News defines coverage, not other way around

Frontiersman editorial board

Some news stories generate a great deal of discussion in the community. It could, in fact, be argued that the best stories are the ones that create the liveliest dialogue and debate. By definition, those stories carry a high level of controversy, and there is usually very little gray area in terms of opinion. In such cases, some of the facts surrounding the story will touch a nerve with one group of readers, while another set of facts may anger a different group.

To put the process into perspective, it's important to first define what makes a news story. The media has become more visible in recent decades. The increasing competition between broadcast media and larger print media and the shift toward entertainment value have often placed the news media in the middle of the news, rather than in the traditional role of spectator and reporter. This has created some confusion over what constitutes a news story. We've come to believe that if a story is reported upon, it is news. If it goes unreported, it is not. In truth, the media's role has always been to report the news, not to define it. Many stories go unreported, though they are still news. At the same time, many of the topics that are covered by the media are there more for entertainment value than for news value. Readers and viewers are left to sort out the news from the fluff, and it's not always an easy task.

Adding to the complication is the fact that the most important news stories cannot be told with a single article or report. An excellent example of that is the case surrounding the Big Lake pastor who shot and killed two burglars in his church. It is an important news story on many levels. It speaks to the state of law enforcement and of the criminal justice system in the Valley. It also raises the debate over gun ownership and the ability of individual citizens to protect their property. It raises questions about the general culture in our community. It is a big story, and it won't be told with one article. The story will not be complete until our community has made a decision about whether the pastor's actions were justified, and the case is closed. We will cover that wide story from many angles until that conclusion is met.

During that process, based upon the information that is available at any given time, each article will represent one piece of the story. We will give voice to all parties involved whenever we can, and we will strive to give equal space to all voices -- when they are willing and ready to tell their stories. Our role is not to pass judgment one way or the other, but to offer a forum where all the available information can be shared. It's up to the justice system to pass judgment, and it's up to our community to decide whether or not the correct decision was made.