The News of the Day that Wasn't

EDITORIAL - Thursday, October 02, 2008 - Today I received dozens of emails and several phone calls asking if I heard the news! It seems that a prominent local public figure was apparently arrested for stealing a can of shaving cream, some vitamins, and two cans of turkey Spam.

"Are you going to post the story, Jim?" one caller eagerly questioned, "You know the Globe will never print it because of who he is, but if it were you or me..."

I know I've antagonized several people by not posting the story. For that, I apologize. However, when the idea of a web-based news service first came into my head, I sat down and composed a wish list of what I wanted my "web-paper" to be.

This morning, when I read the first email regarding the incident, I sat back and thought, "Is this something that is 'newsworthy'? I opened my top desk draw and I found my wish list.  I read through the basics -- news, weather, events, profiles, etc. -- and at the bottom of the list, in big, bold, black letters I had written "INTEGRITY."

I thought back to a time when the Daily Globe printed a letter to the editor about me and my business. It was very damning. It wasn't fair and it wasn't true, but that didn't matter. It hurt me. It hurt my reputation. And it damaged my business.

I reflected back to a time when the Globe made me look like I was some kind of incompetent as I interpreted for a deaf  rape victim in Iron County court. I remembered how the Globe did everything in its power to discredit and shame me while I was a candidate during the most recent City Commission election.

When Steve Frank and I launched this website back in December of last year, we decided we were going to make every attempt to take the "high road." We made a pledge that we would either post every incident -- names and details included -- or none. We opted to post none. And today, I was put to the test. I know the Globe printed details of the incident, and it is their right to do so. But as for me,  I think I made the right choice.

Jim Albert