When Tips Turn Into Anger: What Free Speech Does Not Cover
At Davidson Local, we welcome tips from readers. Many of our best stories begin with a phone call, an email or a message from someone who sees something in the community that needs attention. That trust matters to us and we take every tip seriously.
But not every tip becomes a story and not every message sent to our newsroom is protected by “free speech.”
From time to time, readers become upset when a tip is not published, is delayed or is handled differently than they expected. In those moments, we often hear, “I have freedom of speech,” as if that obligates a newsroom to publish or respond in a particular way. It does not.
Here is what free speech does not cover.
Free speech does not guarantee publication.
Freedom of speech protects individuals from government punishment for expressing opinions. It does not require a private newsroom to publish every claim, allegation or submission. Editorial judgment is not censorship. It is the foundation of responsible journalism.
Free speech does not protect harassment or threats.
Messages that include threats, intimidation, repeated harassment or abusive language cross a line. Those communications may be reported to platform administrators or law enforcement when appropriate. Disagreement is protected. Harassment is not.
Free speech does not cover defamation.
False statements presented as fact that harm a person’s reputation are not protected speech. If a tip contains unverified allegations, personal attacks or claims that cannot be substantiated, we will not publish them. Journalism requires evidence, context and fairness.
Free speech does not override privacy.
We do not publish private information about individuals simply because someone sends it to us. Addresses, phone numbers, medical details and private family matters are not fair game for public consumption.
Free speech does not apply the same way on private platforms.
Davidson Local is a privately owned news organization. Our website, social media pages and inboxes are not public forums. We set standards for engagement to protect our staff, our sources and our community.
It is also important to understand how tips work. A tip is a starting point, not a promise. Some tips lead to reporting. Some require months of verification. Some point to issues that are already being covered in another way. Others simply do not meet journalistic standards.
We know it can be frustrating when a story you care deeply about does not appear the way you hoped. But responsible journalism means we sometimes say no, not yet or not like that.
We will always listen. We will always strive to be fair. And we will always protect the integrity of our newsroom, even when that decision is unpopular.
That is not a violation of free speech.
That is how local journalism works.
