Why I Don’t Always Name Names: A Note on Ethics, Sensitivity, and Trust

Over the past few weeks, I’ve received questions and some pressure about why Living Snoqualmie hasn’t named specific individuals in local stories. These have included the name of a young murder victim, the identity of a local person accused of a crime, or photos of people involved in tragic events. I want to take a moment to explain why, in most cases, I choose not to publish those names.

There are exceptions. I will name individuals when their families request that I share their stories, when a GoFundMe campaign has their consent, when police officially identify someone while seeking public assistance, or in obituaries. But these are special cases.

Generally, I don’t name local people in stories about tragedy, crime, or traumatic events. This policy does not apply to the many positive stories I write. I regularly name local people when covering community accomplishments, celebrations, events, and everyday good news. The difference lies in the potential for harm.

First and foremost is respect. What may be the worst day of someone’s life or their family’s should not be made harder by having their name or photo published. In a small community like the Snoqualmie Valley, we all live close to one another. The impact of a name in print can be immediate and deeply personal.

In small communities like ours, privacy matters. People often know each other personally, or at least know where someone lives or works. Publishing a name in connection with a tragedy or crime can feel invasive and, in some cases, even dangerous. Choosing not to name someone helps protect families from unwanted attention or harm and respects the closeness of our community.

When it comes to crime reporting, I follow the principle of innocent until proven guilty. That means I will not name someone who has been arrested but not charged. In our justice system, the burden of proof lies with the government to establish guilt. Publishing a name too early risks unfairly damaging someone’s reputation, especially if charges are later dropped.

I also don’t want to be part of a trial by media. It’s easy for public perception to run ahead of facts. Naming someone before the legal process plays out can lead to permanent harm, even if that person is never convicted.

There are also legal considerations. I will not publish a name based on social media rumors. If a name has not been released by law enforcement or the family, I will not include it. Accuracy matters, and so does responsibility.

Minors deserve even more protection. I don’t name them whether they are victims, witnesses, or accused, unless there is an exceptional public interest and official confirmation. Children are still growing and changing, and they should not be permanently labeled by a traumatic event in their youth.

As for suicides, I do not report on them. This is a firm editorial choice. Research shows that detailed reporting on suicide can contribute to copycat behavior. Naming someone can increase pain for families and fuel harmful speculation or gossip. There are no exceptions to this policy.

In every story, I weigh the potential impact of what I publish. My job is to inform the public while also doing no harm. That balance can be difficult, but I believe it is essential to building trust with readers and respecting the humanity of those at the heart of each story.

Thank you for understanding why I sometimes choose not to say something.

—Melissa Grant
Editor, Living Snoqualmie

-These are the standards I follow as the current editor of Living Snoqualmie. They may differ from those used by the previous owner or editor, as each writer brings their own approach to covering sensitive topics.