National Public Radio media reporter David Folkenflik once again demonstrates his knack for finding compelling stories inside issues every one is reporting on, offering a story today about how some of the fireworks show in the glitzy opening to the Beijing Olympics Friday were computer generated.

As Folkenflik notes, NBC anchor Matt Lauer wasn't exactly specific or particularly aggressive in making sure viewers understood that some of the images fed to them by the Chinese Olympics organizers via the network's coverage were digitally manufactured.the Beijing Times later revealed the extent of the fakery. (the picture above does not seem to be manipulated, BTW)

It's the latest manifestation of a question critics have been asking since NBC's near-$900-million investment in the Beijing games was first announced. Can a network with so much at stake fairly report on such a huge event presented inside one of the most repressive regimes on the globe?

And if you can't believe the fireworks were genuine, what else is fake that NBC isn't telling us?