Consider the source

It is the most fundamental question of our profession: What is news?

Sometimes, it's easier to say what isn't news.

In our view, stories written to debunk rumor, gossip or other tall tales are not - at least in most cases - news.

The issue was discussed by our staff one morning this week after questions, and at least one inquisitive phone call, about what we'll call an urban legend making the rounds locally (and probably nationally) via text message and social networking sites.

In the interest of adhering to our standards and policies, we're not going to repeat the story. But we will say we've checked with local law enforcement and there's no evidence the story is true.

Could it happen? Sure. That's why this type of story spreads so quickly. Playing on our fears and insecurities, it describes a plausible scenario.

But if the story being repeated (more quickly than ever, thanks to technology) was ever true, it wasn't recently, and it was nowhere near Jay County. We hear similar stories often, and the first thing we do is start checking the facts.

Do crazy things happen that don't make it in the newspaper as quickly as they should? Definitely.

But you can believe that if an issue of public safety arises, local police, with our help, will do everything we can to publish accurate information as quickly as possible.

And that's more than we can say for text message or e-mail you may have gotten today. - M.S.

[[In-content Ad]]