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.
Charles Lane, who was the real-life editor of The New Republic, was invited by writer/director Billy Ray to observe filming of some of the movie's scenes. The one scene shot while he was in attendance was the one where the TNR writers bad-mouth Lane behind his back.
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.