Local investigative reporting identified regulatory and bureaucratic bottlenecks that were preventing transmission upgrades, and public exposure directly prompted a governor to issue executive orders to fast‑track permits and provide state funding to unblock renewables. This shows reporting can be an operational lever, not just a spotlight, in infrastructure policy.
— If journalism can convert investigative findings into immediate administrative action, it becomes a practical governance tool for overcoming legislative gridlock on climate and infrastructure projects.
Tony Schick
2025.12.30
100% relevant
Gov. Tina Kotek explicitly credited ProPublica and Oregon Public Broadcasting reporting after issuing two executive orders to speed renewable energy development and pay for transmission upgrades.
2025.12.30
48% relevant
Both pieces show investigative reporting moving beyond exposure to operational impact: ProPublica’s curated list includes stories (e.g., health‑agency cuts; FDA failures) that, like the cited energy story, have prompted administrative action or policy scrutiny — linking journalism to concrete governance change.
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