The film deals with CBS newsroom tensions in the 1950 's , when Edward R. Murrow , played by David Strathairn , and a team led by the producer Fred Friendly -LRB- Mr. Clooney , left in photo with Mr. Strathairn -RRB- stood firm against corporate pressures as they set out to blunt the power of the Communist-hunting Senator Joseph R. McCarthy of Wisconsin . -RRB-