Deep, Deep, Deep Undercover

Nowadays, Sitren gets paid handsomely for his information, so he doesn't mind not getting credit for his work. "They don't like putting it out there that all the information they have on a story came from this guy in Santa Ana," he reflected. "So at the end of the evening news, you're not going to see a credit for Ian Sitren."

Sitren says his various clients are also reluctant to refer his services to other news organizations because many of them compete with one another on the same story—and thus for the same information. But Sitren says he isn't worried. "I've found out over the past few years that my name has gotten around," he explained. "For the first time in my life, I am not chasing business. I have plenty to do."