Former “Dateline” Reporter Blasts NBC

NEW YORK - A former “Dateline NBC” correspondent claims that in the aftermath of September 11, the network diverted him from reporting on al Qaeda and instead wanted him to ride along with the country’s “forgotten heroes,” firefighters.

John Hockenberry, who was laid off from “Dateline” in early 2005, wrote in this month’s Technology Review that on the Sunday after the September 2001 attacks he was pitching stories on the origins of al Qaeda and Islamic fundamentalism. He claimed that then-NBC programming chief Jeff Zucker, who came into a meeting Hockenberry was having with “Dateline” executive producer David Corvo, said “Dateline” should instead focus on the firefighters and perhaps ride along with them a la “Cops,” the Fox reality series.

According to Hockenberry, Zucker said “that he had no time for any subtitled interviews with jihadists raging about Palestine.”

NBC News wasn’t impressed by this or any of Hockenberry’s other claims.

“It’s unfortunate that John Hockenberry seems to be so far out of touch with reality,” an NBC spokesperson said. “The comments are so utterly absurd, we will have no further comment.” Another NBC executive said it didn’t sound like Zucker, who was promoted out of the news division and was at one time “Today” executive producer.

Hockenberry is a distinguished fellow at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Mass. But for more than 20 years, he was a broadcast journalist working at National Public Radio, ABC News and from 1996-2005, a correspondent at “Dateline.” Hockenberry’s blistering article trained much of its fire on the controversial NBC newsmagazine, which has been criticized for its “To Catch a Predator” series — a “highly rated pile of programming debris,” in Hockenberry’s words.

Another bombshell is Hockenberry’s claims that General Electric, NBC’s parent company, discouraged him from talking to the Bin Laden family about their estranged family member. Hockenberry asked GE, which does business with the Bin Laden family company, to help him get in contact with them. Instead, a PR executive called Hockenberry’s hotel room in Saudi Arabia and read a statement about how GE didn’t see its “valuable business relationship” with the Bin Laden Group as having anything to do with “Dateline.”

In another instance, Hockenberry claimed a story he did about a Weather Underground member wouldn’t appear on the Sunday edition of “Dateline” unless its lead-out, the 1960s family drama “American Dreams,” did a show about “protesters or something.” And for another story on the abuse of mentally ill inmates, Hockenberry was told by a producer that video of a fatal attack on a prisoner by guards wasn’t enough.

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23 Comments so far

dlnelson7 January 2nd, 2008 11:47 am

Rather than calling him disgruntled, it sounds like he should be listened to. We know how our news is whitewashed.

Doom n Gloom January 2nd, 2008 12:11 pm

Zucker obviously had a different political agenda and no tolerance for unguided journalism. Once again Israel is placed above America’s best interests.

From an American Indian perspective, Jews are complicit with the blackout of important Indian viewpoints in the media. At Indian blogs this is a common complaint across the U.S.

Thanks to John Hockenberry for staying with his values and not capitulating. They can’t fire us all.

Jack37 January 2nd, 2008 12:17 pm

I have been listening to John Hockenberry for over 20 years in all his various formats—the best, for me, being his summer evening shows called “Heat” that featured all kinds of UNKNOWN artists, thinkers, writers, and unusual “do-ers” (rather than the ones always being pumped by the mainstream), and all his work has been like that show, wide-awake, compassionate and uncompromising, setting high articulate standards especially of openness to many points of view. (The funniest was guest Allen Ginsberg reading poems to some jazz and talking about Trent Lott’s desire to keep gay guys in bondage—to which Hockenberry laughingly added the NPR disclaimer right away in a wheedling grandma’s voice)….So I am not surprised by any of these statements/reports of his that have the same sense of professional conscience in them, nor by the insulated, constipated executives who mistake their own broadcasted biases and bullshit for “reality.” GO JOHN! You have a bigger audience than you may realize….

PrestonDigitator January 2nd, 2008 12:19 pm

John Hockenberry is obviously a great man with great character who has met the enemy and it is the us establishment…. and our petard

forextrader January 2nd, 2008 1:13 pm

Shouldn’t Jeff Zucker’s last name spelled with an “F” instead of a “Z”? Just wondering.

conscience January 2nd, 2008 1:41 pm

Since we’ve seen no logical news re 9/11, who are we going to believe anyway . . . Hockenberry or MSM executives?

