fun to the newsroom story. Lois shows what journalism really means: determination, a desire to learn and the ability to ask tough questions.
So why does Superman work as a film about journalism? It gets it right. It shows how powerful the press is. It tells us how stories can change the world, expose bad guys like Luthor and keep the powerful in check. Even Superman with all his superpowers needs the Daily Planet to spread his influence. The movie makes being a reporter look good but doesn’t sugarcoat the chaos. And it has a nostalgic feel of the good old days of print journalism before the internet came along. It shows us why the press matters even if Clark cares more about flying than reporting.
