We are disappointed by our coverage of last night’s “Freedom Budget” meeting.
In multiple emails to all of campus, event organizers advertised that the discussion was “open to everyone: faculty, staff, workers, students, administrators and community members.” It was held in Collis Common Ground, a public venue. The doors remained open throughout the event, and people entered the room as they pleased.
Yet during the discussion, organizers announced that it was off the record. We recognize that in this instance, by not speaking out, we tacitly agreed to comply. In our story (“Students discuss ‘Freedom Budget,’” Feb. 27, 2014), we respected this agreement. But we shouldn’t have made the agreement in the first place.
Off the record means confidential. We take off-the-record comments seriously, and when sources request these arrangements, we honor them and do not publish that information. For today’s article, we confirmed the thrust of the discussion’s content and tone through on-the-record interviews afterward. When we report on events such as Speak Out, a similarly public event, we ask speakers how they would like to be identified. Out of respect for their personal experiences, we offer anonymity at our discretion. These events, however personal, are not off the record.
Public events cannot be off the record. If an event is open, it is open. If pertinent information is distributed in a public venue, we cannot ethically refrain from reporting on it. Ignoring this fact destroys basic standards of accountability.
Out of respect for the organizers of the event, who stated that it was off the record, Dean of the College Charlotte Johnson refused to confirm her comments at the forum with The Dartmouth. We are embarrassed that we cannot share her perspective with those who were unable to attend.
Since we began our leadership of the paper, we have stressed our openness to criticism and critique. We strive for accuracy with every story, but what’s more, we strive for fairness.
We believe in The Dartmouth’s role to inform this community, and we will continue to do our job.
Lindsay Ellis, Editor-in-Chief
Stephanie McFeeters, Executive Editor
Michael Riordan, Executive Editor