19 alleged hijackers — 14/15 of them Saudis — and we attack Iraq — !!!

The US created the Taliban/Al Qaeda, harnessing the energies of the most fanatical right-wing religious zealots.

Nixon also did this with Israel, arming their right-wing religious fanatics and at this point is it Israel or is it us? Hard to know. Except their peace-loving Israeli citizens have been totally subdued by religous fanatics in Israel.

And what about US’s Al Qaeda in Chechyna — ?

Well — if you didn’t see it on MSM, I guess it didn’t happen, eh?

B Payne-Economist January 2nd, 2008 1:42 pm

CATCHING PREDATORS, IGNORING CRIMINALS

“To Catch a Predator” is profitable because of the sad state of an audience who deeply needs to see the correction of original sin by a higher authority, combined with a concentrated media.

It’s a version of professional wrestling without the live screaming audience. Instead, the specter of good and evil forces are trotted onto the screen like a freak show with no applause or booing, luring disturbed individuals into play by “sting bait” on chat lines and young female actors playing even younger females.

Predators. Scum of the earth pedophiles. Pure, unadulterated vile. Caught in the act, point blank, red handed. Look, they’re from everywhere, all walks of life. They could be anyone, next door even.

But Chris Hansen will save us. With perfect timing, he enters on cue with the inflected voice that drops an octave and back up as measured words are issued carefully to string out the shock and embarrassment of the startled intruder.

Then it’s confession time, and Priest Hansen starts in with the taunting to draw out the full disgusting details of the deed committed … you wrote blank-blank and said blank-blank didn’t you … what were you thinking … you were going to do it weren’t you, weren’t you … .

Followed by take-down time as the disturbed one … so disturbed mentally as to send photos of his private body parts online to a stranger, underage no less … is slammed to the ground and interviewed further on camera to complete the carefully scripted scene designed to project vindication of all that is wrong in the world with that made right - instant justice.

Saddam Hussein? Was he the computer programmer from India with the condoms in his pocket? Or was that the guy who showed up half naked with a can of whipped cream? No wait … I got it … I got it … yea, he’s the one that attacked us on 9-11 …

Don’t go away folks, under the new FCC ownership rules, we’ve got lots more right after this commercial by Stupid Bob Happy-Sappy-Smile and Enzyte, the natural male enhancement that makes you feel like leading a parade.

conscience January 2nd, 2008 1:52 pm

Funny — but, of course, Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11 —

Coyotita January 2nd, 2008 1:56 pm

As a journalist working the metro beat during Desert Storm, Act I of the Bush’s New World Order Fantasy, what Hockenberry writes sounds true. Orders do come around to drop any semblance of balance in reporting. Just who decides that during times of war, we should only hear one side boils down to media ownership. Why would anyone want to own everything they can get their hands on? The advertsing dollar is good, but running the world is better!

vaudree January 2nd, 2008 2:10 pm

RE: “It’s unfortunate that John Hockenberry seems to be so far out of touch with reality,” an NBC spokesperson said. “The comments are so utterly absurd, we will have no further comment.”

Seems as if NBC prefers to attack Hockenberry’s mental state than to address what he actually said. Saying that his comments are “utterly absurd” doesn’t give us any hint as to what it is that they are actually denying. I don’t think that they want to go on record as denying anything specific.

I think we should be smelling blood and going in for the kill.

RE: 19 alleged hijackers — 14/15 of them Saudis — and we attack Iraq — !!!

To know that little tidbit, you must be getting logical news from some place. My hope is that it was Canada.

Paul Bramscher January 2nd, 2008 2:34 pm

Is this the “liberal media” that Reagan warned us about so many years ago?

If it gets any more “liberal”, we’ll all be goose-stepping.

nspire January 2nd, 2008 3:17 pm

Yep, yep, yep — It’s liberating us from our freedoms, future, and any resemblance of what America used to stand for.

We just listen attentively to the LIES,

and LAY everything important down

(to consume more, and BE less)

HDune January 2nd, 2008 4:18 pm

This is the problem with multinational mega companies owning media. We’ve gone from about 50 different owners of all media in the early 80’s, to about 5 or 6 companies owning all media today. It’s time to do what was done to the Standard oil monopoly and split these companies up into a bunch of smaller units.

moonraven January 2nd, 2008 5:45 pm

The US media have gotten rid of every single veteran journalist with an IQ over 70 and any integrity: Hockenberry, Rather, BILL MOYER (although he has found a way back).

