But the crusading reporter seems to have had a heyday with All the King's Men and then fell mysteriously silent.

With a rise again with All The President's Men, culminating in "Are You At Risk?!?" stories and the like on your evening news.

And might I comment that Superman started with an alter-ego that's just an extension of his day job -- crusading reporter becomes crusading superhero. Despite Bill's words at the end of Kill Bill, there isn't a superhero that's more always himself than Superman.