Full disclosure - two words used in newsrooms when people bring the news, and the truth, out into the open.
Buried - a word media people use to describe stories that don't appear in plain view of the average reader - especially a story the newspaper might not want everyone to see right away.
But a newspaper's job is full disclosure, even when it would rather bury its head in the sand.
When Indiana University's student newspaper editor was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in 2004, the paper ran the story in a slot on the bottom right of the front page. The story wasn't buried and even went on to quote the editor and publisher.
When former Daily News Systems Technician Michael Kerney was arrested last summer in Bracken Library, we covered the story and disclosed his affiliation with the newspaper and the university. That story was not buried - it was, in fact, our top story for the day.
But when The Star Press' assistant sports editor, Brian Saparnis, was arrested last week in Bracken Library on suspicion of indecent exposure, the newspaper ran the story as a four-paragraph brief on the third page.
It was buried - horribly.
It seems to us The Star Press management did not feel its readers needed to know about the incident - but the bigger deal is that this situation borders on unethical journalism.
Downplaying a story that involves of a member of the newspaper staff is simply irresponsible.
Even more bothersome, Executive Editor Evan Miller and Managing Editor Scott Underwood are refusing to comment about the situation. Saparnis covered area high school sports and Ball State women's basketball. He's a community member who covers stories in this community, and at the moment he's not allowed on Ball State property.
Muncie community members deserve to know how their newspaper is reacting to the incident, and the university community should be made aware of how this will affect Star Press coverage. This is an issue of import to newspaper readers, and the newspaper owes them a comment.
One could argue that the explanation of the newspaper's reaction to Saparnis' behavior is better placed in The Star Press' newsprint in their own words - and such might be the case.
However, judging by the newspaper's burial of the original story, readers cannot trust the editors to provide that explanation or to do so in plain view. The Star Press has a responsibility to its readers to either disclose the information itself or discuss the news with other media outlets.
But with the paper's editors so tight lipped, readers have every reason to wonder what other details The Star Press might be burying.
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