How the WSJ/Frontline documentary came to fruition

William Lewis, the CEO of Dow Jones & Co. and Wall Street Journal publisher, sent out the following to the staff on Wednesday:

Dear Colleague,

This week’s One Thing highlights an innovative collaboration that increases the power and delivery of our investigative journalism through film.

Following months of reporting, The Wall Street Journal teamed up with PBS’s Frontline to produce a deeply affecting, hour-long documentary exposing the U.S. Indian Health Service’s decades-long failure to prevent a government doctor from abusing Native American children.

Predator on the Reservation, which premieres today, explores an investigation by WSJ Reporters Christopher Weaver, Gabe Johnson and Dan Frosch, shepherded by Deputy Investigations Editor Jennifer Forsyth, who discovered the abuser was moved from reservation to reservation – despite warning signs and the efforts of whistleblowers.

The partnership between WSJ and PBS has given a fresh distribution dimension to a vital story – taking it to a wider audience using video storytelling. I would further note that the project is the result of a superb joint effort between WSJ’s investigative team, video department and U.S. news team.

In lieu of my usual question, I urge you to watch the documentary – not just because of the importance of its subject matter, but also as an example of brilliant, collaborative journalism in the public interest.

You can read more and watch it here.