A Letter to the Editors From a Group of Trinity Journalist Alumni

To the editors of the Tripod: 

As Trinity alumni and current or former journalists, we are distressed and perplexed by the Tripod’s decision to retract its recent story on the tragic death of student Nicky Green. It was a mistake and we urge the editorial board to reconsider. 

The story that was removed from the Tripod’s website was an undisputedly accurate and neutral news story on the untimely death of a student in his dorm room. It included basic information confirmed by the administration, a quote from a friend speaking to the terrible loss, and a line that reporters were unable to reach the family for comment. It’s the sort of piece any professional news outlet would run on an important breaking story to get verified facts to the community as quickly as possible, before rumor and innuendo fill the void.  

The Tripod staffers who reported and wrote the story, one of whom served as editor-in-chief, did everything they should have done. It was sound, responsible reporting.  

Sadly, they were subject to a torrent of criticism from readers who called it insensitive to report on a student’s death so quickly and with a neutral tone. Many complained that the story failed to convey the weight of the loss.    

There are journalistic options to address those concerns — a feature on the student’s life, an obituary, a piece examining the grief on campus. But that wasn’t the reporters’ job in those first frantic hours, and rather than following the initial news story with deeper coverage, the editorial board opted to retract the story and abandon the Tripod’s journalistic duty. The board offered no explanation; the retraction was revealed only when the editor-in-chief posted a letter of resignation in protest (an appropriate, honorable response, in our view). 

These events have consequences. Nicky Green’s memory certainly is not well served by erasing the news of his death and short-circuiting further coverage of how the loss has affected the campus. And the Tripod has lost an editor who dedicated much of her college career to improving its content, presentationand professionalism.  

Most concerning, however, is the notion that the Tripod shies from reporting on news that its readers may find painful or disturbing. In an era when misinformation runs rampant, the college needs a news outlet it can rely on to cover campus events without fear or favor. We strongly believe the Tripodshould change course, restore the retracted story, and ask the former editor to rescind her resignation. A campus where important stories are squelched simply because they are distressing is not an academic environment that serves anyone.  

Sincerely,  

Peter T. Kilborn, ’61, former reporter and editor, New York Times 

Bill Marimow, ’69, former editor-in-chief, Philadelphia Inquirer, Baltimore Sun 

Patricia Zengerle, ’83, congressional correspondent, Reuters 

Peter Eisler, ’85, investigative reporter, Reuters 

Jonathan Moore, ’85, former reporter, AP and Business Week 

Steve Norton, ’85, former reporter, CQ and National Journal 

Mimi Hall, ’86, former White House reporter, USA Today 

David Rubinger, ’87, publisher, former editor-in-chief, Atlanta Business Chronicle 

John Shiffman, ’87, investigative reporter, Reuters 

Steve Safran, ’90, television news and sports producer; co-founder NECN.com 

Jay Akasie, ’93, former editor, TRENDS; former business editor, New York Sun 

Jonathan Heuser, ’93, former Tripod editor 

Kelsey Hubbard Rollinson, ’93, reporter, writer, radio host, CT Public Television & Radio 

Rick Zednik, ’93, former editor, The Slovak Spectator 

Cliff Fuller, ’94, writer 

Eli Lake, ’94, columnist, The Free Press; host of the Breaking History podcast 

Dana Nachman, ’94, journalist, documentarian, founder of Sweet World Films 

Jim Barr, ’95, former Tripod editor 

Paul Sullivan, ’95, contributor, former columnist, New York Times; contributing editor, Golf Digest 

Dan Kasper, ’01, reporter, editor and producer 

Daniel Edward Rosen, ’01, senior investigative reporter, New York Sun 

Stephanie Apstein, ’10, senior writer, Sports Illustrated 

Hunter Savery, ’20, reporter, CQ Roll Call 

Liz Foster, ‘22, freelance entertainment journalist, creator of Bits & Pieces