He was an investigative reporter for the San Jose Mercury News. We need to understand that his reporting was accurate in connecting the CIA with the Contras and their drug operations. This is now official. Documents attesting to the facts can be read in The National Security Archive kept by the George Washington University. Despite Webb's accuracy, the campaign to discredit Webb led to his losing his job and an eventual suicide, according to Robert Parry.

The following plot summary is here. "Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb, the film takes place in the mid-1990s. Webb uncovered the CIA's alleged role in importing crack cocaine into the U.S. to secretly fund the Nicaraguan contra rebels. Despite enormous pressure to stay away, Webb chose to pursue the story and went public with his evidence, publishing the series called 'Dark Alliance'. He then experienced a vicious smear campaign fueled by the CIA, during which he found himself defending his integrity, his family, and his life."