Sources say it's all about trust

Had a professional beef with a certain local media this week.

The details I’ll keep to myself, but it caused me to think about the differences between a newspaper story and Just Wright Citrus blogs, particularly in the area of sourcing information.

It’s a significant difference, and one I take extremely seriously.

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During my 34 years at the Chronicle, I recall writing only one unsourced story. We just didn't do that. You know…”sources said…” or “according to reports…” Any time a vague reference is used as a source it could mean anything.

That brings me here.

It was Jan. 6, 2022. The blog website was six days old. I was on my way to cover an event when someone sent me a text with a simple message: “Target.”

I wrote back, “Target what?”

During the next several minutes, I learned that Target was coming to Lecanto. There was nothing official. Target wasn’t mentioned anywhere in an email or document. But the people I was speaking with — they KNEW, if you get my drift.

I had to make an ethical call. Would I stick with the newspaper principles and insist that information be sourced to individuals, or would I go with…something else?

Opted for the latter. Without naming my sources, I posted the Target news the next day and off we went.

Just Wright Citrus stands alone. I purposely avoid attributing information to anyone other than official government sources (emails, videos, reports, and the like). Instead, I’m the face of the info.

I’ve never seen it done quite like this anywhere else. But as I learned from that first week, what makes Just Wright Citrus such a partnership in the community is the trust. Readers trust I will not purposely lead them astray with poorly researched blogs or posts.

It’s certainly fair for you to know the processes I use before posting unsourced info. They include:

— The same ethical rules apply in passing along news tips as in my newspaper days. The only difference is I’m not identifying the source. But I check out these tips just as I would as a reporter.

— You’ll not see vague phrases like “tentatively identified” in my blog. Either I'm OK with the information or I'm not. If not, you don't see it.

— That means info is verified and double-checked. You're trusting me, so I better be darn sure it’s accurate. Here’s what I’ll say: My source friends are solid. They’re good people. Highly knowledgeable of the government and community. They give me multiple points to ponder.

— I normally need three separate people to tell me the same thing. Sometimes two, but usually three. If I have two and the third verifies info I already have, that’s good enough.

— Motives are important. Some folks whisper things hoping I’ll write it to help their friends or hurt their enemies. My thinking on this is very simple. I have no problem with being manipulated, so long as I know who is doing the manipulating and why. Then I decide whether it’s blog-worthy.

I’m constantly on the watch for that. Especially these days.

— Sometimes I pass on rumors or observations I’ve picked up from folks in the know. I try to keep that to a minimum, but I find great value in those statements. The same rumor whispered in multiple circles often has a ring of truth to it. Still has to meet my standards.

So, here’s how it works in real life. We’re going to use last Friday's Facebook post regarding our good friend Calvin Adams Jr., who we pray is mending well from his scary accident at Sims Furniture Store.

I learned about the accident when someone sent me photos Friday morning and wrote “Calvin!” This person’s accuracy is 99%, but in my book that’s only a start. Nothing more.

I called the person who sent me the photos. He had details, including that Calvin was not seriously hurt. Those details directed my next steps.

Calvin is the Crystal River fire chief. I called and emailed city officials. Within a short time, someone verified the information and, as I was writing the post, a third person called and confirmed everything I had so far.

(I also texted and emailed Calvin. Not looking for quotes, but just to let him know I hope he’s all right. I genuinely like the guy.)

Even with all that, before posting I texted the person who sent me the photos: “You are POSITIVE that’s his truck and that’s his wreck?”

We talked again. Went through the details again. I posted what I knew, and nothing more. Just Wright Citrus readers responded with overwhelming prayers and concern for our friend Calvin, a true community leader.

Look. This is totally a trust deal, and I ABSOLUTELY GET IT. I must earn that trust each weekday on this site. It’s everything to me.

With that, I trust you’ll have an awesome weekend, friends.

P.S. Just Wright Citrus T-shirt to the first person who can identify where I’m sitting in today’s photo. Happy hunting!

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