As posted at John Robinson's Editor's Log at the Greensboro News & Record website

"Let's say an elected official leaves his wife or her husband. We know it's gossip but is it news?"
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What if it involves a freelancer for the Greensboro News & Record?

What should the editor do, write up a hypothetical on his blog?

Should the editor of the newspaper have disclosed the financial relationship
between one of the parties involved and the publication in the initial question,
and in the position of the editor of the paper?
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What is a Cover-up?

A cover-up is an attempt, whether successful or not,
to conceal evidence of wrong-doing, error, incompetence
or other embarrassing information.

In passive cover-up information is just not provided,
in active cover-up deception is used.

The expression is usually applied to people in positions of authority
who abuse their power to avoid or silence criticism or to deflect guilt of wrongdoing.

Those who initiate a cover up (or their allies) may be responsible for a misdeed,
a breach of trust or duty or a crime.

While the terms are often used interchangeably,
cover-up involves withholding incriminatory evidence,
while whitewash involves releasing misleading evidence.

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