The ambush technique has been used, and abused, throughout the history of investigative reporting on television. Radio and print reporters ambush their targets, too. On radio, we can hear the fear in your voice. We can t see your terror in those media. The reporters tell us, in their own words, how frightened and guilty you looked, then give us your response.
Reporters know they can usually count on the ambush to make the target of their story look bad.
At the same time, they re carrying out their obligation to get your side of the issue. It s heads they win, tails you lose. Some veteran reporters who ambushed their targets for years now question the fairness of the technique. The audience has become more sophisticated. Part of the rethinking involves not wanting to look like a TV bully picking on a defenseless little guy.