Afflicting the Comfortable: Journalism and Politics in West Virginia (West Virginia and Appalachia) (WEST VIRIGINIA & APPALACHIA)

Thomas Stafford asks himself where the media and journalism come into play when government and politics turn corrupt. A former journalist for the Charleston Gazette, Stafford investigated several scandals that have unsettled the Mountain State over the past few decades. During his investigations, Stafford found himself in a very precarious position. He felt obliged to tell the whole truth, and he believed in the need to serve the public, especially those West Virginians who were being abused by a political machine. Stafford’s reporting eventually led to pressure from politicians and powerbrokers that would force him to give up his career. With intense passion, he held the convictions of journalistic integrity throughout.