Speak up so we can hear you

It is a journalist's responsibility to sift through details, develop relationships and uncover potentially interesting story ideas. But no newspaper can publish stories without sources -- and that is where The Cavalier Daily's readers and critics can enter the picture.

For almost every breaking news story or sports report, there is a whistle-blower -- someone willing to step up, "do the right thing" and say something about a perceived problem or concern. Without whistle-blowers, a newspaper ceases to remain relevant and instead becomes a vehicle for press release distribution. Without someone to highlight and illuminate issues that might otherwise go under the radar -- like the disenfranchisement of minority groups or the controversial dealings of higher-ups -- the press inevitably fails to serve its readers as best it could. Sources' voices are papers' voices; if nobody is willing to say something, The Cavalier Daily generally cannot say something, or will at least continue underreporting the stories that matter.

There is good news, though. The Cavalier Daily always is actively searching for hot leads, and there are laws governing the free press that protect sources. We understand that, for the sake of truth, whistle-blowers frequently endanger their jobs and reputations. That is why papers offer anonymity, and that is why reporters can talk about issues off the record before they go on the record. The Cavalier Daily, like any respectable media publication, values our sources and strives to protect them as best we can. So, if you are upset about our coverage of an issue or if you have a story idea, speak up. Send an e-mail to editor@cavalierdaily.com or call 434-924-1082 -- because if protection is warranted, we will provide and listen, so that we can help you make a positive impact on the world. We are not looking for skeletons in closets, but we are looking to cover the stories you care about. For both papers and whistle-blowers, it's the truth that counts.