Channel 5 has announced today the creation of a nine-member investigative unit. (Although Emily Rooney had that news on last week's "Beat the Press" show on Channel 2.)
There's no way you can't be heartened by the idea of more long-form, investigative journalism on local TV. There are some quality reporters on this team, so hopefully, it's safe to assume there will be a minimum of "sweeps" driven stories on lethal underwear and fast food that causes impotence. Here's the release:
WCVB-TV Channel 5 President and General Manager Bill Fine will announce plans today to launch Team 5 Investigates, a nine-person unit dedicated to uncovering news, developing stories over an extended period and digging deeper into the top news of the day. The local, live investigative team will be the largest unit in the Boston television market when it debuts in early February 2006.
The dynamic team of reporters include Janet Wu, Susan Wornick, Kelley Tuthill, Rhondella Richardson and Sean Kelly. Each journalist brings unique enterprise reporting experience to Team 5 Investigates.
Jen Berryman will serve as Executive Producer of Team 5 Investigates. She has been Executive Producer of NewsCenter 5 at 11 for seven years. Medical reporter and producer Rhonda Mann takes over for Berryman on the late news. Coleen Marren is News Director and Neil Ungerleider is Assistant News Director.
In announcing the initiative, Fine said, “This team intends to uncover and discover news, not merely report on the big news stories of the day. This impressive group of reporters and news producers reflect decades of enterprise reporting in Greater Boston and beyond. Our promise to viewers; Team 5 Investigates will offer fair, balanced and accurate reporting.”