A few times over the past two weeks people have questioned why some people are named in stories and others are not, specifically in two instances related to fatal traffic collisions.
While we named the victims, we did not name the driver.
There is a balance in public interest versus privacy. While we typically don’t name a victim of a crime, we do if they are deceased. While there may not be a crime in a fatal collision, the same policy applies. The essential premise of the policy is to avoid nameless victims. When someone dies through a crime or in a public setting, the attention is often on the details and circumstances of the crime. By naming the dead, we provide at minimum details of who they are and let the public know. This way, people who know the victim can be informed of their death and people who didn’t can learn more about them. When possible, we try to contact the family to see if we can provide more information about them to give their life and death dignity. The people who die in crimes or in public settings are people with lives and families, and we try to illustrate that while also being sensitive to those families and the terrible circumstances through which they are contending. Not every family wants to talk, and that’s understandable.
We don’t name the driver or others in a fatal collision unless criminal charges are filed. This might be controversial with some, but that is the indication that a crime was committed and that the person will be entering the criminal justice system. This means there could be a level of culpability in the incident that caused someone’s death, and that there is more to the story that we will follow for you.
This is and has been our policy, and likely a policy adhered to by other publications. I’m open to hearing thoughts on it, however.
We do name suspects of major crimes like a violent offense or if there is a crime that threatens public safety. We will also list physical descriptions of those suspects so the public can take precautions or aid law enforcement in contacting them if they are seen.
We do not name suspects or those charged or convicted of crimes if it could identify the victim. That’s why you might see stories about sex crimes against or molestations of family members, without naming the suspect or the person charged. We can also choose to limit naming the location of the crime if we think that could identify the victim.
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Our primary guiding belief here at the Daily Journal is “do no harm,” and this abides by it.
If there are other scenarios that concern you, or about which you have questions, just let me know.
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While we are doing a bit of “insight,” it might be a good opportunity to address letters to the editor and guest perspectives as we approach election season.
As always, we allow letters to the editor of about 250 words on any subject and in support or opposition to political candidates, measures or propositions. Anyone running for public office is a public figure, and policy or positions are fair game for opinion. We do ask that any letter writer limit the discussion to policy and not personal attributes. Letters can also be used to promote a cause or a political position. Letters to the editor are not social media comments or comments on stories, so keep in mind it’s best to have a strong point, and be civilized when you make it.
Guest perspectives, on the other hand, are different. To put it as simply as possible, guest perspectives, also known as op-eds, are on a topic of interest to our readers by an expert on that topic with a specific call to action. There are other types of guest perspectives, called “slice of life,” that are simply telling a story, which can be political but usually isn’t. For the most part, however, guest perspectives are the former. They are not to be used to promote a candidate, a ballot measure or a proposition. They are between 500 and 780 words, including headline, byline and bio. An author photo is required. We prefer one author but can have up to four. If it’s more than that, we ask that it be on behalf of those others. Candidates for office can write guest perspectives, but not after the filing deadline. For the June primary election, that is March 6, unless an incumbent does not file, then it is March 11. The November general election has a different timeline with the filing deadline in August.
Until then, candidates for office are welcome to submit guest perspectives, and can also write letters to the editor at any time. We encourage it.
(1) comment
As always, Jon, you have terrific journalistic ethics.
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