If you took a popularity poll, reporters would rank down near lawyers and I.R.S. agents. So what can journalists do to regain their credibility? In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, how many reporters get duped by the so-called "experts" they quote. Also, a magazine writer's campaign against celebrity journalism.

Deborah Copaken Kogan chronicles her four years as a photojournalist in her memoir "Shutterbabe." She tells Steve Paulson about making her way in a very macho field, dealing with discomfort on the road, and the time she did the most good by not publishing her pictures. Also, P. Sainath has won many major journalism awards in India and Europe. His book is "Everybody Loves A Good Drought: Stories from India's Poorest Districts." Sainath tells Anne Strainchamps why you have to spend time with the poor to report on their problems, and talks about his new project - researching the situation of the former "Untouchables."

David Brooks reads an except from his book "Bobos in Paradise" on the incestuous relationship between "experts" and media outlets. Also, John Stauber of the muckraking Center for Media and Democracy is the co-author (with Sheldon Rampton) of "Trust Us, We're Experts!: How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles with Your Future." Stauber tells Jim Fleming that people should question "independent experts" to find out where their funding comes from and what their ties to industry are. You'll find information on their sources of funding on their website: prwatch.org

Dr. Andrew Weil, author of "Eight Weeks to Optimum Health," explains to Steve Paulson why people might want to consider going on a week-long news fast. Also, Susan Orlean is a staff writer for the New Yorker and author of "The Bullfighter Checks Her Make-up." She tells Steve Paulson why she detests celebrity journalism and why she prefers to write profiles of ordinary people.

Distribution dates:

• week of 03/18/2001 - hour 1