Dateline NBC's "To Catch A Predator": Too Predatory?

"NEW YORK - July 16, 2007 – "Dateline's" investigative series, "To Catch a Predator," returns to primetime with Chris Hansen reporting from the New Jersey shore. In the upcoming broadcasts, alleged predators are arrested after chatting online about sex with a minor. Like the previous investigations, Chris Hansen confronts many of the men. In addition, dateline.msnbc.com, will feature exclusive video footage of his conversations with potential predators. The two-part investigation will air on Wednesday, July 18 and Wednesday, July 25 at 10 p.m. ET.--NBC Universal News Release

For the past two years, "Dateline's" hidden undercover investigations targeting Internet predators looking to hook up with underage girls and/or boys has been compelling television. Revealing. Shocking. Appalling. And very, very successful.
The other day, I received my bimonthly issue of "American Journalism Review" (an excellent source, by the way, for the thoughtful journalist). And I was surprised to read a column by former CBS News reporter Deborah Potter, who is now executive director of a broadcast training and research center called NewsLab. She pulled no punches about her opinion of "To Catch A Predator":
"Former 'Dateline' producer Marsha Bartel, who worked at NBC for more than 20 years, was let go last December just a few months after being promoted to sole producer of the 'Predator' series. Bartel says the company told her she was being dropped in a general round of layoffs....(But Bartel) believes she was forced out because she complained to her supervisors that the 'Predator' Series repeatedly violated the standards of ethical journalism."
Bartel has sued NBC for breach of contract, and in her filing, she makes rather serious allegation against the network:
"Contrary to NBC Policies and Guidelines,NBC unethically pays Perverted Justice (a private watchdog group that fights Internet predators) to troll for and lure targets into its sting, thereby giving it a financial incentive to lie and trick targets....(The targets are sometimes) led into additional acts of humiliation...in order to enhance the comedic effect of the public exposure of these persons."
That sounds more like an episode of "Big Brother" than a serious news program. But questions are growing about the tactics used by "Dateline." An article in "Esquire" magazine claims "Dateline" set up a producers tried to manipulate Texas police officers into arresting a prosecutor who killed himself when confronted by police at his home last year. It seems the prosecutor, Bill Conradt was lured by "Perverted Justice" to the undercover home after a chat with someone claiming to be a 13-year-old boy online. Conradt never showed up at the undercover home used by "Dateline," but police in Murphy, Texas went to Conradt's home to serve a search warrant--accompanied by NBC cameras. When police went into the home to arrest Conradt, he pointed a 38 caliber handgun to his head and pulled the trigger. He later died. Conradt's sister has filed a $105 million dollar federal lawsuit by NBC. And to show investigative journalism is the sincerest form of flattery, ABC News has confirmed it will investigate Conradt's death and what role "Dateline" played in it.
While "To Catch A Predator" has performed a public service by showing the dangers of stalkers online (and prompted many parents to monitor their kids' Web activities), is there a need for these undercover investigations to continue? As Potter pointed out in her article, "there are plenty of other worthwhile stories going begging for airtime while 'Dateline' tracks perverts."
She has a point. But as long as "To Catch A Predator" also catches viewers, the suggestion may be falling on deaf ears--not only to the powers-that-be at NBC, but other broadcast news organizations as well. And I suspect the next "Predator" house is being readied as we speak. As long as viewers watch, the incentive to focus on something new becomes less pressing.
Who says local newscasts aren't affecting national journalism?
Until next time, happ(ier) viewing!