Do unsubstantiated rumors have a place in The Courant? When the rumors are about Hollywood or sports celebrities and the like, there isn’t much argument: Celebrities appear to be fair game. When the rumors are about a public official’s marriage, that’s a game I don’t like to see The Courant play. But there are clearly two sides to the debate.
After weeks of wrestling with rumors, tips, questions and speculation about the state of Gov. John G. Rowland and Patricia Rowland’s marriage, The Courant on Monday published a “Staff Reports” story at the bottom of the Connecticut Page. It reported that the Connecticut Law Tribune took the lead in making rampant rumors public with a story that said, among other things, “official spokesmen for Gov. John G. Rowland have discreetly attempted to dispel an extraordinarily persistent and widespread – though most probably false – rumor of impending divorce.”
Reaction to The Courant’s story was at first slow, most likely because it was a busy Monday before Christmas. But when some readers found the time to contact the paper, the arguments fell both ways.
As one reader, who declined to give her name, said, “This is the most vicious thing I’ve ever read in The Courant. … What goes on in their personal life is their business.”
Another reader, who sent an unsigned e-mail, had a different view. “I am not surprised that Gov. Rowland is once again protected by the media, judges and other people involved. … When movie stars, singers and other public figures have problems in their marriage, spousal abuse, drugs, etc., the media has no problem finding and confirming the stories. The media needs to be fair with everyone and stop protecting Rowland.”
The Courant reported that Rowland said through a spokesman, “As a public servant, my duties as governor are under full disclosure, full discussion and full debate. My family is not.”
Although I can respect the governor’s reply, skeptics were not soothed.
Newsroom debates about whether Rowland’s statement cleared up anything continued. Some reporters and editors sounded conflicted about the publication of the story. Still, the talk in state offices did not dissipate. Various rumors were still posted on at least one website, www.radiofreewesthartford.com, last week. Readers continued to call my office demanding more news stories about the Rowlands’ family life.
There is no doubt that the privacy of public officials is limited – as there is no doubt that any public court filings on a governor’s divorce would have been news. But sans verification, no one is served by publishing the rumor, and it calls The Courant’s journalistic principles into question.
“It was a brutally tough decision,” Courant Editor Brian Toolan said. “We aren’t in the business of perpetuating rumors. We published a story because, in my judgment, this talk evolved from rumor to a political reality. It had been going around for more than three weeks, and its scope and its alleged specifics were remarkable. It rolled off the lips of some incredibly influential and sophisticated people. The governor, through his office, was asked by a variety of media to comment.
“The Courant asked if the governor and Mrs. Rowland would agree to an interview. In our mind, that would have provided an opportunity to kill the rumor and say whatever they might have wanted to say about the line between public service and privacy. The governor declined, which was his right.
“Lastly, and most importantly, our reporting indicated that sources of the rumor included state employees angry over the possibility of layoffs and concessions. That reality converted the rumor into a public political ploy. The story in the Law Tribune was just another thing to consider.
“Journalism, to some degree, is a series of considered judgments. This judgment was a most difficult one, but the right one, in my opinion. We realize many people disagree.”
I’m one of them. Unsubstantiated rumors about private issues should not be news or part of the political discourse. The budget deficit itself offers enough grist for that. It is no secret that many news stories of public concern start as rumors and gossip. The question here is whether this aspect of Rowland’s private life is the public’s concern. In my mind, that has yet to be proved.
