Few people outside the greater Norfolk, Virginia, area have heard of the Virginian-Pilot, but the newspaper is influential in a major mid-Atlantic military community and has broken some national and international stories. One of its star reporters, Bill Sizemore, is finally making a big name for himself with his aggressive reporting about Blackwater.Aggressive reporting is healthy when the journalist attempts to be objective and fair. The Virginian-Pilot has had a good reputation in that regard until Sizemore went over the edge from objective reporter on Blackwater to relentless partisan against the company. Some longtime readers are worried that though Sizemore's coverage is bringing the newspaper international attention, it is also imperiling the integrity of the paper's own Code of Ethics and Professionalism.
After 35 years in relative journalistic obscurity, Sizemore has been nominated for the coveted Pulitzer Prize for his Blackwater articles. But so far nobody seriously has called him for some sloppy and unprofessional aspects of his reporting. Since his stories are now fodder for the wire services and major newspaper chains on Blackwater, the Virginian-Pilot has an inordinate influence in shaping national and international perceptions.
So we encourage people to make their opinions known to the reporter, his editors and the public.
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