Nothing left but over the hill bimbos and fat, flatulent assholes on Fox News screaming obscenities at the interviewees.

Gail January 2nd, 2008 7:12 pm

“It’s unfortunate that John Hockenberry seems to be so far out of touch with reality,” an NBC spokesperson said. “The comments are so utterly absurd, we will have no further comment.”

Hmmmm……Out of touch with reality?……Take a good look in the mirror and perhaps you’ll discover why “no further comment” could be made.

Your soundbite is “utterly absurd”!

coco January 2nd, 2008 8:57 pm

MOONRAVEN

the u.s. have gotten rid of every single president with an i.q. over 70 and any integrity for the past 7 years……..let’s not discuss the ‘flatulent assholes’ who accompany him…………

redjeff January 2nd, 2008 10:12 pm

Hockenberry is being treated by NBC as if he’s lost his marbles. I think all of his marbles are right where they belong.

When I got to the next-to-last paragraph of the Reuters article above, my jaw dropped. I’ve often thought Bush pulled off of Afghanistan to spare OBL, at the behest of our “friends”, the Saudi royal family. GE, owner of NBC, does business with the bin Laden family firm; they are also a major military contractor. It would be embarrassing to GE to broadcast these linkages, and on their own network, no less. A very illustrative example of how corporate ownership fixes news content, this is more than a blow to journalistic integrity; it puts big business and its profits ahead of legitimate national interests.

polam January 2nd, 2008 11:39 pm

Foe a look at what real news looks like, check out the Video Liberation Movement here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2293923683440246993

vaudree January 3rd, 2008 12:52 am

They were trying to get Rather since Vietnam.

Rather had enough information to prove that Bush was basically AWOL from service without that fake memo.

The Republicans who fabricated that memo (we know this because they knew right away it was fake) counted on those around Rather getting greedy. One fake memo discredited all the facts surrounding

Also, Rather was expected to delegate more and more to younger journalists that did not have his caution. Rather was more careful in checking and double checking things and falsely presumed that it had been done in this case.

If more and more Americans start watching Canadian News television, then the networks would have to start pandering to those interested in the news.

You can watch The National - it is on line for 24 hours after broadcast.

http://www.cbc.ca/national/latestbroadcast.htm

And, with this much going on in the US with the Republican and Democrat Races, Politics stays up for a week:

www.cbc.ca/politics/

I am sure that the BBC has its news on line as well - and don’t forget Aljazeera:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/55ABE840-AC30-41D2-BDC9-06BBE2A36665.htm

Seems that one of detainees in Guantanamohave just died of cancer. They are also covering Iowa and the CIA tapes.

Booksense January 3rd, 2008 9:16 am

Vaudree,

You have given me an inspiration. We of course know about CD. But maybe we should compose a comprehensive list of alternative sources of news, especially those with video. I have a few sites that I always check including some foreign papers, Democracy Now, etc. But I have never checked out the Canadian Broadcast Network online. Thanks for the heads up.

OR maybe a list like this already exists somewhere. I just need to bookmark it so I can shortcut from it. I always see some of the links on the right side of the CD homepage but I think some of these are progressive organizations that are involved with specific causes. I’m interested in actual news sites. CD is an excellent potpourri of stories. I just want to make sure I stay as informed on US and World Events as possible and BYPASS the M$M 99.9% of the time if that’s possible. I never watch any M$M news broadcast, because I just can’t stomach it.

Peace.

vaudree January 3rd, 2008 11:52 am

ctv.ca has more video for their news stories than the CBC does - but it’s news show is fluff.

I think that if you know about CD that you also know about

rabble.ca

straightgoods.com

ndp.ca

And Hansard - the transcript of the Canadian Parliament during Question Period:

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/housechamberbusiness/chambersittings.aspx?Key=2007&View=H&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=2

You scroll down to the bottom, click on a date on the calendar and use the edit/find for which ever term you want to see if it was discussed that day

Or, when in session (returning January 28), you can watch it live on cpac.ca

http://cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&section_id=24&template_id=186&lang=e

It is where the Opposition asks the Prime Minister and his Ministers question which sound more like allegations and the PM and his Minister pretend to answer them.

vaudree January 3rd, 2008 12:09 pm

For a more comic look at the news, there is

The Rick Mercer Report
cbc.ca/mercerreport

Air Farce

sketchcom.com

22 Minutes

http://www.cbc.ca/22minutes/

Note that the “video vault” is for the really old stuff and but that there is a newer archive if you click to the right of the black head.

