The Tennessee Center For Policy Research Of Al Gore’s Electric Bills

By Kleinheider Posted on June 18, 2008 at 7:34 am

The Next Right profiles Drew Johnson’s Tennessee Center For Policy Research foray into investigative reporting:

This isn’t the first time Drew Johnson’s state-based think tank has hit the jackpot with a Drudge link. The organization broke news in February 2007 about Al Gore’s enormous energy bill. That story, too, was picked up by Drudge, sending a slew of hate mail to Johnson in the process.

Johnson has attempted to build on that success over the past year, emphasizing the importance of doing investigative reporting at the Tennessee Center for Policy Research — work that others in the state won’t do. He’s taken his message to other organizations in hopes they’ll follow his lead to recruit staff who are capable of this kind of work.

Other state-based think tanks are following a similar model. Heritage took its Computer-Assisted Research and Reporting class on the road last fall to Kansas City and St. Louis thanks in part to the Show-Me Institute. Mark Tapscott, editorial page editor at the Washington Examiner, and two other instructors taught broadcast journalists (and Show-Me Institute staff) how be an effective investigative reporter.

permalink

Comments