—CalWatchdog.com to Report on Government Waste, Fraud and Abuse—


Sacramento—The Pacific Research Institute's Journalism Center has launched a new California state news and investigative reporting website www.CalWatchdog.com.

CalWatchdog provides investigative coverage of state government and enterprising news reports that often are overlooked by other media—especially in a time of cutbacks in state Capitol coverage. CalWatchdog.com launched in time to coincide with the start of the 2010 legislative session.

“As the new legislative session opens in California, it’s no secret that the state continues to face massive budget deficits and endless problems,” said editor-in-chief Steven Greenhut. “This is the right time to start such a journalistic endeavor focused on holding California’s powerful regulatory agencies and massive bureaucracies accountable.”

Steven Greenhut, former deputy editor of the Orange County Register and author of Plunder! How Public Employee Unions Are Raiding Treasures, Controlling Our Lives And Bankrupting the Nation, brings a great deal of insight and experience to CalWatchdog. “I'm also excited to bring on board two talented and experienced reporters with a background in breaking news and explaining it in an enlightening way.”

Veteran reporters Anthony Pignataro and Katy Grimes have joined CalWatchdog as part of its investigative reporting team.

Investigative reporter Anthony Pignataro has been a journalist for nearly 14 years. He began his career as a reporter at OC Weekly in Southern California, then spent five years in Hawaii editing Maui Time Weekly.

“With all that’s going on in California's bloated state government, we see a treasure trove of investigative stories,” said Mr. Pignataro. “We intend to turn CalWatchdog.com into a must-read site for anyone interested in learning where their tax dollars go.”

News reporter Katy Grimes is a longtime political analyst, writer, and journalist. Ms. Grimes has written columns for the Sacramento Union, Washington Examiner, San Francisco Examiner and Sacramento Bee. Ms. Grimes has been an influential political blogger since 2004 and currently blogs at Townhall.com and the Sacramento Citizen.

“Working with PRI's new CalWatchdog project is a great opportunity to be a pioneer in the new web-based nonprofit model of journalism,” said Ms. Grimes. “As CalWatchdog gears up coverage of politics in the Capitol, I will be reporting and writing about political news that is routinely overlooked.”

“Look to our site for enterprise and investigative journalism, lively columns and original political cartoons. You'll also find our work in various newspapers,” added Mr. Greenhut.

###