EDITORIAL
We applaud the decision of Arizona Republic Publisher John Zidich to resign from the Fiesta Bowl board, a move announced on the front page of the Valley & State section of today's (April 12) Republic. According to the article Zidich said he resigned "to make sure there would never be 'any question of the ongoing strong independence of our newsroom in covering these (bowl investigation) stories.'"
It has long been the position of the Rim Country Gazette that it is inappropriate and potentially unethical for newspaper publishers to hold seats on the boards of entities their publications must cover. If a newspaper is to maintain even a facade of honest and accurate reporting, its publisher (and editor, for that matter) must not serve on such boards, including the chamber of commerce.
Back when I was editor/publisher of the print edition of the Rim Country Gazette, I resigned from the board of the then Payson Humane Society when my impartiality was challenged by the Payson Roundup. In light of the decision by Zidich to do likewise, it is time to once again insist that newspaper publishers step down from positions that might allow their newspaper's integrity to be tainted.
Newspapers still have a sacred mission in a democratic society -- to provide fair, accurate and honest reports of the activities and events of concern to the community. It can be difficult to do so when the man in charge also serves on a board whose activities and decisons impact the community..
As one Roundup employee told me back when the Gazette was barred from sharing a newspaper rack at a local convenience store, "I do what the man who signs my paycheck tells me to do."
Isn't that the same excuse some of Hitler's henchmen used? It didn't fly then and it doesn't fly today. Thank you, Mr. Zidich.
Jim Keyworth
Editor
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