JustaftertheFirstWorldWarFredRobertsgoesforajobasanewspaperjournalistandtellsthesub-editorhow,inthetrenchesin1916,hediscoveredaprintingpressinworkingorder.Helpedbyex-printerSergeantHarrisandwithhisfriendJackPearsonashisassistant,hesetsuptheWipersTimes-thenamecomingfromthesoldiers'pronunciationofthetownYpres.DespitedisapprovalfromofficiousColonelHowfieldbutwithbackingfromsympatheticGeneralMitfordtheyproducetwenty-threeissuesofasatiricalmagazine-itsarticlesrepresentedonscreeninblackandwhite-whichboostsmoraleandevengetsmentionedintheTatler.ThepressisdestroyedbyaGermanshellbutanotherisfoundandthepaper'stitlechangedtofitinwithwherevertheregimentisdeployed.

《头版内幕》进入了对于外人来说充满着神秘色彩的《纽约时报》的编辑部，为观众介绍了一个成熟的媒体内部的运作环境和工作体系。影片曾参加今年的圣丹斯电影节。