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OPINION Whidbey
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Wednesday, February 27, 2013 • Whidbey News-Times
Ethics matter in community papers I believe in community newspapers. By Keven graves It’s from the local newspaper, you will learn about births, deaths, high school sports, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, what’s new in business and much more. That’s the sort of news that keeps your hometown homey. Those are the articles you clip from your newspaper and hang on the front of your fridge with a magnet. From your newspaper you also learn what your government representatives are up to, election news and where crime is happening. Information is power. By keeping informed, those who read a newspaper have more of an opportunity to influence decisions and change. You have the ability to protect yourselves and remain vigilant. Ignorance is not bliss. Unfortunately, it’s easy for some to take their local news for granted. Sometimes people forget that a real newspaper employs professional reporters who are bound by a strict code of ethics. News articles aren’t a means of expressing the writer’s personal thoughts and opinions. It’s a reporter’s responsibility to gather facts, contact appropriate sources, air both sides of an issue and present sometimes complicated information in a cohesive, readable format. By presenting the facts as they’re available, a good newspaper empowers a reader to make up his or her own mind about an issue. A newspaper must respect and trust its readers in that way. To report the news, a local newspaper functions as a business. In addition to reporters, there are other staffers who keep the operation functioning like clockwork. There’s advertising consultants, customer service, design and production and distribution employees. Advertising not only covers the costs of producing a newspaper, it keeps local businesses that advertise thriving and growing. It’s a win-win relationship that has proven successful decade after decade. However, the business side and editorial side should never cross lines. Advertising consultants must not trade advertising for articles, and reporters don’t write articles in exchange for advertising. Accepting gifts from sources and advertisers is not allowed. Ethics matter. There are other publications that describe themselves as newspapers, but consistently trade “positive” coverage for advertising. To describe themselves as newspapers is both a misnomer and an insult to any true journalist and community newspaper that subscribes to a code of ethics. Being a good newspaper means that not everyone will be happy with articles you publish. However, as a good editor once told me, a reporter must be able to look his or her sources in the eye at the grocery store. That is my commitment to every reader — to present news that you might not like, but to do it fairly and accurately. Those are the basic tenets of good community journalism.
PUBLISHER’s column
• Keven R. Graves is executive editor and publisher for the Whidbey News-Times. He can be contacted by e-mail at kgraves@whidbeynewstimes.com
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Published each Wednesday and Saturday from the office of The Whidbey News-Times 107 S. Main St, Ste E101 • P.O. Box 1200 • Coupeville, WA 98239 (360) 675-6611 • (360) 679-2695 fax On the Internet at www.whidbeynewstimes.com
Letters to the editor Levy
Not just property owners support Editor, It’s unfortunate that some readers feel the need to classify renters as lacking the eligibility to vote when property taxes are involved. I’m a homeowner, but at one time I was a renter. Some people can’t financially afford a home; a lot are military families who may only be here for a three year tour or aren’t sure if they are ready to settle in this area. But, like homeowners, they have kids in school and they do a lot to support the district as best they can. These renters may one day be homeowners too. I would hope that they remember their past and not feel the need to classify their neighbors. Mike Delaney Oak Harbor
Renters pay taxes in other ways Editor, The school levy vote was no joke. That’s how democracy in 2013 works. Like Richard Ays, I too long for the good old 1790s when only white male property owners had the right to vote. Those were good times. Not so good for the other 90 percent, but great for us. Let’s put blame where it belongs. If I own a rental property and can’t charge enough to cover my expenses like taxes, maintenance, mortgage, and the profit I feel I deserve I’ve made a bad investment or am a horrible landlord. The renter is paying property taxes. Walt Mistler Oak Harbor
Publisher.......................................................................................................Keven R. Graves Editor.............................................................................................................. Megan Hansen Assistant Editor . ........................................................................................ Jessie Stensland Reporters....................................Ron Newberry, Justin Burnett, Nathan Whalen, Jim Waller Administrative Assistant.................................................................................. Connie Ross Advertising Manager................................................................................... Lee Ann Mozes Advertising.........................................................................................................Gail Rognan Production Manager.......................................................................Michelle Wolfensparger Marketing Artists.....................................................................Ginny Tomasko, Leslie Vance Circulation Manager.......................................................................................Gregg Travers Circulation Assistant...................................................................................Diane Smothers
Litigation?
Prayer violates Constitutions Editor, Last year the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent 900 formal letters to city councils and school boards across America informing them their prayers during meetings were unconstitutional, 140 of them stopped, our Oak Harbor City Council did not. Not only does the city council’s prayer violate the U.S. Constitution, but it violates the Washington State Constitution too. The Washington State Constitution states that “No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or the support of any religious establishment.” Go to www.oakharbor.org/ video-view.cfm?series=23 to
see our city council prayer. Our council chooses to leave itself open to a lawsuit the people of Oak Harbor don’t need. Jeff James Oak Harbor
Gun control
Letter writer is confused Editor, I would like to address some assertions by Teresa Dix in a recent letter to the editor that I think are off mark. First, the concern about how to tell the ‘good guy’ from the ‘bad guy,’ well if someone is open carrying a pistol securely in a holster and are behaving them selves, then they’re probably not a criminal. Now say if, someone has See Letters, A7
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