Whenever there are polarizing issues before the public one side or the other are going to question local news coverage and make accusations of bias. The local LNG matter is an example of a divisive issue as is the chromite strip mining operation Oregon Resources.
As regards the strip mining many citizens and readers of The World newspaper perceive a bias on the part of the paper with respect to its presentation, or rather omission of facts the public should know. A fair case can be made this is true.
Last month a federal lawsuit was filed challenging permits issued by Army Corps of Engineers and National Marine Fisheries. The World dedicated a couple of sentences and buried the story.
The Register Guard, the second largest paper in Oregon and located more than a hundred miles away in Eugene did a front page story about the controversy and the lawsuit. The Oregonian, the state’s largest paper located in Portland picked up the story off the AP feed and printed an abridged version a day later.
The World regularly picks up stories off the AP but even though Oregon’s two biggest papers thought it was newsworthy the local editor, Clark Walworth, did not.
One frustrated reader, Julie Jones, sent another AP article, this one picked up by The Register Guard about environmental damage that can result from the mining process to Walworth. Here is their exchange.
From: Julie Jones
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 8:43 AM
To: Sharon Comden; Dave Comden; Cameron La Follette; Jody McCaffree; Mary Geddry
Cc: Clark Walworth
Subject: Will this be appearing in The World Newspaper? This was in the Register Guard this morningMartin Abts seems to think we don’t have anything to worry about!
On 11/11/10 10:36 AM, Clark Walworth wrote:Julie,
Since you don’t subscribe to The World, I’m not sure why you have an interest in what we publish.
Clark Walworth
The World
Impulsively, I fired off a response advising Walworth newspapers must earn subscriptions. The response above is a step toward a deficit, in my opinion.
Whether a reader is a subscriber or not, Walworth’s response was unprofessional and uncalled for. To add fuel to the debate, Walworth is wrong. Jones is a subscriber.
On 11/11/10 12:20 PM, Julie Jones wrote:
> Dear Mr. Walworth:
>
> Before you make such allegations about our subscription to your newspaper, perhaps you should have verified this before your blatant rude response. We have subscribed to The World newspaper for at least 5 years and still do.
>
> We occasionally read it before we wrap our fish in it. We find your response unprofessional and your bias extreme. You have a responsibility to the county to provide timely pertinent news at which you fail miserably.
>
> Julie Jones
Today, the paper printed a letter from Jones’ husband, Capt Jack Jones and omitted his title as President of Bandon Woodlands Association – 160 families strong.
It appears Walworth doesn’t believe his readers should be faced with too many facts, possibly complicating their decisions. In short, the editor is choosing for you instead of letting you decide for yourself.
Now you may choose to drop your subscriptions and or write or call
Mary E. Junck
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Lee Enterprises
201 N. Harrison St.
Davenport, IA 52801-1939
(563) 383-2100
email: information@lee.net
UPDATE: Walworth has issued a mea culpa.
Dear Mrs. Jones,
It appears that I own you an apology. Our circulation department told me this morning that your subscription had lapsed in 2007, and I felt annoyed to be answering a content request from a non-customer. After receiving your latest e-mail, we checked again and found a current subscription. That changes my response entirely.
I agree with you that the California chromium story has potential interest for our readers, in light of the mining proposals in your area. Rather than publish it without context, however, I asked our news staff yesterday to look again at the Cr(VI) issue. I hope that we can publish something within the next several days.
Again, I apologize for my previous answer. Please accept, as an expression of my regret, a four-week extension of your subscription, gratis. I hope that our next communication can be more amicable.
Best regards,
Clark Walworth
One would guess from his answer that people who purchase the paper from the box are not regarded as customers, nor does he have any interest in converting them to customers. This behavior shows little regard for The World advertisers as well.
Sent my email to Lee yesterday and snail mail goes out today. Walworth gives every appearance of having sequestered himself from most of the county in order to serve the so called ‘movers and shakers’. The problem with that strategy is they haven’t moved or shaken anything in years.
Clarkie is “annoyed” to be answering a question from a “non customer”. That’s why he has so few new customers. Perhaps he needs a course in marketing. And, while at it, some people skills training would not hurt. He is concerned about people who don’t subscribe and question what he does. If this story is fact, what a banana brain ass wipe!. Certianly helps explain why he can’t get circulation above 10,500 (his circulation managers number of two weeks ago) in a market potential of 60,000, and where there is no local competition. All he has to do is offer a product that people want. And why his advertising is so slim.
The paper has, and has lost, some good reporters. The people of Coos County deserve a real newspaper and editor. You and your friends MUST send this, with comment, to:
Mary Junck, Chairman, President, CEO or
Carl Schmidt, VP and CFO
Lee Enterprises
201 North Harrison Street
Suite 600
Davenport, Ia 52801
Phone: 563.383.2100
Fax: 563.323.9609
Or, first buy a couple shares of Lee. I did in 2009. It was selling for pennies then. It’s under $2 now. Lee takes the comments of shareholders well.