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January 13, 2006
Question No. 3
From a longtime (and careful) reader: In your Jan. 12 story on the arrest of Concord City Councilor Red Brochu, you reported that “neither Brochu nor his lawyer . . . returned repeated phone calls.” Why not the more neutral language “could not be reached for comment?”
As a city editor for many years, I always asked my reporters to use “could not be reached for comment.” In most cases I still think it is a good practice. The only problem with it is that it gives the reader no indication of whether the reporter called once and got a busy signal or was persistent in trying to reach a person named in the story. Particularly when the person is a public figure, as Brochu is, the more specific phrase “did not return repeated phone calls” is both fair to the subject and more informative to readers.
In a letter to the editor published in today’s paper, a reader complains that the story on Brochu’s arrest was sensationalism. I disagree. No matter how good a citizen or public servant Brochu has been, the arrest of a public official was news. The difficulties caused by potential conflicts of interest in prosecuting a city councilor made the story even more newsworthy, as did the apparent reluctance of public officials to talk about the case. The story’s play at the top of the Local & State section was just right.
Posted by Mike Pride at January 13, 2006 10:17 AM
Comments
I agree totally with the editor's synopsis of the situation. Public officials, no matter what level, are MORE accountable, not less.
Posted by: Patricia Martin Steward at January 13, 2006 11:34 AM
Yes, Public Officials must be accountable for there actions as they are opinion leaders. Leaders that set an example the will be followed even if bad. Setting a good will lead a person and his community onto the way to happiness. This is a vital precept needed in all our leaders today.
Finally, it is even more important for leaders to set a good example as they are continually under the eye of the media who are of course only looking for a story. ALWAYS no matter what the disguise.
Cheers, Mike King.
Posted by: Mike King at January 13, 2006 05:25 PM