Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
Associated Press does a little feature on Court TV's Diane Dimond and her scoops on the Michael Jackson sexual abuse case.
A few months ago, reporter Diane Dimond told Court TV Chairman Henry Schleiff that she was working on a great story and would need him to commit money and manpower to help dig it out. But even in the privacy of his office, she wouldn't tell Schleiff what the story was.Intrigued, he gave Dimond the go-ahead. Schleiff was rewarded in late November when she broke the story of authorities searching Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch for evidence, the precursor to molestation charges filed against the pop star.
Dimond's work has put the network out front on what is certain to be one of the biggest legal stories of 2004 - no small matter when you're a news network devoted to crime and punishment.
Her tough reporting has also left Dimond vulnerable to charges that she's too identified with the prosecution, and that Court TV's coup could crumble if the case against Jackson does.
Earlier: Scoops pay off