Web provides outlet for watchdog reporting

Watchdog journalism and investigative reporting are finding an outlet on the Internet, according to a report by Richard Pérez-Peña of The New York Times. "As America’s newspapers shrink and shed staff, and broadcast news outlets sink in the ratings, a new kind of Web-based news operation has arisen in several cities, forcing the papers to follow the stories they uncover." While online news organizations cost far less to run than a conventional paper, the advertising revenue still is not sufficient to sustain these efforts. Thus, many are operating in a public broadcasting mold - as nonprofit corporations reliant on donors and foundation grants, along with reader support and some advertising.