BBC expose of care home abuse was public interest journalism incarnate

A handout photo, issued by the BBC, of a screen grab from the Panorama investigation into care home abuse. Photograph: BBC/PA

Panorama's filming inside Winterbourne View care home saw the public interest served – and public conscience awakened – in clear, compelling terms. Sneaky tactics? Privacy infringed? You can almost hear some judge, nose wrinkled in disgust, saying the activities here should have been "reported to the proper authorities, not blazoned across the media".

But don't believe that for a second. Here, from the BBC and its reporter, Joe Casey, was public interest journalism incarnate – and making waves in a way no "proper" investigation could have.