I’m not sure where Mr. Pena has been, but what is it that is new about this?
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.
Off the top of my head, I thought of Open Secrets, CREW, PorkBusters, NewsBusters, Pajamas Media, Huffington Post, and any number of blogs that have been providing this service.
Pro Publica doesn’t need to win with the MSM to be successful. If that were the case, there wouldn’t be a fraction of the blogoshere that we now have. But what is it that Pro Publica will offer that any of the organizations that I listed above haven’t? Nothing really.
Memeorandum has more
More from the NEW YORK SLIMES they call it investigative reporting we call it invasion of privicy<):)