It’s also odd this year because we just had the Olympics a few months ago. Part of the appeal of the games is that they’re framed as a rare spectacle.

When news organizations publish investigative stories, they often follow-up with further coverage highlighting what the industry calls "impact." Then, during prize season (think Pulitzers, but there are many others), editors can point to these follow-up stories and say, "see, we weren't just farting into the wind. We were changing the world."