The Cavalier Daily
Serving the University Community Since 1890

Flubs in Honor case coverage

A NEWSPAPER lives and dies by its credibility. Readers don't have to believe everything they see in print, and journalists must strive to gain and keep their trust and respect. Clearly, journalists must write and report with integrity. They also must avoid anything that suggests even the smallest impropriety, as appearances are everything to a paper's credibility.

Unfortunately, The Cavalier Daily dropped the ball on appearances last week. The paper ran two stories and an editorial on the impending open honor trial of third-year College student Adam Boyd, but neglected to mention that Boyd is being represented by Cavalier Daily Executive Editor Jeffrey Eisenberg.

At the very least, the paper should have run a short disclaimer with the very first story on the case. The disclaimer should have disclosed Eisenberg's involvement in the case and explained how the paper intends to preserve the integrity of its coverage of the story, and I strongly urge the paper to run one immediately. But the larger issue at hand is whether it is, in fact, possible for The Cavalier Daily to preserve the integrity of its coverage.

As executive editor, Eisenberg usually does not edit news stories, and he had no part in the editorial process of either of this week's stories on the Boyd case. And although Eisenberg is usually responsible for writing the lead editorial, he did not write Thursday's editorial, which dealt with the case, nor did he sit in on the Managing Board's discussion of its position.

"I don't participate in [Managing Board] discussions related to the case, I don't edit columns substantially related to Adam's guilt or innocence, and I don't write any lead editorials regarding the case," Eisenberg said Saturday.

I have no doubts that the Managing Board has removed Eisenberg from all decisions and editing procedures related to the case. At the same time, as a member of the Managing Board, he is a substantial authority figure at the paper. Cavalier Daily reporters covering the trial will be writing about someone who could be considered their boss, despite that he doesn't oversee the news department. That doesn't look good, it could potentially be a problem, and it's a conflict that Eisenberg and the Managing Board can't control. Eisenberg is not an honor counsel. Boyd, a personal friend of his, asked him last spring to participate in the case. At the time, no decision had been made to open the trial to the public. Boyd decided to waive his confidentiality at the end of the summer.

There are issues here of friendship and of keeping one's word. These are issues to which I am sympathetic, but which have no bearing on the paper's integrity and credibility. And ultimately, that is what the Managing Board is responsible for upholding. On the other hand, it's important to note that college newspapers wouldn't exist if they expected every single member of their staff to exclude themselves from other activities.

Historically, The Cavalier Daily's staff has included fraternity men and sorority women, Student Council representatives and honor investigators, Madison House volunteers and choir members. There's nothing wrong with that, to a point: The newspaper's staff members must make prudent decisions. In all likelihood, a news editor who also sings in the choir won't find himself involved in a breaking news story by virtue of his membership in the group. But honor trials, particularly open ones, are clearly newsworthy. No, Eisenberg didn't know when he agreed to represent Boyd that the trial would be open. But now that he knows, I urge him to reconsider his decision. This is a difficult issue to assess, and I'm sure that readers have their own opinions on the matter. I look forward to hearing them.

Turning to another matter, a reader has expressed concerns with The Cavalier Daily's coverage of the region's water crisis. The paper has run several stories on the problem specific to Charlottesville and Albemarle County, but only the last story, which ran on Friday, addressed the crisis' effect on the University. The story included what the school is doing to cut back on water, but only addressed the athletic fields. It was unclear whether other parts of the school are also cutting back. I'd also like to know the extent of the crisis as it affects the University. If the University's water supply is too low, The Cavalier Daily could report on how the community can save water, as well.

How do you feel the newspaper is covering the news? Drop me a line with your thoughts.

(Masha Herbst can be reached at ombud@cavalierdaily.com.)

Local Savings

Comments

Latest Video

Latest Podcast

With the Virginia Quarterly Review’s 100th Anniversary approaching Executive Director Allison Wright and Senior Editorial Intern Michael Newell-Dimoff, reflect on the magazine’s last hundred years, their own experiences with VQR and the celebration for the magazine’s 100th anniversary!