California Watch and Investigative Journalism

We have been discussing in class how major newspapers often neglect political issues in California because they lack offices and staff in Sacramento capable of covering the California government beat. In addition, we talked last time about how investigative journalism becoming less common, partly due to how expensive it has become. Though this might be true The Center of Investigative Journalism's (which is a non-profit organization) California Watch has been hopefully helping to keep important investigative journalism alive in California.

Just a few weeks ago California Watch launched a media network which will be able to supply investigative journalism content to major California news sources and work with the news sources to create their own original investigative content:

BERKELEY, CA –– California Watch, a project of the Center for Investigative Reporting, today launched the California Watch Media Network and announced its first members, which include some of the state’s largest and most reputable news organizations.

Joining the network are the San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, San Diego Union Tribune, Orange County Register, Bakersfield Californian, and the Fresno Bee.

The news organizations that are part of the California Watch Media Network will receive stories and daily news posts from California Watch, the state’s largest investigative reporting team. The new group also will work to find ways to collaborate together on investigative reporting projects.