From the publisher

Journalism schools teach reporters to quote accurately; to add "he said" or "she said" at the end of every statement; to fully report what people say at public events and in interviews.

All of that would apply if people were always responsible and always truthful.

Sadly, people are not always truthful or responsible - and it is getting worse (much worse) in politics. Far too many people spout whatever gets them attention; whatever aligns with their views and nothing else; whatever wins them support from others in the same political world; whatever gains them online donations, clicks and likes.

Irresponsible, inaccurate and misleading statements have become as common as steady rain in Southeast Alaska - and as depressing.

But if someone says it, if they stand up in public or issue a statement to the news media, shouldn't newspaper, radio and TV reporters quote the statement, add a "he said" or "she said" at the end, then head home, eat dinner and go to bed convinced they did their job?

Nope. Not without thinking first: Is it really news if it's not true?

Even if the quote is accurate, it's irresponsible to echo a factual error or misleading claim without providing the truth. Reporters and editors need to think before they repeat what they hear or read. Is there a public purpose? Does the public learn anything? Does the statement further thoughtful consideration of the facts, leading to better decisions?

This isn't about reporting only good and happy news. Reporting bad news can help a community by alerting people to dangers. Reporting corruption can help a community by giving the public a chance to repair the damage. Reporting sadness can help by sharing the grief so that no one hurts alone and so that others can help.

But reporting baseless accusations and contrived conspiracies does nothing but create more of the same.

I was prompted to write this column after I read that Ohio's biggest newspaper, the Cleveland Plain Dealer (love the name), announced it will not report the falsehoods coming from a U.S. Senate candidate. It will ignore inaccurate statements from Republican Josh Mandel that the newspaper considers to be ploys for attention.

"Mandel is pretty much a nobody right now, a nobody begging for people to notice his Tweets a year ahead of the Senate primary," wrote Chris Quinn, the Plain Dealer's editor. "Just because he makes outrageous, dangerous statements doesn't mean it is news."

The editor wrote that Mandel has shown a willingness to "say just about anything if it means getting his name in the news."

In particular, Quinn wrote that Mandel's falsehoods endanger Ohioans. "Our responsibility is to seek the truth," the editor said.

The Plain Dealer is right.

This isn't about denying free speech. It's about being responsible before handing over the soap box and megaphone.