Some of it is fluff, but you do get an idea of the major issues going round.

Bob K. January 4th, 2008 10:29 am

Hockenberry’s experiences are the same as hundreds of other MSM journalists. They pitch stories that editors and executives spike. It’s a constant struggle. Meanwhile, other journalists are happy to advance their careers by pitching stories they know will please their corporate bosses.

As to Dateline’s “Predator” series, I don’t know what Hockenberry means by a “pile of programming debris.” I think it’s an example good journalism. The fact that it is highly rated does not make it less so. Child molesting has been swept under the rug for too many decades — witness the Catholic priest revelations in recent years. I applaud Dateline for taking it on.

I have to wonder if those who criticize “Predator” are somehow OK with child molesting (maybe they come from parts of Kentucky or Utah where it is traditional).

dlnelson7 January 2nd, 2008 11:47 am

Rather than calling him disgruntled, it sounds like he should be listened to. We know how our news is whitewashed.
Doom n Gloom January 2nd, 2008 12:11 pm

Zucker obviously had a different political agenda and no tolerance for unguided journalism. Once again Israel is placed above America’s best interests.

From an American Indian perspective, Jews are complicit with the blackout of important Indian viewpoints in the media. At Indian blogs this is a common complaint across the U.S.

Thanks to John Hockenberry for staying with his values and not capitulating. They can’t fire us all.
Jack37 January 2nd, 2008 12:17 pm

I have been listening to John Hockenberry for over 20 years in all his various formats—the best, for me, being his summer evening shows called “Heat” that featured all kinds of UNKNOWN artists, thinkers, writers, and unusual “do-ers” (rather than the ones always being pumped by the mainstream), and all his work has been like that show, wide-awake, compassionate and uncompromising, setting high articulate standards especially of openness to many points of view. (The funniest was guest Allen Ginsberg reading poems to some jazz and talking about Trent Lott’s desire to keep gay guys in bondage—to which Hockenberry laughingly added the NPR disclaimer right away in a wheedling grandma’s voice)….So I am not surprised by any of these statements/reports of his that have the same sense of professional conscience in them, nor by the insulated, constipated executives who mistake their own broadcasted biases and bullshit for “reality.” GO JOHN! You have a bigger audience than you may realize….
PrestonDigitator January 2nd, 2008 12:19 pm

John Hockenberry is obviously a great man with great character who has met the enemy and it is the us establishment…. and our petard
forextrader January 2nd, 2008 1:13 pm

Shouldn’t Jeff Zucker’s last name spelled with an “F” instead of a “Z”? Just wondering.
conscience January 2nd, 2008 1:41 pm

Since we’ve seen no logical news re 9/11, who are we going to believe anyway . . . Hockenberry or MSM executives?

19 alleged hijackers — 14/15 of them Saudis — and we attack Iraq — !!!

The US created the Taliban/Al Qaeda, harnessing the energies of the most fanatical right-wing religious zealots.

Nixon also did this with Israel, arming their right-wing religious fanatics and at this point is it Israel or is it us? Hard to know. Except their peace-loving Israeli citizens have been totally subdued by religous fanatics in Israel.

And what about US’s Al Qaeda in Chechyna — ?

Well — if you didn’t see it on MSM, I guess it didn’t happen, eh?
B Payne-Economist January 2nd, 2008 1:42 pm

CATCHING PREDATORS, IGNORING CRIMINALS

“To Catch a Predator” is profitable because of the sad state of an audience who deeply needs to see the correction of original sin by a higher authority, combined with a concentrated media.

It’s a version of professional wrestling without the live screaming audience. Instead, the specter of good and evil forces are trotted onto the screen like a freak show with no applause or booing, luring disturbed individuals into play by “sting bait” on chat lines and young female actors playing even younger females.

Predators. Scum of the earth pedophiles. Pure, unadulterated vile. Caught in the act, point blank, red handed. Look, they’re from everywhere, all walks of life. They could be anyone, next door even.

