A bank forecloses on a house, and a court order is issued to evict the family. Police surround a house for nearly two hours waiting for the family to leave their home. All ends peacefully. It is the last of 35 eviction orders served that day. What do you report?

by Jim Pumarlo | Oct 20, 2020 | Questions You've Raised

A bank forecloses on a house, and a court order is issued to evict the family. Police surround a house for nearly two hours waiting for the family to leave their home. All ends peacefully. It is the last of 35 eviction orders served that day. What do you report? The...

You advocate including someone from the advertising department on a newspaper’s editorial board. How can those individuals be objective? Won’t they simply be looking out for the newspaper’s financial interests – as opposed to the community’s best interests – when framing the newspaper’s editorial positions?

by Jim Pumarlo | Oct 20, 2020 | Questions You've Raised

You advocate including someone from the advertising department on a newspaper’s editorial board. How can those individuals be objective? Won’t they simply be looking out for the newspaper’s financial interests – as opposed to the community’s best interests – when...

We received a letter to the editor criticizing the high prices and poor service at a local food chain. The letter urges local action. Would you publish?

by Jim Pumarlo | Oct 20, 2020 | Questions You've Raised

We received a letter to the editor criticizing the high prices and poor service at a local food chain. The letter urges local action. Would you publish? It’s a slippery slope to open your letters column to criticism of businesses. A couple of points on enforcing such...

We’re trying to get more voices on our editorial page other than the usual letter writers. We also find it challenging to write local editorials. Any suggestions?

by Jim Pumarlo | Oct 20, 2020 | Questions You've Raised

We’re trying to get more voices on our editorial page other than the usual letter writers. We also find it challenging to write local editorials. Any suggestions? Point/counterpoint commentaries are an excellent starting point to address both of your concerns – and to...

How can nondaily newspapers compete with daily media and their instantaneous online coverage of election campaign issues?

by Jim Pumarlo | Oct 20, 2020 | Questions You've Raised

How can nondaily newspapers compete with daily media and their instantaneous online coverage of election campaign issues? The web provides nondailies the same capability of instantaneous online coverage – and not only during election season. Digital platforms ought to...

How do you respond if your publisher demands preferential business news treatment for a personal friend or large advertiser?

by Jim Pumarlo | Oct 20, 2020 | Questions You've Raised

How do you respond if your publisher demands preferential business news treatment for a personal friend or large advertiser? The circumstances are admittedly challenging. In reality, you may have to accept – grudgingly – that the publisher wins. That said, you need to...