Discovery journalism

Just a few thoughts about "Team Carl's" road trip this week. We have been doing what I call discovery journalism. We show up, record what is happening, and package that into a story for Nightly News. Generally, we decide in advance where to go, but not a specific topic, just a snapshot of where we are and what we have found. It's challenging to go someplace with a minimal amount of setup and just trust that you will find something interesting enough to justify a story for a national audience.

That being said, I wasn't worried at all. I have done hundreds of stories in this part of the world. I love the people you find "off the highways." Everyone has a story, you just need a forum for someone to hear it. I have been a journalist since I was 20 years old. I love my job. As a journalist, you have an automatic license to ask anyone just about anything. It's also a huge responsibility to use those answers in a thoughtful and responsible manner. The answers we used this week I hope were both thoughtful and responsible.

It's back through New Orleans tonight and into Plaquemines Parish. The eye of Katrina  passed right over this place. The marshlands and canals that line the entire parish were actually rearranged by the storm. The power it takes to do that is hard to fathom. Just like in Cameron Parish, on the western edge of Louisiana, the damage will be severe. But just like the people in Cameron and Holly Beach, I'm betting they will be wounded, but not beaten down.