AIRing it all out

PBS launches a new journalistically inclined series that adds to their already impressive roster. The weekly half-hour program chronicles contemporary investigative journalism making headlines.











They even interview the newsmakers behind the stories, offering students like myself and news-junkies a glimpse into the thought process behind the stories.

Not just the 'what', but the 'why.' I like that.

Unlike similar documentary case-studies, this show promises to focus on the news making headlines today.

We won't be regaled with tales of Watergate, trust-busting, or Ralph Nader's battle with the Chevrolet Corvair. AIR promises contemporary pieces on like Abu Ghraib, Enron, FEMA's preparedness for Hurricane Katrina and the BALCO sports doping scandal.

According to a press release:

AIR will cast a wide net, including reports in the fields of government and the judicial system, business and investment, public safety, law enforcement, immigration, national security, elections, education, health and medicine, sports and more. In detailing the impact of each investigation, AIR will tackle broader issues - Is the public better protected now? Was the corruption stopped? Did the Congressman resign? Has the environment improved? And in some cases: Why has nothing been done?

The series began airing on PBS stations on September 1. Locally in the Bay Area (that's local as in for me) KQED is airing the shows. Air dates and episode synopsis are available on the Web site.

Filed under:

• journalism
• ethics
• j-school