But Chris Hansen will save us. With perfect timing, he enters on cue with the inflected voice that drops an octave and back up as measured words are issued carefully to string out the shock and embarrassment of the startled intruder.

Then it’s confession time, and Priest Hansen starts in with the taunting to draw out the full disgusting details of the deed committed … you wrote blank-blank and said blank-blank didn’t you … what were you thinking … you were going to do it weren’t you, weren’t you … .

Followed by take-down time as the disturbed one … so disturbed mentally as to send photos of his private body parts online to a stranger, underage no less … is slammed to the ground and interviewed further on camera to complete the carefully scripted scene designed to project vindication of all that is wrong in the world with that made right - instant justice.

Saddam Hussein? Was he the computer programmer from India with the condoms in his pocket? Or was that the guy who showed up half naked with a can of whipped cream? No wait … I got it … I got it … yea, he’s the one that attacked us on 9-11 …

Don’t go away folks, under the new FCC ownership rules, we’ve got lots more right after this commercial by Stupid Bob Happy-Sappy-Smile and Enzyte, the natural male enhancement that makes you feel like leading a parade.
conscience January 2nd, 2008 1:52 pm

Funny — but, of course, Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11 —
Coyotita January 2nd, 2008 1:56 pm

As a journalist working the metro beat during Desert Storm, Act I of the Bush’s New World Order Fantasy, what Hockenberry writes sounds true. Orders do come around to drop any semblance of balance in reporting. Just who decides that during times of war, we should only hear one side boils down to media ownership. Why would anyone want to own everything they can get their hands on? The advertsing dollar is good, but running the world is better!
vaudree January 2nd, 2008 2:10 pm

RE: “It’s unfortunate that John Hockenberry seems to be so far out of touch with reality,” an NBC spokesperson said. “The comments are so utterly absurd, we will have no further comment.”

Seems as if NBC prefers to attack Hockenberry’s mental state than to address what he actually said. Saying that his comments are “utterly absurd” doesn’t give us any hint as to what it is that they are actually denying. I don’t think that they want to go on record as denying anything specific.

I think we should be smelling blood and going in for the kill.

RE: 19 alleged hijackers — 14/15 of them Saudis — and we attack Iraq — !!!

To know that little tidbit, you must be getting logical news from some place. My hope is that it was Canada.
Paul Bramscher January 2nd, 2008 2:34 pm

Is this the “liberal media” that Reagan warned us about so many years ago?

If it gets any more “liberal”, we’ll all be goose-stepping.
nspire January 2nd, 2008 3:17 pm

Yep, yep, yep — It’s liberating us from our freedoms, future, and any resemblance of what America used to stand for.

We just listen attentively to the LIES,

and LAY everything important down

(to consume more, and BE less)
HDune January 2nd, 2008 4:18 pm

This is the problem with multinational mega companies owning media. We’ve gone from about 50 different owners of all media in the early 80’s, to about 5 or 6 companies owning all media today. It’s time to do what was done to the Standard oil monopoly and split these companies up into a bunch of smaller units.
moonraven January 2nd, 2008 5:45 pm

The US media have gotten rid of every single veteran journalist with an IQ over 70 and any integrity: Hockenberry, Rather, BILL MOYER (although he has found a way back).

Nothing left but over the hill bimbos and fat, flatulent assholes on Fox News screaming obscenities at the interviewees.
Gail January 2nd, 2008 7:12 pm

“It’s unfortunate that John Hockenberry seems to be so far out of touch with reality,” an NBC spokesperson said. “The comments are so utterly absurd, we will have no further comment.”

Hmmmm……Out of touch with reality?……Take a good look in the mirror and perhaps you’ll discover why “no further comment” could be made.

Your soundbite is “utterly absurd”!
coco January 2nd, 2008 8:57 pm

MOONRAVEN

the u.s. have gotten rid of every single president with an i.q. over 70 and any integrity for the past 7 years……..let’s not discuss the ‘flatulent assholes’ who accompany him…………
redjeff January 2nd, 2008 10:12 pm

Hockenberry is being treated by NBC as if he’s lost his marbles. I think all of his marbles are right where they belong.

