Editor explains young trustee coverage

As the primary news source for the Duke community, The Chronicle places an extremely high value on maintaining credibility and objectivity in its news coverage. It is in that spirit that I would like to explain to you the paper's news and editorial decisions as they relate to this year's selection of both the undergraduate and graduate and professional student young trustees.

Two candidates related to The Chronicle have applied for the positions: James Herriott, managing editor of The Chronicle, and Drew Dropkin, a member of Duke Student Publishing Company, Inc.'s board of directors. Dropkin is a finalist in the graduate and professional student selection, and Herriott is one of eight semifinalists for the undergraduate position.

To demonstrate our commitment to fairness, let me explain how this unusual circumstance will affect our coverage of the selection process. Although we believe our editorials provide valuable information and analysis to the community and those selecting the trustees, The Chronicle's editorial board will not endorse a candidate for the graduate and professional student young trustee. Moreover, should Herriott reach the final three for the undergraduate position, the board will not endorse in that contest either. Doing otherwise would be unfair to not only him but all candidates. Because Dropkin and Herriott directly or indirectly supervise members of the Editorial Board, the board should not even attempt an untainted evaluation.

We will strive to provide the same high quality of objective analysis that previous years' coverage has established. However, it is first important to note each candidate's specific role at The Chronicle. The Board of Directors does not make day-to-day editorial decisions; as such, Dropkin has never been involved in news coverage. His duties include no contact with any staff member other than myself. In the case of Herriott, whose role includes both discussion and decisions about news coverage--in addition to his position on the paper's editorial board--every step will be taken to ensure fairness, balance and objectivity.

Herriott will not participate in any discussions, decisions or editing of stories related to the young trustee selection process. Because of his high rank within the organization, this step will require some significant changes to our daily procedures over the next several weeks, and I am committed to seeing that those changes are made. Furthermore, the basic principle is one we already follow. News editors are trained to assign stories to reporters who have no vested interest in their topic: For example, a Panhellenic Council or sorority official would not participate in the editing, reporting or writing of any news story relating to sororities.

In explaining these procedures to the community, I hope to promote a greater sense of openness about The Chronicle's operations, particularly as they relate to stories that involve a potential conflict of interest. In such a small community, such conflicts are inevitable and often difficult to navigate among friends. As editor, my responsibility is to take every step possible to prevent them from damaging the integrity of our journalism.

If you have any questions or concerns about The Chronicle's coverage of the young trustee selection process, please contact me by visiting 301 Flowers Building, calling 684-2663 or e-mailing editor@chronicle.duke.edu.

Ambika Kumar is editor of The Chronicle and president of Duke Student Publishing Company, Inc.