I am following my hometown newspaper, The Observer. Which is "Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader." I think those two counties have all of a population of 30,000 max. Anyway, today I was skimming through the op-ed section of the website and found a "letter to the editor" by the editor, Ted Kramer.
In it, he explicitly said that letters to the editor that attacked one candidate and without endorsing the other, would not be published. Or letters where facts were not documented, would also not be published.
Kramer mentioned the idea that web sites and e-mails were not "held to the same standards that apply in newspapers." He also went on to state that his paper would not be used as a "web-style free-for-all where anything goes."I wasn't sure how to take this letter from the editor. Defending the integrity of the institution of the newspaper? Impeaching upon the first amendment? Discounting civic journalism? What is the role of the editor? What are our roles as readers? Thoughts? Comments? Concerns?
You can find this letter at http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/Opinion/Guest-Columns/Letters-and-comments-for-September-27-2008.
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2 comments:
I say good for Ted Kramer for having the courage to distinguish the difference between free speech a free-for-all. The editorial page shouldn't be a section for taking fits and throwing around rumors. There's a difference between arguing and complaining. Bashing one candidate without endorsing another does no good for anyone but the person who is venting
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