NEGLECTING NEWS?

The arrest of a legislator’s son goes unreported, and we want to know why.

Rep. Paul Broun’s son was arrested in Athens this weekend, but no one reported it.

Looks like a symptom of the decreasing newsroom. When reporters don’t have the time to watch police logs, we have a problem.

Yep, Paul “Bear” Broun III, 18, who attends Athens Academy, was charged with underage possession of alcohol and possession of marijuana at a party on West Cloverhurst Street.

So why is this news, you ask?

Bear’s smoking habits don’t have anything to do with his father, many of you will yell at us.

Maybe not, but his ability to lead his son says a lot, as do his comments about marijuana in the past. In 2007, the Athens Banner-Herald asked Broun about his vote to stop a law that would enforce drug laws against doctors and patients who prescribe or use marijuana. Broun noted its gateway drug effects but also the medical value of marijuana. Balanced. Logical.

The ABH then asked if he ever smoked marijuana. He said: “I did as a student, years ago in college. I tried it a time or two and hated it, and I don’t see why anyone wants to do that.”

Maybe he should ask his son.

But it’s not really about marijuana or Broun. It’s about journalists doing their jobs. The Red & Black didn’t report the incident as news because it didn’t involve University students, but we’re ashamed to see that it hasn’t been reported anywhere, even days later.

- Carolyn Crist for the editorial board