Anaheim, California—Last week I attended the conference for the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE). Present were hundreds of investigative reporters and producers from all over the country, including some from South America and Europe. Over a four-day period, there were numerous sessions designed to equip these professionals with every possible tool to uncover corruption. These reporters aim to give voices to the voiceless, ensure fair justice, and above all, end government theft and waste. There is both good news and bad news. The good news is that technology keeps improving, providing investigative journalists with incredibly effective new tools. The bad news is that the government has gone to great lengths to shut down access to public records. In the past, news agencies would sue government bodies that refused to allow the inspection of public records. Additionally, the corporate executives who control media organizations won't allow any investigative pieces to be publis...

Chicago, IL —Okay, retirement was the wrong word to use.     It was obviously the reality that CBS was going trough lean times and Pam Zekman took home a King’s Ransom sized paycheck.     They laid her and a small busload of newsroom faces off in this drastic economy move.     After a half-century as Chicago's top investigative journalist, Zekman is wealthy and earned herself a dream retirement package.  Don’t shed a tear for this legendary, Queen of the Ambush Interview, she is now off to new adventures! By the way, Zekman influenced me too, more than she will ever know! The more difficult job falls in the hands if WBBM-TV’s News Director, Jeff Harris .  He must find a leaner, meaner version of Zekman to fill her shoes.   I know just the top gun investigative reporter and a kick ass producer, perfect for the Chicago market.  The ad revenue has to perk up a bit.  CBS2 knows it must move on a...

Los Angeles, CA — George Orwell said in best, “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed; everything else is public relations.” I’ve enjoyed a joint Career, along with being a licensed private eye, I was drafted into TV news as an investigative producer.   Fortunately I’ve never been sued despite thousands of investigations and news stories.  I’ve always been very careful to avoid common pitfalls or errors in gathering and disclosing records. However I’ve seen plenty expensive litigation both legitimate and frivolous plague news organizations. Right or wrong litigation costs can be crippling to any newsroom.   I’ve watched news managers panic when the phone calls bombard newsrooms after an Exposé.  Threats to sue along with demands for retractions are common.  Today’s news managers just don’t have the stomach to hear the whining from the miscreants who see their foul deeds displayed on their TV screens. It is routine fo...