Coverage on target

The mainstream media and the Washington Post in particular catch a lot of grief for the way they cover government contracting. They focus on the negative, make overly broad generalizations and lack context, or so the complaints say.One issue I've had is that the mainstream press doesn't do enough explanatory journalism, where they take the time and space to break down an issue.But on Dec. 7, the Washington Post did a great job with a long piece on the Both with texts and graphics it explained the program and what it is trying to accomplish. It did not skirt any of the tough challenges and complaints that the program has engendered, about cost overruns and technical feasibility. It gave supporters and opponents a voice, but it didn't try to persuade.It is worth taking the time to read it.