Having been in journalism for over 20 years and managing editor of Larson Newspapers for 11 years, I’ve seen all manner of stories, drama, scandals and internecine fighting in local government.

The Sedona Red Rock News, The Camp Verde Journal and the Cottonwood Journal Extra cover news from the municipalities of Sedona, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Clarkdale and Jerome and the unincorporated areas of the Verde Valley and Oak Creek Canyon, and all the local governments and taxing agencies that serve our residents.

We have sources and story leads all over our readership area and on any given week, our reporters are in the middle of at least a dozen stories that affect you, our readers and neighbors.

It’s always surprising when some reader accuses me or a member of my staff of being in the surreptitious employ of or “too indebted to the [insert name here of organization, person, business or elected official the reader hates]” to cover a story, topic or issue fairly and equitably for our reader’s benefit.

In spite of what an angry reader may lob my way in a phone call or email, no one has ever tried to out-and-out bribe me to cover or not cover a topic of public interest — which is kind of surprising when you think about the vast accumulated wealth here. Of course, such an attempted bribe would itself become a front-page story or the subject of an editorial, which alone serves as a deterrent.

Subjects of news stories have certainly “suggested” that we cover or not cover a contentious story at times, but that’s simply not how this newspaper works, not how I operate in the editor’s chair and not in line with the ethical code to which we subscribe as journalists and as a media outlet. If it’s news, we report it, regardless of who or what the subject is. You, our readers, expect no less.

The suggestions are usually more subtle, as in a recent case when a reader suggested I was in league with the subject of a recent story the reader disliked.

After insulting my education and profession, the reader then offered to educate me on the “correct” opinion on the issue by buying me lunch at a fancy area restaurant — the irony of which was apparently lost on said reader.

While there is no law, licensing or oath that determines what a journalist is, nearly all of us adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists’s Code of Ethics, or some derivation thereof, be it a media company code of ethics or an editorial policy, so readers can be assured that reporters, editors, photojournalists and columnists are working in the best interest of their publication and their readership.

The SPJ Code of Ethics is available online and the very first thing I discuss with new hires — it’s the first page in the packet I give them on day one. It’s something that all journalism students are taught in college.

There are four pillars, the first being “Seek Truth and Report It,” which details how to report the news, provide accurate information, data, quotes and context for readers, support the open and civil exchange of views, even views they find repugnant, ensure that the public’s business is conducted in the open and that public records are open to all, never deliberately distort facts or context and always attribute material provided.

The second pillar is “Minimize Harm,” meaning to balance the public’s need for information against potential harm especially to victims, juveniles and criminal suspects, which is important in small-town journalism.

The third pillar is “Act Independently,” which is something many readers most often believe is in question — erroneously — but the code is clear: “Deny favored treatment to advertisers, donors or any other special interests and resist internal and external pressure to influence coverage.” Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived; refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment; and “avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or damage credibility.”

Finally, “Be Accountable and Transparent.” Explain ethical choices, encourage a civil dialogue with the public about journalistic practices, coverage and news content and respond quickly to questions about accuracy, clarity and fairness.

Our Editorial Department is not influenced by advertising, and our Advertising Department is not influenced by our news stories. At all reputable media outlets, there is a hard line between the two departments, but newspapers are symbiotic: Advertising representatives sell space next to news stories and content that readers want to read; we journalists have that space because advertising revenue can fund printing the pages. Our hardworking delivery drivers have jobs because we print content readers want, we have jobs because our drivers take our publications to the doors and mailboxes of our readers — who trust that we are honestly and factually reporting the news of their community.