Maybe it's the excitement of tracking a story that drives them. Maybe it's a passion for the facts and the belief that the people need to know them to make decisions about their lives, their country, their place in this world.
Reporters are a different, unique breed of writer.
Whatever motivates them, the good ones share a common understanding of the role of journalism. They know how to discover and develop a story, how to evaluate sources, why and when to look behind what appears to be the story. They know how to writ about it in clear language so the story is told.