Frontline Questions

1. When referring to the allegation that Mayor Jim West was pursuing underage boys
online, why do you think editor Steven Smith differentiated between a legitimate news
story and one that is not legitimate when he said, "If he's [Mayor Jim West] engaged in this activity … we need to know that. If he's not -- there's no story" ?

The story is only legitimate if the mayor is breaking the law. If he is not breaking the law and engaging in this immoral activity, then there is no story. Is a mayor chasing young but legal men a story?

2. How did reporter Bill Morlin justify the use of a concealed identity on Gay.com as part
of The Spokesman-Review's and the FBI's "sting operation"? Why didn't Morlin himself
create the assumed identity to engage Mayor West online?

He justified concealing an identity on Gay.com because the Spokesman-Review believed that this was the only way to really find out if the person online is the mayor. They chose to make thier fake identity a 17-year-old boy to see if the mayor would go after a boy opposed to a man. When the boy turned 18, the conversation turned sexual.

3. Why do you think The Spokesman-Review ultimately published so many articles on
Mayor West's alleged improprieties?

The story was not about the mayor being gay, the Review said, the story was about public abuse of office; offering young men jobs/internships for sexual favors. I think the Spokesman-Review believed more was hidden beneath West's personal life. Steven Smith suspected that more victims would accuse West, but following the initial stories, no one came forth. The paper continued to publish stories about abuse of office.

4. In the final analysis, who benefited from The Spokesman-Review's decision to expose
Mayor West and his alleged improprieties? Who was hurt? Do you think the outcome was worth it? Explain your reasoning.

The case against the mayor was much more than about his sexual orientation. Representatives from both major parties were involved in the committee to take Jim West out of office. The mayor and the gay community of Spokane were affected and hurt by this story. The small gay community trying to become accepted in a conservative town were hurt because the mayor felt ashamed. The gay community were angry because in order to protect his identity, the mayor went out of his way to inhibit the gay communities rights. Jim West introduced a bill into the legislature to prohibit gay teachers from teaching in the community. West believes his anti-gay record was overstated.

No one said that Jim West sexually abused them. Morlin eventually dug up sources who accused West, but one source had already accused another deputy and made a claim for damages. The source would only contact the Spokesman-Review and would talk to no other media.

Jim West was exiled and basically fell from power. West was "outed," admitted to being gay, and did admit that he opposed certain gay rights movements, but there was never any proof of truth behind the harmful allegations the paper wrote about concerning abusing young boys. I think the outcome came about in an inappropriate way and pieces of the process were unethical.

5. The Spokesman-Review has been criticized as conducting a "witch hunt" in its reporting on the private lives of some city officials. Below is a link to another recent article on Spokane Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch. Do you think that there are any ethical problems in the reporting in this story? Why or why not?

I think there is a limit to investigating stories about private lives. It is important for journalists to report the news for the community, but to draw out allegations and really hurt people for no reason is unethical.