Behind the Headlines

Lexington talk
radio has been abuzz this week with discussions about whether the news media
should have reported the blood alcohol levels of three young people who died in
recent tragedies. The Kentucky Kernel
was the first to report the story, noting that this was the fifth year in the
past six in which University of Kentucky students had died in alcohol-related accidents. Local TV and radio picked up on the story within hours, and the
Herald-Leader reported it the next day.

Herald-Leader reporters and editors received more than two
dozen calls and e-mails about this newspaper’s version of the story.  Most were complaints. Many who complained argued that the
information shouldn’t have been reported – or at least not reported so
prominently on the front page – because it made the young people look bad and
was painful for their families. Some
questioned the newsworthiness or importance of the story.

Among
the readers who wrote in to support the story, one noted: “I grieve for the
parents in the loss of their children, but as a community people need to know
that abusing drugs and alcohol can end or destroy an otherwise very promising
life.” Two mothers, who had lost
children in such accidents, echoed those sentiments.

The Herald-Leader reported the information prominently for
the same reason other local news media did: It was significant news. All
three deaths were shocking events, and the deaths of the two young women became
part of a larger debate about the city’s infrastructure that affected the recent
city elections. The fact that the three young
people were intoxicated, which may have contributed to their deaths, was significant
information that the public should know.

Of course, there were many other factors that led to the women’s
deaths. Those factors – such as poorly designed and maintained storm sewers –
have been covered extensively by the Herald-Leader in recent weeks, and will
continue to be covered.

News and news decisions are subjective. Values often
conflict. The Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics says
journalists should “minimize harm.” But
it also says they should “seek truth and report it.” Contrary to what some readers think,
journalists don’t like to hurt people’s feelings. They don’t write “sensational” stories to
“sell newspapers.” They try to get to
the bottom of issues and situations, discover the truth and tell the public about
it, even if the truth can be painful to hear. As an editor, I would rather have
angry readers ask, “Why did you put that in the paper?” than “Why are you
keeping that out of the paper?”

Tom Eblen
Managing Editor