Exposing the Folly of Corporate Welfare

Reviewing the coverage of this year's White House scandals set me to thinking about the state of investigative reporting in America. These days investigative reporting has largely given way to and is confused with reports of investigations. No matter that prosecutors (special and not) and their targets have made selective leaks a part of their strategy. Ditto the public relations gurus who are so effective at leaking on behalf of their corporate and celebrity clients. We in the media are too often happy accepting credit for disclosing that which has been dumped in our laps.

The stories that result may...