It is the late 1970s, a period when local television news is changing, but few notice. The Best in the West provides a passport into this world, a world where "journalism" and "journalist" were not yet suspect terms. From the anchorman the audience foolishly loves to the harassed producers, photographers and editors, it is an unlikely but winning team.

It is a male club of former newspaper and radio reporters chosen for their experience in getting the news. Only a few women have earned admission. Ellen Peters is one. Tough and cynical, she sees reporting as a job. For the idealistic newcomer Debbie Hanson, it is a vocation, a way to get the truth to the public. While Debbie tries to fit in, Ellen stands back and watches. She is, after all, a reporter.