Many members of the test audience didn't believe the story was true. They thought no real-life magazine would have so many journalists in their early to mid 20s, even though the New Republic did. A place card added to the opening of the film stated that the median age of journalists working for the New Republic was 26.
Hanna Rosin, a real life journalist who was a colleague of both Stephen Glass and Charles Lane, worked as an adviser to writer/director Billy Ray. The character of Catlin Avery was based loosely on Hanna Rosin.
In the DVD commentary, director Billy Ray says when Stephen Glass is talking to the class, the text on the blackboard says: "Thought for the day: Experience is the toughest teacher, because she gives the test first and the lesson after."