INDIA
Mint on Suday
Vidhi Choudhary
Michael Rezendes is a Pulitzer-winning investigative reporter on The Boston Globe’s Spotlight team. In over two decades with the Globe, he has worked as a reporter and editor, covering presidential, state and local politics. In 2003, Rezendes did a story that revealed the cover up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, chronicled in the Academy Award-winning movie Spotlight.
On his maiden visit to India, Rezendes spoke at The Media Rumble, a news media conference organized by Newslaundry. In an interview to Mint on the sidelines of the event, Rezendes talked about the need to fund investigative media outlets and the financial difficulties news organizations face today. His advice to other journalists: question the truth, find the truth and publish the truth.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
What’s the biggest change that you’ve seen in the US journalism landscape over the last 5-10 years?
I’ve seen a very terrible, discouraging financial weakening of most news organizations in the United States. Most traditional news organizations… are cutting their staff, city halls are not being covered, state houses and courts are not being covered. I think because the revenue model has been destroyed by the internet, basic accountability journalism is not happening in cities all across America and I think its very troubling.
What could address this financial weakening?
I think there is going to be a new financial model that will evolve or maybe there’ll be several that evolve. I’m very interested in the non-profit model right now. There are some non-profit organizations in the United States that are doing very well. Pro Publica, the Centre for Investigative Reporting and the Centre for Public Integrity. These are all news organizations that exist with donations and they are doing very well and producing great work. …
The expose of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church was the biggest story of your career. Personally, what stays with you?
Always question authority.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.