Some years ago while working as a newspaper reporter, an editor dispatched me to cover the death of a local businessman who allegedly died under suspicious circumstances.
The more people I interviewed, the more suspicious I became. It culminated with a moment that felt like a scene from the movie Fletch with local investigators encouraging me to stop asking questions.
As I recall, investigators declined to share a police report with me, which they were required to do under the law.
I ultimately returned to the office, convinced I had a story not uncovering the circumstances around a suspicious death, but one highlighting investigators’ suspicious and improper behavior.
I immediately went to work on the story, pounding out words and inserting quotes detailing the stonewalling. I knew my editor would be excited about what I uncovered.
Instead of excitement, my editor killed the story. Investigators successfully bullied the newspaper into dropping the story.
I was not just disappointed that authorities would resist giving information to a newspaper reporter; I expected it. I was disappointed my editor backed down.
I did not. I drafted my story and shared with a colleague who, like me, believed there was a story there.
It did not matter; the editor made the decision, and there was nothing I could do to change that edict. As a result, the newspaper never published the story.
While I was disappointed, the experience provided me with a valuable lesson in how the media and public officials interact.
Did these officials threaten me? I doubt any court would have found them guilty, but I felt incredibly uncomfortable and even threatened in the situation, but I stood my ground.
Was the businessman’s death suspicious? It’s hard to say, but since authorities refused to cooperate, the public will never know, and the newspaper failed in its duty.
Did the newspaper stand up for its reporter? No.
A recent news headline reminded me of this episode. There was no editorial in the newspaper to highlight this particular attack on the press, but situations like this happen every day in communities across the country.
There is an argument to be made about how elected officials treat the media. But, publications would be well-served to pay closer attention and take action in their backyards, not just when it is politically expedient nationally.
