Journalists say government data harder to get

From disputes over publishing Kootenai County officials’ e-mail messages to increased restrictions on viewing federal records, prying information from government agencies is increasingly difficult, according to journalists participating in a panel discussion Tuesday at North Idaho College’s Popcorn Forum.

The push for secrecy is the strongest Spokesman-Review editor Steven A. Smith has seen in his 35-year career. “It’s really a scary time,” he said.

During a question-and-answer session, audience members and one panelist expressed equal concern about the influence of advertisers and newspaper owners on local journalism.

Panelist Kenton Bird, interim director of the University of Idaho School of Journalism, drew applause when he directed a question at Smith and Mike Patrick, managing editor of the Coeur d’Alene Press: “Do you ever have to engage in self-censorship?”

Although Patrick said he has “never once” been censored by his newspaper’s owner, Coeur d’Alene businessman Duane Hagadone, he is sometimes accused of being a puppet.

“Some people have said I’ve sold my soul to the devil and the devil looks a lot like Duane B. Hagadone,” Patrick said, prompting laughter from the audience of roughly 100.

Hagadone is enthusiastic about the charms of his hometown, but he also understands that his newspaper needs to be allowed to publish unflattering stories, Patrick said. “We don’t always agree.”

Critics of The Spokesman-Review have said the newspaper gave favorable coverage during the development phase of the River Park Square parking garage. The mall’s development companies are owned by Cowles Publishing Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review.

Smith said one of his first moves after being named editor nearly three years ago was to secure a pledge of complete editorial independence in covering the parking garage issue, as well as other business interests of the Cowles family.

Although publisher Stacey Cowles sometimes “pounds his fist” and “rails” about stories in his own newspaper, he does not meddle with the newsroom, Smith said.

North Idaho College instructor – and Spokesman-Review correspondent – Nils Rosdahl asked Smith and Patrick to explain their newspaper’s differing coverage in the aftermath of a shooting that left Coeur d’Alene police Officer Michael Kralicek critically injured and the shooter dead.

The Spokesman-Review published the names of two county deputies involved in the incident, defying a request by the sheriff. The Press agreed to withhold the names until the investigation was complete.

“It was due process,” Patrick said. “The appropriate human thing to do was to wait until the investigation was complete.”

Smith said that he was troubled by the notion of law officers being allowed to use “deadly force in anonymity,” and that a principle of the newspaper is, “We tell people what we know when we know it.”