A former colleague of mine is asking good questions about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, including how a hurricane could potentially spread the oil inland.Now retired from USA Today, weather guru Jack Williams shows he still has an inquisitive mind. Reporters should note the kind of questions Jack is asking in his blog. These are questions that I haven't heard asked by media types, let alone answered by officials or experts. They are evolving and important questions about what might turn into the biggest story since Sept. 11, 2001.
Jack proves what most media managers should know but sometimes forget. Insightful reporting, instincts to ask the right questions and polished professionalism can't be replaced in newsrooms by shortcuts and technical wizardry. When guys like Jack leave the business, journalism suffers, knowledge isn't passed down to younger reporters and consumers of news get a less substantive report.
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