You be the Editor

October 5-11 is National Newspaper Week, and we've brought back popular feature in honor of the occasion. It's You Be the Editor. Here, and online, you'll find a set of three scenarios that can pose ethical dilemmas for newspapers.

Take a look at the questions raised, then let the Herald-Tribune know what you'd do, either by commenting to this story online, by sending an e-mail to editor@nevadadailymail.com, or by bringing or mailing your response to the Nevada Daily Mail, 131 S. Cedar St, Nevada, MO 64772.

Scenario No. 1: Risque rumor

An anonymous caller has alerted you to their concern that a public official may be behaving badly behind the scenes, acting in a sexually inappropriate manner. Although the caller claims to have proof, they haven't produced it, and there's no documentation of it. The caller is not willing to speak publicly about the issue, and isn't willing to share details. What would you do?

Scenario No. 2: Moments captured

Your photographer has captured a stunning moment in sports photography. It's probably the best action shot you'll see all year. The only trouble is, you've also caught an audience member in the background performing a universally understood and generally considered obscene gesture. What do you do?

Scenario No. 3: How much does the money matter?

A mistake is made when filing for a small grant by a prominent local politician. A reporter writing a story about how grants have effected local markets comes across this mistake and learns it caused the grant to be denied. The grant was not for a significant amount and for equipment which was not considered a priority to the local government. Should the politician's blunder be included in the article?

Next week, the Herald-Tribune share some of readers' comments, along with the editor's take on what the newspaper would do if these scenarios face the Herald-Tribune staff.