THE REPORTER received a phone tip that the new grand jury members had been selected. "Thanks," she said, "I'll call the courthouse and get the names for a story."
The reporter, however, was shocked when she was told by the court public relations officer that the names wouldn't be released until next week. A press conference would be held Monday afternoon, just in time for the news to break on television.
That wasn't acceptable to the newspaper reporter on this Friday morning. She wanted the names for a Saturday story. And by law, the names should have been made public once the decision was made as to who would serve.
The reporter learned there would be an informational meeting for the new grand jurors later than afternoon. So at 3 p.m. she set up a card table in front of the courthouse meeting room. She put a yellow-ruled notepad on the table with a sign posted on the wall that announced: Grand jury members sign in here.
She got the names and her story. But were her actions ethical?
This kind of situation can occur at newspapers across America. How and why decisions are made concerning news coverage is often a mystery to readers, and that often leads to a disconnection between reporters, editors and the public. It can raise concerns about credibility and ethics.
That is where an ombudsman can play a crucial role in media and society.
My name is John Irby and I have been hired as The Cavalier Daily ombudsman. It will be my job to listen to and investigate reader complaints about issues such as fairness, accuracy, balance and standards or cannons of taste and then make recommendations or responses in a weekly column in an attempt to correct, clarify or inform.
I will be monitoring the news reports, feature stories, columns, photography, cartoons and overall content of The Cavalier Daily and address issues of broad public interest or specific complaints. As appropriate, I will criticize, praise or instruct. And I pledge to listen to you -- the readers -- with an open mind and the sensitivity and respect you deserve.
Agreement or resolution will not always be achieved. But then that is not as important as the dialog, discussion and growth that can come from such interaction I seek to facilitate between you and The Cavalier Daily.
What qualifies me to be your ombudsman? There are many attributes I bring to this position, including:
1) Experience. My background includes more than 25 years as a newspaper reporter, photographer, editor and publisher. I have spent the past seven years as a professor of journalism at Washington State University.
2) Independence. While I am being paid by The Cavalier Daily to write these columns, the newspaper will have no influence over the content of my columns. I have been assured it is important to the student newspaper that an independent voice be represented on its pages.
3) Expertise. Much of my research at WSU has been directed toward newspaper credibility, ethics and issues of diversity, areas in the media that need constant critical analysis, review and discussion.
4) Attitude. I care deeply about journalism, freedom of information and speech and the necessity that newspapers seek out under-covered and underreported voices.
5) Transparency.I believe in openness and honesty, not only for government, but for the media. Newspapers gain respect by being open with readers, admitting mistakes when they occur and being forthright about how and why coverage decisions are made.
While there isn't space to provide additional biographical information, in the spirit of transparency you can find out more about me at: http://www.wsu.edu/~jirby/.
The Cavalier Daily is a very good student newspaper. But like most everything in life, there is room for improvement and the editors and reporters at the University of Virginia newspaper are eager for your input.
I look forward to getting to know many of you in the future as you filter your comments and suggestions to me for possible dialog and discussion. It will be a growth process for us all.
John R. Irby is The Cavalier Daily ombudsman. He can be contacted at ombud@cavalierdaily.com
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