As a rule, the media rarely seeks to become part of the stories they report. It is a long-established tenet of the profession that the media works best when it is an impartial observer. While a newspaper’s editorial and opinion pages are a forum through which the newspaper can express its views on the news of the day, the news itself should be delivered without bias or preference and reported as thoroughly as possible.
There are rare occasions, however, when a newspaper must become a part of the story if it is to fulfill its mission.
On Friday, the Mississippi Justice Institute — acting on behalf of The Dispatch — filed a “motion for substitution of party” in Lowndes County Chancery Court in the Columbus City Council’s appeal of Gregory v City of Columbus, a 2014 Mississippi Ethics Commission ruling that found the city council violated the state’s open meetings law.
The matter, which is currently in front of chancery court judge Kenneth Burns, has no one arguing against the city.
The court has ruled the Ethics Commission can neither participate in the appeal nor file a “friend of the court” brief.
The original complainant, Nathan Gregory, covered city government at the time of the alleged violations, but no longer works at The Dispatch.
If granted, the motion to substitute would allow The Dispatch to take the place of Nathan Gregory in the matter. This is as it should have been all along, since Gregory filed the ethics complaint on behalf of the newspaper.
By attempting to insert ourselves into this case, we hope to ensure a voice countering the city’s is heard.
That role has been cemented since the founding of our country. In fact, the media is the only institution specifically mentioned in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states – “Congress shall make no law….abridging freedom of speech, or of the press…”
Our Founding Fathers recognized the unique role of the press as a watchdog of government and an important means of providing citizens access to those who make the rules by which we live. Our nation is not simply ruled by the “consent” of the people, but by the “informed consent” of the people. That means citizens have a right to know what our elected officials are doing and why they are doing it. The media has a long tradition of helping to make sure that happens.
That is why, when media, acting as a representative of the people, are not allowed access to the process of governing, it is an affront to the citizens who rely on the media to be informed.
Our work does not always end when the newspaper is published each day. In some cases, our responsibility to the people requires that we stand firm in our principles, even if it means we become an active player in a news story.
This is such a case.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.