ASNE - When is it relevant to name someone's spouse?

What would you do?

Revealing the spouse of someone who is being investigated isn't necessarily fair, but if that spouse is well-known, then not revealing the connection can cost credibility

Every day, reporters and editors make hundreds of judgment calls. From the myriad of information made available to them as well as the facts they learn through investigation, they must choose what to print and what not to print.

Some of the choices are easy calls. The information simply is not germane to the topic at hand or it is of little interest or importance to readers.

But sometimes the decision does not come so easily. And sometimes the editor must decide whether to publish information that may put someone in a bad light, even though they are not directly involved in the news.

Such is the case with this month's news dilemma. The school board member is not involved in the investigation into missing funds. In fact, his wife - the former clerk - may not be either, though the facts indicate otherwise. Should the school board member be included in this story? Here's what James H. Denley, editor and president of the Birmingham (Ala.) Post-Herald and Bruce Gaultney, executive editor of the Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner say:

James H. Denley

Is it job performance related? That's the question we ask when issues about personal lives of subjects of stories arise. That's just another way of asking: Is it fair? Does the fact that he's a nudist have anything to do with decisions he makes about city finances? Is her romantic involvement with a high profile businessman relevant to her decisions as a parks board member? However, if either party oversees or is involved in the activities of the other, the relationship becomes relevant. If the outside party takes a public stance on the issue it becomes relevant. Often facts about personal lives appropriate in a detailed profile may stick out like a sore thumb in a straight news account. By the way, have we decided we have sufficient grounds to identify the clerk who quit at the time of the investigation?

Have we given her a chance to respond?

Bruce Gaultney

I would print the husband's name and position because the clerk's relationship with an elected official is part of who she is in the community.

In any story on the investigation, many people undoubtedly would recognize the clerk as the spouse of the school board member. Leaving out that identifying fact would raise questions about the thoroughness of the newspaper's report.

It is also news when family members of elected officials are under investigation because it may eventually affect the official. If the clerk embezzled the funds, did her husband know?

Has the clerk's relationship with an elected official played any role in no charges being filed against her?

Obviously, several questions would need to be answered before the story could be printed. How much money is involved? Is the clerk making restitution? Why have no charges been filed?

Once printed, the story should include as much relevant information about the subject of the story as possible, including that her spouse is a school board member.

Silverberg is executive editor of the Florence (Ala.) TimesDaily. Mail your quandary to P.O. Box 797, Florence, AL 35631 or e-mail it to timesdly@timesdaily.com.