It is interesting that many other citizens on the Island are also noticing that our local newspapers are not interested in reporting on issues that are not pro “establishment” or that do not fit the views of the reporters, staff or owners of the newspapers. As all of our local community newspapers are now owned by one entity and this should be troubling to all of us who wish to see both sides of an issue presented to the public.
Here is an article by another local blogger that has has had similar experiences with our local papers, his article starts out by stating:
“Summary The handling by local newspapers, and particularly the Whidbey News-Times, of news and views about the EMS levy measure has reached a new journalistic low. First, the WNT editor refused to run my 510-word “Sound off” submission, telling me I should send in a shorter letter or take out an ad. Next, he ran a 967-word “Sound off” in support of the levy. On the adjoining page, his pro-levy editorial contained virtually no relevant facts, but instead attacked me personally, and dishonestly. I did, by the way, submit different short but fact-laden letters to the three local papers, none of which were published. Local papers have been careful to keep voters ignorant of facts that demonstrate the EMS personnel budget is out of control. This censorship by the WNT establishes that it is a co-conspirator with Whidbey General Hospital and EMS officials in their non-transparency and closed government strategies. The full report contains my open letter to the head of Sound Publishing, a Canadian-owned chain that now owns all three local newspapers, and thus has a monopoly on Island politics, news, and advertising.”
To view the rest of his article please visit his website here:
http://whidbeygeneralreformers.org/Issue%2042/issue_42.htm
Below is a link to his blog that has 41 articles that go into great detail the issues surrounding Whidbey General Hospital and how they are spending our taxpayer dollars. Please visit his blog as the information it presents is very well researched and fact filled and almost all of the information he presents is not available to any of us through our local newspapers outlets.
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Mr. Born’s reaction to the Whidbey News’ Times editor’s special brand of information-controlling and outright censorship is unfortunately neither new nor uncommon. Here’s a piece I wrote back in April after I (again) experienced something similar to Mr. Born’s recent experience:
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The Whidbey Marketplace & News is a locally owned and operated publication that strives to remain unbiased and is willing to publish Letters to the Editor from all viewpoints. We published one of Mr. Born’s letters regarding the EMS levy. If you want to avoid the monopoly, the Whidbey Marketplace & News is an alternative source for information and advertising.
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The Whidbey Marketplace & News IS the only publication that has an unbiased viewpoint and I would encourage every business in Island County to support this newspaper with their advertising dollars. The South Whidbey Record and the Whidbey Examiner have been known for their bias reporting and the promoting of their liberal agenda for a long time. There was a sliver of hope for the Whidbey News Times; unfortantely, that door closed with their recent acquisition.
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Today, August 30, 2012, I had four postings pulled by the Whidbey News Times..
see
Chelle Brunke · Top Commenter · Town Crier at Disabled
http://www.islandpolitics.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Helen_Johnson_Freeland.wmaCheck out Helen Price Johnson’s support of the $40 million sewer project and the LID by resolution that would have bankrupted those of us living on fixed incomes in the Phase I plan of the ‘sewer.”
If Mr Lauderdale denies membership in the Tea Party, then, for gosh sakes he isn’t a member. I myself am a fiscal conservative but a social liberal. So, obviously, I’m not a member of the Tea Party. But I do have friends who ARE tea party members.. That’s their privilege as it is mine to disagree with them on specific points.
The issue is, and always has been, should the good people of Freeland have the right to VOTE on LIDS. In her support of the lID by resolution, Helen clearly says no.
Depriving citizens the right to vote on taxes is un-American. Basing assessments on junk science is reprehensible.
I am voting for Jeff Lauderdale because he saw through this manipulation from day one.
Reply · Like · 2 seconds agoI posted the above entry x4 today, and x4 it was removed. Copies of these entries are on file, as well as their follow-up deletion.
Is this journalistic ethics?
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