LA’s Media Has Reduced Itself to Being the Government’s Public Relations Agency

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 published without being reviewed by their legal teams. Lawyers are expensive, and media organizations simply won’t pay. As a result, investigative stories that should be told are not being told.

Attending the conference costs each individual approximately $1,500, including airfare, hotels, and various fees. However, this year, LA-based reporters could skip the cost of hotels and airfare.

Aside from adequate representation by KCBS/KCAL, the presence of other local LA TV stations was very poor or nonexistent. This sends a clear message: investigative reporting is virtually dead in LA, despite the self-promotion of their investigative reports.

Frankly, if the government didn’t hand out press releases, most of the LA news organizations would have to shut down. The competitive enterprise reporting of the past is just that—past. I can’t recall a single significant story uncovered by LA local TV in the last 20 years.

As a result, Los Angeles’ waste and corruption go entirely unchecked. Everything in California is under the absolute control of Democrat politicians, and no, they do not police each other.

George Orwell said it best: “Journalism is publishing what others don’t want published; anything else is public relations.” It’s a sad state of affairs with no correction expected in the future

Pam Zekman, A Chicago Legend Retires

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 and compete.  There is no alternative.  Harris has both the guts and savvy to make the right decision.  Like me, Harris knows that being number one is never enough!

Here is my Happy Trails video for Zekman:  

Why Investigative Reporting is Dead in America

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 for every investigative story to be reviewed by lawyers before broadcasting is approved.  The cost of the lawyers has steadfastly increased while the revenue form advertisers has been steadily tanking.

What you see these days, are routine and somewhat lame consumer stories disguised and packaged as investigative reports.  

Seemingly gone forever are those great hidden camera stories from the 1960s,70s and 80s.  

Going after politicians or celebrities carries little risk since they are clearly public figures.  Those are considered safe targets since their legal protections are very limited. 

This is really a sad state of affairs for news organizations.  The public no longer has a watchdog press waiting to pounce on lawbreakers and scam artists.