Chron investigates HHS overhaul

Charles Kuffner calls attention to a Chronicle investigative report from R.G. Ratcliffe on potential conflicts of interest and improprieties within the Texas system of health and human services.

The article typifies the gap that will always exist between news organizations with actual resources, and pure bloggers, in that most bloggers would never have the time, resources, or expertise to compile such a report via numerous public information requests and analysis.

There's more anonymous sourcing than I would like to see, and the report (like most of Ratcliffe's dispatches) would benefit from some strong editing. But a more salient complaint is the one raised on Kuffner's blog -- this story comes awfully late in the game, despite the fact that some bloggers were calling attention to the issue some time ago.

Blogs are never going to replace some functions of mainstream media (see Hindrocket on this topic here), and few of us blog enthusiasts contend otherwise (despite the fact that some ankle biters continue to knock down straw men in that regard). Still, mainstream journalism would benefit from adopting a healthier attitude towards blogs, which are often buzzing about interesting stories and neglected angles to those stories well before mainstream media gets in on the action. Count this as a prime example.

UPDATE: Kimberly offers some thoughts at A Little Pollyanna.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/02/05 12:33 PM | Print |

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