Investigative Reporting: Not Dead Yet

Investigative reporting has long been a way for TV stations to promote themselves, build journalistic reputations and, often, improve lives in their communities. But many stations have been cutting back on their investigative teams or eliminating them altogether. They can no longer justify the high costs of dedicating reporters, producers and other resources to digging out and presenting good, tough news stories. Financially troubled owners and managers are more interested in building audiences and revenue than they are reputations.