The Hostile Takeover of Missouri Journalism: When Ethical Lines Blur Beyond Recognition

The Transaction That Should Alarm Every Democracy Defender

In a move that sends shockwaves through Missouri’s media landscape, Scott Faughn - a figure whose career has been marred by felony convictions, ethical violations, and political manipulation - has taken control of three community newspapers: the Jefferson City News-Tribune, Fulton Sun, and California Democrat. The acquisition from Arkansas-based WEHCO Media Inc. represents more than just a change in ownership; it signifies a potential crisis for journalistic integrity in Missouri’s capital region. Walter Hussman Jr., publisher of WEHCO Media, acknowledged the papers’ financial struggles while emphasizing community journalism as a “public trust” - a trust now placed in remarkably questionable hands.

The Troubled History of the New Owner

Scott Faughn’s background reads like a checklist of everything that should disqualify someone from leading reputable news organizations. His political career began with promise when he became mayor of Poplar Bluff at age 22 in 2002, but quickly devolved into controversy. In 2007, he was convicted on three felony counts for forging checks from an account related to a highway widening project he championed. This pattern of ethical compromise continued when he founded the Missouri Times in 2012 with former Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton.

Faughn’s entanglement with political corruption deepened in 2015 when he hosted lobbyist-funded parties for lawmakers, nearly getting the Missouri Times expelled from the Capitol Press Association for helping lawmakers avoid disclosure requirements. However, his most disturbing chapter emerged during the Eric Greitens scandal, where Faughn paid $120,000 in cash to the attorney representing the ex-husband of Greitens’ accuser. This payment occurred shortly before the release of a nonconsensual recording of the victim detailing alleged sexual assault by the then-governor.

The Stain on Journalistic Integrity

What makes this ownership transition particularly alarming is the fundamental betrayal of journalistic principles that Faughn has demonstrated repeatedly. His explanation under oath - that the $120,000 payment was for purchasing recordings of Greitens’ alleged victim for a book project - was publicly questioned by lawmakers as “mind boggling,” especially when other journalists obtained the same recordings without payment. The attorney involved testified that Faughn claimed the money came from an unnamed wealthy Republican who disliked Greitens, suggesting possible political manipulation rather than legitimate journalism.

The Missouri Times was rightfully expelled from the press association following these revelations. The Jefferson City News Tribune itself previously denounced Faughn, stating that “when a ‘journalist’ is more interested in being involved in a big news event than simply reporting on it, he no longer should be considered a journalist.” This condemnation now rings with tragic irony as the very newspaper that called out his ethical failures falls under his control.

The Erosion of Public Trust in Local Journalism

The fundamental question facing Missouri residents is whether they can trust news organizations led by someone with such demonstrated contempt for journalistic ethics. Local newspapers serve as watchdogs for democracy, holding power accountable and providing communities with factual information. When these institutions become tools for political operatives with criminal records and questionable motives, the very foundation of democratic accountability crumbles.

Faughn’s pattern of behavior suggests a worldview where journalism serves political interests rather than public service. His involvement in the Greitens case - paying for access to a sexual assault victim’s private recording, fleeing subpoenas, and providing contradictory explanations - demonstrates a profound disregard for ethical boundaries. These actions don’t represent isolated misjudgments but rather a consistent pattern of placing personal or political interests above journalistic integrity.

The Broader Implications for American Democracy

This ownership transition occurs against a backdrop of declining trust in media institutions nationwide. When community newspapers fall into the hands of figures with demonstrated ethical failures, it accelerates this distrust and undermines the crucial role local journalism plays in healthy democracies. The Fourth Estate exists to serve the public, not to advance political agendas or provide cover for unethical behavior.

The fact that Faughn’s history wasn’t mentioned at the press conference announcing the acquisition is particularly telling. Walter Hussman Jr.’s call for the business community to “rally around Faughn” ignores the fundamental question of whether someone with this background should be leading community newspapers at all. The commitment to customers, employees, and the community that Hussman references requires ethical leadership that Faughn has repeatedly failed to demonstrate.

A Call for Vigilance and Accountability

As someone deeply committed to democratic principles and press freedom, I view this development with profound concern. The takeover of community newspapers by a figure with Faughn’s history represents exactly the type of institutional degradation that threatens American democracy. Citizens in Missouri’s capital region deserve news organizations free from the taint of political manipulation and ethical compromise.

The employees of these newspapers now face an impossible situation: working for an owner whose actions have been condemned by the very institutions he now controls. Their professional integrity will be tested daily as they navigate the ethical minefield of working under someone who has demonstrated such contempt for journalistic norms.

This situation demands vigilant scrutiny from media watchdogs, press associations, and the Missouri public. The credibility of these newspapers hangs in the balance, and the community must hold the new ownership accountable to the highest standards of journalistic ethics. Democracy depends on a free and independent press, not one controlled by figures with demonstrated disregard for ethical boundaries and legal norms.

The acquisition of community newspapers by someone with Scott Faughn’s history isn’t just a business story - it’s a warning sign about the vulnerability of local journalism to capture by unethical actors. Those who value democracy and press freedom must remain watchful and vocal in demanding that these vital community institutions maintain their integrity and independence, regardless of ownership.