I am frequently asked why XY or Z isn’t in the paper. How come there is no report of Billy Joe Jim Bob doing this, that, or the other awful thing.
Well, if Billy Joe Jim Bob wasn’t charged with a crime, or isn’t being prosecuted, there is no paper trail. If no one speaks to an issue on the record, I can’t report it unless I want to wind up in court as a defendant.
But let me explain there is very little that frustrates me more than knowing something I can’t prove, because that means I can’t legally report it.
I understand that it is to protect the innocent, but just as often it protects someone who is guilty as Cain, or who needs help. Or, worse, it is to cover someone’s backside that was left exposed by their own indifference, incompetence or a simple miscommunication. Usually that someone is in public office or close to.
And let’s face it, I’m not Carl Bernstein or Bob Woodward and this isn’t the Washington Post. I don’t have the investigative chops to do that kind of work, and we don’t have the budget to hire someone who does. They would probably get bored here pretty quick anyway. There just isn’t that kind of deep public corruption going on in Blaine County.
But even though Woodward and Bernstein had an anonymous source, they knew his name and so did their executive editor. If push had come to shove, they could back up what they wrote.
So no, I am not an idiot. I’m aware of a lot of the crap that goes on in and around this county. But when it comes to putting it in print, ethically my hands are tied.
Unless someone wants to become a source, anonymous or otherwise, that is. If so, give me a call and let’s see where it takes us. I’m not afraid to tackle hot topics or secret deals, I just must be able to back up what I write.
My line of work has taken me to some very interesting events and put me in contact with some temporarily famous people, mostly country music performers.
But I gained entrée into a club I wasn’t – still not – sure I wanted to join. I have been selected as a media witness to the upcoming execution of Wendall Grissom. It isn’t because I am such a great journalist, but the crime of which he was convicted happened here almost 20 years ago, so my selection was a given when I asked.
Let me say up front I support the death penalty. That isn’t my reservation. I am a little concerned that it could affect me and how I work.
But I will be there, I will report on it here and I will give my statement after the execution is completed, as required so that other media outlets that were excluded – only five are selected from the pool of applicants – can also carry reports.
What I can’t do, and it breaks my heart, is do anything for the family of Amber Matthews, who gave up her life protecting the children of her best friend. She was only 23 at the time of her death. What could she have done, accomplished in the last 20 years she was missing from us, from them?
We will never know. That potential was taken from us and regardless of the reason, that loss requires payment. Barring any last minute revocations, payment will be made on March 20 in McAlester. And I will be there to report on it.