It’s less than a month before the November elections, and nowhere in The Laker/Lutz News will you find a political endorsement of any kind for any party, candidate or issue.
By design, our papers don’t have an editorial page spouting the opinions of my staff, guest columnists or myself. In fact, our papers have not taken a political position on any topic or candidate in the 14 years I have owned the papers.
Which is why I am always surprised to receive comments or emails from readers asserting that our news coverage is party to the “liberal media bias” or, as a recent writer wrote, of being a “Republican rag.”
So I thought I’d go on record and make it clear that as owner of The Laker/Lutz News, I do not view the papers as a mouthpiece pushing causes and candidates that I personally endorse.
I never direct my staff to cover a political candidate or controversial issue, nor do I ask them to write a story with any political slant or pre-determined outcome. It makes no difference to my reporters whether I’m Democrat, Republican or independent; pro-growth or environmentalist; pro-life or pro-choice; member of the National Rifle Association or supporter of the anti-gun lobby; Christian, Jewish or Muslim.
My only agenda is to make sure my editorial staff writes about topics you want to read about. To give you stories about your neighbors and community that make you proud to call Pasco and north Hillsborough counties your home.
Perhaps because we do not stake out political positions, we receive few letters to the editor. And the authors of the emails we get charging us as being too liberal or too conservative almost never provide their name and phone number.
This is not to say, however, that we don’t hear from our readers. We do. Just about every week we receive accolades from people telling us how much they appreciate our objective news coverage and what a difference it makes to their organization.
Here’s a recent example from Jennifer Medeiros, media manager of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida:
“I just wanted to take a moment and thank you, on behalf of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, for all your help spreading the word about our need for Girl Scout volunteers. The Laker has gone above and beyond by helping us share this need all summer (since the end of May!) and now through the fall — we could not be more grateful!
“It’s because of news outlets like The Laker that we’re able to share our needs with the community, and generate the awareness we need to continue building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.”
This email makes me incredibly proud — I even admit to goose bumps when my staff forwarded Jennifer’s email to me. And I’m proud to report we’re getting more comments like this since increasing the size of our paper in August.
Our new format is 30 percent bigger, which obviously gives us more room for more stories. But it’s our new B Section that gives us a second front page that really is getting attention.
Here’s what the co-owner of Haslam’s Book Store, Ray Hinst, wrote after B.C. Manion profiled this Tampa Bay institution on the front of a recent B Section:
“What a terrific article, B.C.! Photos look great, the quotes exact, and the volume of information you massaged into the narrative is simply outstanding. You have probably offered more insights into the book business than many folks who are doing it full time.
“Thank you for considering us and exercising such expertise in the process. Again, the paper is lucky to have you.”
I believe The Laker/Lutz News is a reflection of the communities we serve. Letters like these tell the story of the good people we write about who want the most for their neighbors and neighborhoods.
So I hope you don’t think it self-serving to share some of these letters with you in a new section we’re starting called “Noteworthy … Kudos From Our Readers.”
Our first “Noteworthy” follows this column (you can find it online in our e-edition by clicking here). We invite you to send us your comments on stories that move you, and encourage you to be on the lookout for this new feature so you, too, can be proud of the difference your community paper makes in the lives of your neighbors.
Published October 15, 2014
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