Group Plans to Provide Investigative Journalism

[babylonsister]

Group Plans to Provide Investigative Journalism
Submitted by davidswanson on Mon, 2007-10-15 18:50. Media

By RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA, New York Times

As struggling newspapers across the country cut back on investigative reporting, a new kind of journalism venture is hoping to fill the gap.

Paul E. Steiger, who was the top editor of The Wall Street Journal for 16 years, and a pair of wealthy Californians are assembling a group of investigative journalists who will give away their work to media outlets.

The nonprofit group, called Pro Publica, will pitch each project to a newspaper or magazine (and occasionally to other media) where the group hopes the work will make the strongest impression. The plan is to do long-term projects, uncovering misdeeds in government, business and organizations.

Nothing quite like it has been attempted, and despite having a lot going for it, Pro Publica will be something of an experiment, inventing its practices by trial and error. It remains to be seen how well it can attract talent and win the cooperation of the mainstream media.

“It is the deep-dive stuff and the aggressive follow-up that is most challenged in the budget process,” said Mr. Steiger, who will be Pro Publica’s president and editor in chief. He gave up the title of managing editor of The Journal in May, but is staying on through the end of the year as editor at large; during his tenure, the newsroom won 16 Pulitzer Prizes.

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http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/27722

[NC_Nurse]

1. I just heard him interviewed on NPR.

Sounds like a good thing. I hope they succeed in elevating the discourse and
illuminating the dark corners of the American landscape.