Research is the basis for most good journalism. Here is an article from the New York Times on just that:
ECONOMIC VIEW
Giving It Away, Then and Now
By DANIEL GROSS
The announcement that Warren E. Buffett would donate most
of his fortune to a foundation created by Bill Gates sent
reporters to the history stacks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/business/yourmoney/02view.html?th&emc=th