This instance could have been used not as a stand alone story, but as an example in another news story questioning whether the fire department is enforcing its checkin policy. If it was, the department should have known Cregar had been drinking, and thus should not have let him work the fire. I had a real problem with the Jewish Week ad story. While the editor did the right thing by contacting W.M. to see if he knew he was advertising in an anti-Semitic paper before drawing conclusions, after finding W.M. knew, he should not have shielded him. He said he was protecting the Jewish community, but they had a right to know that one of their own was deceiving them by ignoring the faith for a big paycheck.
Enemies can come from within just as easily as from without.
As journalists, we're supposed to try to be unbiased when reporting news. Even when news breaks that we don't like or agree with, if the news in the public's best interest, we report it.