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MEDIA: The New Investigative News Network

By Gordon Witkin | July 02, 2009, 2:20 pm

We came. We saw. We talked. We argued. But when this week’s meeting at New York’s Pocantico Conference Center wrapped up Wednesday, the groundwork had been laid — we hope — for an unprecedented new nonprofit Investigative News Network.

We’ll admit it, this feels pretty exciting. In fact, the word “historic” was mentioned way more than once. But the devil is in the details — and that was mentioned even more times. So, before the nearly 40 people representing a few dozen investigative news organizations pat ourselves on the back too heartily, there’s lots of work to be done.

The size and scope of our “to do” list is rooted in the multiple challenges we face — some shared, some not. This new journalistic collaborative represents a rather disparate group. At some level, we’re all journalists, entrepreneurs, even dreamers. But after that, things get a bit complicated. Some of the groups at Pocantico — the Center for Public Integrity, the Center for Investigative Reporting, National Public Radio, or the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University — are national in outlook. Others, like MinnPost and the Voice of San Diego, are more regional in scope and do many other things besides investigative reporting. Still others, like the Watchdog Institute or the Rocky Mountain Investigative News Network, are still getting their feet under them.

Do we all fit under one umbrella? We think the answer is yes. While we collaborate on some cracker-jack investigative pieces, we’ve also got to make sure our members can survive and thrive. “Sustainability” was perhaps the biggest topic over the past three days — as in, how do we pay for all this and keep the lights on? As the budding network moves forward, one top priority will be brainstorming how to raise revenue. We’ll also explore cooperating on administrative and “back office” functions, like web design, health insurance, and legal advice, to name just a few.

We’ll need some help with all that, so we’ll be looking to get started with a planning grant. And over the next few months, a steering committee will be responsible for helping turn our vision into a reality. The members of that committee are listed here.

Meanwhile, it’s on to the fun stuff — collaborating on aggressive watchdog reporting and jointly producing those making-powerful-institutions-accountable investigative projects. The declaration we issued at Pocantico says that part of our mission is to “foster the highest quality investigative journalism, and to hold those in power accountable, at the local, national and international levels.”

We hope you’ll agree that’s pretty important stuff, particularly in these troubled times for journalism. We’ll report back as the network develops and let you know how it’s going.

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  1. Posted by: Gary K on July 13, 2009, 4:27 am

    I would really like to see the EPA-OBD II Annual Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law closely examined, and changed.As it stands right now, it is entirely possible for any Gasoline powered Vehicle, from 1996 to the present, to fail it’s Emissions Inspection, for not emitting enough polluting Exhaust Emissions ! All such Vehicles have on board Oxygen [O2] Exhaust Sensors.These O2 Sensors are set up to detect a level of polluting Exhaust Emissions that would indicate that Gasoline is being consumed by an Engine at 14.7 parts of Air to 1 part of Fuel.If there is a low level of Oxygen, and a high level of Pollution, a Vehicle will fail it’s Emissions Inspection, as well it should.But, Gasoline can be safely vaporized into a mixture that is 100 parts of Air to 1 part of Fuel.With this, even the largest SUV could easily get 50 + MPG, and emit a fraction of the Emissions of a conventional 14.7/1 Fuel System, with an increase in Power, and much longer Engine life.I’m not the first to figure this out.Far from it ! For proof, do a search on [the late] Tom Ogle, and Charles Nelson Pogue.Then, go to http://energy21.freeservers.com/bookrep.html, and scan down the page to just before the update.But, even if it is not to be believed that Fuel Vaporization is entirely possible, it’s illegal to even attempt to do so, with any Vehicle, 13 years old, or newer.O2 Sensors are set up to detect that Fuel is being consumed at 14.7/1. A mixture of 100 / 1 will not emit enough Polluting Exhaust Emissions to register on O2 Sensors.When such a Vehicle is connected to an OBD II Emissions Inspection Analyzer, an O2 Sensor Failure Code will be generated, which will result in a failed Emissions Inspection.O2 Sensor Exemptions are permitted for Vehicles that have been legally converted to operate on Natural Gas, Propane, or Hydrogen, and are Registered as such.But not for vaporized Gasoline.Thus, it is entirely possible, under this EPA-OBD II Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law, for any Gasoline powered Vehicle, 13 years old, or newer, to fail it’s Emissions Test, for not emitting enough polluting Exhaust Emissions ! As long as this insane 14.7/1 Law that only benefits Big Oil remains in effect, the only way to make Vehicles more “efficient” will be to make them lighter, and smaller.This has got to change ! I have asked the Question many times ; “Why is it illegal for any Gasoline powered Vehicle, 13 Years old, or newer, to emit too little polluting Exhaust Emissions”? So far, not one Big Oil Executive, Politician, or Concerned Environmentalist can, or will answer the Question.Those that have replied can’t seem to come up with an Answer either.Can you ?

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