BREAKING THE SILENCE: IT TOOK A DEFIANT WHISTLEBLOWER TO SPARK THE OUSTER OF THE STATE'S MOST POWERFUL INSURANCE EXECUTIVE.

• Author: Mildenher, David

News tips come in many forms, but not too often in an aqua blue snail-mail envelope that includes a crumpled note using a dozen different font styles.

That's how our magazine learned in mid-September that Patrick Conway, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, might be in trouble. The note suggested Conway had been arrested in Randolph County on or about June 22 and noted that "specially (sic) disturbing are the facts. Just look at who was in his car with him when he had the accident."

My colleague Harrison Miller traveled to Archdale and obtained public records that confirmed Conway's alcohol-related accident while driving with two of his children. We published the story about the incident in our Daily Digest newsletter and on our website, businessnc.com.

A week later, after stories by other media and broadcasts of a video showing his erratic driving on Interstate 85 began circulating, the state's most influential insurance executive resigned at the request of his board. He told The Wall Street Journal that the incident was "the worst experience of my life." Later, he tweeted that "Unfortunately, I have been 'tried and convicted' in the media." On Oct. 8, he was found guilty of DWI and misdemeanor child abuse. (The latter charge is solely because his children were in the car.) He is appealing.

Journalists love exclusives. But ethical ones do not revel in the misfortune of others or take pleasure in kicking someone when he or she is down. Conway's situation was newsworthy because of his critical job and the Blue Cross board's inexplicable decision not to disclose the matter.

It's a board made up of highly respected leaders, as it should be, because the company with $9.9 billion in annual revenue insures or manages the insurance of a majority of North Carolinians. When a prominent CEO makes a poor personal...