When I got to the next-to-last paragraph of the Reuters article above, my jaw dropped. I’ve often thought Bush pulled off of Afghanistan to spare OBL, at the behest of our “friends”, the Saudi royal family. GE, owner of NBC, does business with the bin Laden family firm; they are also a major military contractor. It would be embarrassing to GE to broadcast these linkages, and on their own network, no less. A very illustrative example of how corporate ownership fixes news content, this is more than a blow to journalistic integrity; it puts big business and its profits ahead of legitimate national interests.
polam January 2nd, 2008 11:39 pm

Foe a look at what real news looks like, check out the Video Liberation Movement here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2293923683440246993
vaudree January 3rd, 2008 12:52 am

They were trying to get Rather since Vietnam.

Rather had enough information to prove that Bush was basically AWOL from service without that fake memo.

The Republicans who fabricated that memo (we know this because they knew right away it was fake) counted on those around Rather getting greedy. One fake memo discredited all the facts surrounding

Also, Rather was expected to delegate more and more to younger journalists that did not have his caution. Rather was more careful in checking and double checking things and falsely presumed that it had been done in this case.

If more and more Americans start watching Canadian News television, then the networks would have to start pandering to those interested in the news.

You can watch The National - it is on line for 24 hours after broadcast.

http://www.cbc.ca/national/latestbroadcast.htm

And, with this much going on in the US with the Republican and Democrat Races, Politics stays up for a week:

www.cbc.ca/politics/

I am sure that the BBC has its news on line as well - and don’t forget Aljazeera:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/55ABE840-AC30-41D2-BDC9-06BBE2A36665.htm

Seems that one of detainees in Guantanamohave just died of cancer. They are also covering Iowa and the CIA tapes.
Booksense January 3rd, 2008 9:16 am

Vaudree,

You have given me an inspiration. We of course know about CD. But maybe we should compose a comprehensive list of alternative sources of news, especially those with video. I have a few sites that I always check including some foreign papers, Democracy Now, etc. But I have never checked out the Canadian Broadcast Network online. Thanks for the heads up.

OR maybe a list like this already exists somewhere. I just need to bookmark it so I can shortcut from it. I always see some of the links on the right side of the CD homepage but I think some of these are progressive organizations that are involved with specific causes. I’m interested in actual news sites. CD is an excellent potpourri of stories. I just want to make sure I stay as informed on US and World Events as possible and BYPASS the M$M 99.9% of the time if that’s possible. I never watch any M$M news broadcast, because I just can’t stomach it.

Peace.
vaudree January 3rd, 2008 11:52 am

ctv.ca has more video for their news stories than the CBC does - but it’s news show is fluff.

I think that if you know about CD that you also know about

rabble.ca

straightgoods.com

ndp.ca

And Hansard - the transcript of the Canadian Parliament during Question Period:

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/housechamberbusiness/chambersittings.aspx?Key=2007&View=H&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=2

You scroll down to the bottom, click on a date on the calendar and use the edit/find for which ever term you want to see if it was discussed that day

Or, when in session (returning January 28), you can watch it live on cpac.ca

http://cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&section_id=24&template_id=186&lang=e

It is where the Opposition asks the Prime Minister and his Ministers question which sound more like allegations and the PM and his Minister pretend to answer them.
vaudree January 3rd, 2008 12:09 pm

For a more comic look at the news, there is

The Rick Mercer Report
cbc.ca/mercerreport

Air Farce

sketchcom.com

22 Minutes

http://www.cbc.ca/22minutes/

Note that the “video vault” is for the really old stuff and but that there is a newer archive if you click to the right of the black head.

Some of it is fluff, but you do get an idea of the major issues going round.
Bob K. January 4th, 2008 10:29 am

Hockenberry’s experiences are the same as hundreds of other MSM journalists. They pitch stories that editors and executives spike. It’s a constant struggle. Meanwhile, other journalists are happy to advance their careers by pitching stories they know will please their corporate bosses.

As to Dateline’s “Predator” series, I don’t know what Hockenberry means by a “pile of programming debris.” I think it’s an example good journalism. The fact that it is highly rated does not make it less so. Child molesting has been swept under the rug for too many decades — witness the Catholic priest revelations in recent years. I applaud Dateline for taking it on.

I have to wonder if those who criticize “Predator” are somehow OK with child molesting (maybe they come from parts of Kentucky or Utah where it is traditional).

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