"...reporters for this show research their subjects and interview the people closely involved..."

[SoCalDem]

Recognize the premise?

Want to guess the show?

hint: it's no longer what it purported to be..
hint: if you want to rehash a 12 yr old murder "mystery", it's your show

Oddly, the shows it wanted to be like have moved to the same style..













First show & synopsis for the series..

Do note that they reverted to "serious news" during the Clinton era, but have now returned to the let's revisit the mysterious case in Texas from 1996", or "let's entrap old creepy guys who want sex from teenagers"..


"Dateline NBC" (1992) More at IMDbPro »
ad feedback
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103396/episodes
Hosted by noted reporters Tom Brokaw and Jane Pauley, this program presents in-depth coverage of news stories in the tradition of 60 Minutes and 20/20. Rather than just reading news reports, as most news shows do, the reporters for this show research their subjects and interview the people closely involved to create an informative work of investigative journalism. Written by Jean-Marc Rocher

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, SoCalDem.

[SoCalDem]

2. 20-20 started in 1978....wtf?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124932/episodes
Plot Summary for
"20/20" (1978) More at IMDbPro »
ad feedback

Among the most recognized and revered television newsmagazines, "20/20" was ABC's answer to CBS's "60 Minutes." Though some stories were humorous, light-hearted and sometimes frivolous features, the meat of "20/20's" programming was investigative reporting many times exposing corporate, medical, educational and governmental wrongdoing, incompetence and criminal negligence and reports on news events of the week from (often) different angles than was seen on the nightly news. Oftentimes, co-host Walters interviewed a prominent celebrity, politician or other newsmaker (among her most famous interviews included her fearless interview of feared Libyan dictator Muhammar Qaddafi; and her inspirational story of Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, who was interviewed shortly after the Persian Gulf War had ended). The show's regular cast of contributors filed the reports, with the most prolific including John Stossel (who once had his nose broken while interviewing a World Wrestling Federation wrestler), Lynn Sherr, Stone Phillips (before he joined "Dateline NBC") and Catherine Crier. Though most of the reports proved to be factual, some were heralded as sensationalist; others led to allegations of libel while at least one story later proved to be an embarrassing hoax. Written by Brian Rathjen


.................................
yet all during the Reagan years, I do not recall much "investigative reporting", do you?

[Uncle Joe]

4. I've never thought 20/20 to give serious investigative competition to 60 minutes and I believe that

was part of the reason, the other networks trashed 60 Minutes regarding the age of it's journalist/interviewers.

It was a attempt to marginalize that program from younger viewers; and thus keep them from being exposed to serious journalism, allowing television to better fill the airwaves with propaganda, distraction and fluff.

This belittling of network television's best and virtually sole investigative program was a visible if little noticed symptom of televised journalism's atrophy.

The ironic thing is the journalistic rot began with the young, newer competitors of 60 Minutes, they didn't try to match or exceed 60 Minutes investigative quality of journalism, they just tried to tear 60 Minutes down to their level.

[SoCalDem]

5. Yep.. they did not wait very long to "modify" their shows

The shlocky stuff they waste those hours on, is maddening.. Every time I see Cynthia Mcfadden, I cringe.. She started out years ago with those wonderful panel shows about justice...they still hold up today

[JuniperLea]

3. What was it this used to be called?

Interrogated Deporting? No... Invulnerable Sporting? No... Substantiative Cavorting?

Investigative Reporting? !!! That's it! I remember that stuff!

Yeah, I miss it. It was a massive part of... jingoism? Naw... Socialism? Pft... no. Journalism! Wow! Journalism ruled! When I was a kid and the Chandler family ran the Los Angeles Times... *sniff*... now I'm going to cry.