It's sad but true. Stories are decided upon during a "morning meeting" by editors/news directors and then reporters are sent off in the field to confirm what has already been decided. Only if the situation has been grossly misjudged does a report deviate from what has been decided, otherwise you are just finding a few slobs to parrot some lines that support the original assertion.

Ideally the reporters in the field communicate back to the producers in the newsroom and the story evolves in a more organic fashion. But realistically, with looming deadlines and many more stories to write, it's just easier to "stay the course."