A 139-year-old newspaper closing after paying $1.1m for made-up mayor stories

The Independent - Dec 18th, 2024

The Everett Leader Herald, a 139-year-old Massachusetts newspaper, is set to publish its final edition after settling a $1.1 million defamation lawsuit with Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria. The mayor accused the paper of publishing false articles as part of a smear campaign, with the paper's publisher admitting to fabricating stories to harm DeMaria's reputation. This case, seen as a clear example of defamation, raises concerns about trust in journalism. The closure of the Leader Herald reduces Everett's local news outlets to two, with fears of biased reporting.

Defamation

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

8.2

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a detailed account of the defamation case involving the Massachusetts paper and the mayor of Everett. It presents the facts of the case, including statements from involved parties and legal experts. While it maintains clarity and transparency, the article could benefit from more balanced reporting by including more perspectives.

Accuracy

The article accurately reports on the defamation case, including the settlement amount and quotes from the involved parties. It references legal concepts accurately and provides specific details about the case.

Balance

The article primarily focuses on the perspective of Mayor Carlo DeMaria and the negative actions of the newspaper, with limited views from the newspaper's side. Including more input from the accused parties or neutral observers could enhance balance.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and written in a clear, neutral tone. It avoids emotive language and presents the information logically, making it easy to understand the key points of the case.

Source quality

The article cites credible sources, including statements from the mayor, court documents, and comments from a journalism professor. However, it could benefit from more direct quotes or responses from the newspaper's representatives.

Transparency

The article is transparent in its reporting, clearly attributing quotes and providing context for the defamation case. It discloses attempts to contact involved parties for comment, demonstrating a commitment to comprehensive reporting.