Open Letter to E.W. Scripps Co. Management
A free, independent and factual press is both rare and indispensable in our present day form of government. without this characteristic to what has been shown to be the fourth branch of government, we the public loose confidence in a government that for all practical purposes exerts its powers unchecked.
Irrespective of the size of the community - from New York City to Marco Island - reporters that perform as noted above are a godsend to our democracy.
The issues that face Marco Island are both daunting and haunting. Irrespective where one is on the issues, it is essential that the factually based news be reported - and reported without sensationalism and without fear of offending those that the story does not paint in a good light. Facts are facts. If the free press refuses to report the facts for fear of retribution or for any other reason, our system of government suffers, our community suffers and so does the press.
You presently have a reporter in Ed Bania that fits this bill. You know he is doing the right thing when apparatchiks of the city lobbied you to have him fired. Marco island has asbestos dumping; a governance that threatens, intimidates and violates the civil rights of its citizens; federal authorities are investigating the city and some of its people; there is litigation; etc ... you know the stories.
These stories had to be reported, they had to be told, they had to be documented. That is what a free press does - that is what you have done - that is what you should continue to do with the right person in Ed.
Ed tackled these facts in a fair and balanced and factual manner. He didn't make these stories - he dug them out and reported them as supported by the evidence. It is essential that he continue in this vain for the problems are not yet resolved and rest assured that there are more are to come.
To do otherwise would be a disservice.
I strongly urge that you view ed as an invaluable and indispensable resource for the benefit of our system of government, for the citizens of marco island and for your organization.
Note: the above was emailed on July 29, 2007 to
kwlowe@ewscripps.com,
cpdoyle@naplesnews.com,
pplewis@naplesnews.com,
rhsandy@marconews.com
Irrespective of the size of the community - from New York City to Marco Island - reporters that perform as noted above are a godsend to our democracy.
The issues that face Marco Island are both daunting and haunting. Irrespective where one is on the issues, it is essential that the factually based news be reported - and reported without sensationalism and without fear of offending those that the story does not paint in a good light. Facts are facts. If the free press refuses to report the facts for fear of retribution or for any other reason, our system of government suffers, our community suffers and so does the press.
You presently have a reporter in Ed Bania that fits this bill. You know he is doing the right thing when apparatchiks of the city lobbied you to have him fired. Marco island has asbestos dumping; a governance that threatens, intimidates and violates the civil rights of its citizens; federal authorities are investigating the city and some of its people; there is litigation; etc ... you know the stories.
These stories had to be reported, they had to be told, they had to be documented. That is what a free press does - that is what you have done - that is what you should continue to do with the right person in Ed.
Ed tackled these facts in a fair and balanced and factual manner. He didn't make these stories - he dug them out and reported them as supported by the evidence. It is essential that he continue in this vain for the problems are not yet resolved and rest assured that there are more are to come.
To do otherwise would be a disservice.
I strongly urge that you view ed as an invaluable and indispensable resource for the benefit of our system of government, for the citizens of marco island and for your organization.
Note: the above was emailed on July 29, 2007 to
kwlowe@ewscripps.com,
cpdoyle@naplesnews.com,
pplewis@naplesnews.com,
rhsandy@marconews.com
posted by Mario R. Sanchez, Ph.D. at
9:00 PM
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Number of Comments: 2
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2 Comments:
Are you kidding me? He is so biased. He could not write a fair and balanced story if he tried.
By
Anonymous, at Tuesday, July 31, 2007 9:44:00 AM
this letter of recommendation was written for several reasons:
1. not aware of one story by ed where the facts stated were wrong or exagerated. it is asked that if there is such a story to please post it here and the recommendation will be reconsidered.
2. everything that a government (in this country) does must be done openly and hence must be documented irrespective of how trivial or how serious.
3. quotes from city apologists and propagandists have been noted in ed's articles un-edited.
4. even if only one city transgression was documented by ed and the paper, while scores of opinions were put forth to the contrary (which is not the case), it is well worth it - a government must be held accountable for each and every action it takes in any and all mediums available.
again, a challenge is put forth: document JUST ONE instance where ed's articles are factually incorrect - post it here - it will appear un-edited.
let's see when this comes.
By
Anonymous, at Tuesday, July 31, 2007 4:55:00 PM
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