By Tom Hubbard
News marches on, but one facet of the Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich affair deserves more attention: The Chicago Tribune risked losing a $100 million tax break by not firing one employee. Blagojevich threatened to withhold the tax break if they did not fire the guy.
(Some reports say it was several employees.) I call that integrity.
The Tribune values its editorial freedom so much it would risk $100 million to maintain it. The Tribune took the ethical stand while facing corporate bankruptcy.
I worked for newspapers for 18 years and taught photojournalism at Ohio State University for 16 years. The challenges are seldom of such heroic proportions, but the Tribune's response is standard for the industry. Every newspaper journalist has gotten a few calls threatening to "call your boss."
Every newspaper reporter's story goes through an in-house vetting process: the copy desk. When I was a daily journalist, if someone from the copy desk called me over, I knew I was in for a half-dozen versions of "How can you be sure?" before my report got into the paper. I salute the Tribune, copy desks and anyone else I've referred to here. Newspapers are in trouble around the country. Where will we find that public integrity if newspapers disappear?
Tom Hubbard is a photojournalist and Emeritus Professor, The Ohio State University, School of Journalism and Communication. His work has been displayed in many galleries and business. See www.studioonline.com.
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