In newspaper-land, we love it when people vent.
To the gentleman who started a spray at council’s expense with a line saying it was obvious we were funded by Logan City Council and politicians, I say: “I wish!”
I can assure him that while we have approached council for financial support, we’re yet to receive a brass razoo. That’s not to say we don’t have a good relationship with our governing body. I believe we do, and I hope readers will see council advertising in our pages soon.
The upside of that is that the business community sees us as a valuable tool in their marketing kit. We thank them for their trust and support. It’s what ensures community journalism continues to thrive at a grassroots environment, sans corporate interference.
Sometimes, the mail we receive is irrational, ill-reasoned and downright slanderous. But we love those notes, too.
Why? Because as a community newspaper it is important for us to hear all people and represent many views. A federal government inquiry argues it is important for democracy. It’s hard to argue against that.
It is also our responsibility to protect people by ensuring what we say – or what they say – isn’t breaking any laws.
Journalists are taught defamation from day one. In some environments, they’re encouraged to walk a very thin line between hear-say and reality.
At MyCity Logan, we’ll prefer to take a conservative line, yet we’ll insist that it is important to be objective and to present multiple sides of any story.
Onward, my letter-writing friend.
