I think you might be thinking a little too literal about the movie. The scene where they're fighting I think is pretty clearly meant to be a visual representation of struggling with someone to get them to see and acknowledge uncomfortable truths, particularly those that will spur them to action.

I'm a reporter in real life and that's basically what doing my job feels like - most people just want to keep their heads down and get paid, not realizing that shit is gonna get worse if they don't pay attention and do something, so you're constantly trying to shovel information out there and hope it'll break through people's guards.

That's at least how I see the scene - someone who sees a problem desperately trying to convince someone else there's a problem.