A couple of readers recently criticized the Tribune’s coverage of President-elect Barack Obama’s victory as too minimal (Ed. note: an example), so we wanted to provide some explanation.
Throughout the campaign season, the Tribune’s coverage has centered on local politics. As a community newspaper, we have always been and always will be focused on local news.
Due to the historic nature of Obama’s win, the Tribune covered the presidential election in more depth than previous elections — a front page story with local comment, photo, column and editorial. As a newspaper that strives for fair and unbiased reporting, we would not have covered a McCain victory more prominently than Obama’s.
It’s also worth noting that the Tribune’s reporting paralleled or, in most cases, went beyond other Big Horn Basin newspapers’ coverage of Obama’s victory. Most Wyoming community newspapers didn’t include a story or photo of Obama on the front page.
For example, the Jackson Hole News and Guide didn’t include a front page story or photo of Obama’s victory in its Nov. 5 edition, and that was in Teton County, one of two Wyoming counties that voted Obama. Its page one stories fittingly focused on local elections — the hospital board, mayoral and House District 22 seat results.
By making local elections the priority, these Wyoming newspapers are not small-minded nor biased. Rather, they are fulfilling the role of a community newspaper by covering local politics, just as we are.
I agree completely. I work for a small weekly newspaper in the deep south and we were taken to task for our coverage of the election. Like you said... we did as we have done in past elections and reported local results and were bombarded with calls and letters accusing us of being racist in our reporting. I am just glad to know that it isn't just a Southern thing.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is the duty of local papers to cover not only local news but national news that is of great importance. NOT covering any national news that will bear upon the taxpayers and their lives, no matter who the person is being covered, Republican, Democrat or Independent, does a disservice to local residents. We don't live in a bubble. But many from other countries think we do because many in the U.S. know next to nothing about their own county, much less outside of the U.S.
ReplyDeleteAs an insider to the journalism realm it is absurd to demand that a small paper such as The Powell Tribune to cover local news. Having recently graduated from journalism school I feel I can weigh in on this issue. Through most of my studies I took emphasis on print (magazines and newspapers mainly). On a daily basis in one class or another we discussed how print was going down the drain. I do agree though...you do not live in a bubble...you clearly have internet and know how to use it and most likely you own a TV. Those are the current best media for receiving national and world news. But where on God's green Earth are you going to find internet and broadcast services for your small town? I believe the answer lies in how you got to this Web page.
ReplyDeletePassion blurred my sentence construction.
ReplyDeleteIt is absurd to demand national coverage from any small town paper. Unless it is directly tied to local people and local issues.
I agree I can get much of my news on the internet. Some are still unable to get internet in places. (Although that is dwindling) I do not think it unfair to ask for some national coverage in a local paper. I did not say cover every single thing. Limiting your news, limits your papers insights to anything national, and I am sure you do have some insight, don't you? Then again, maybe not.
ReplyDeleteI have a different take on your "local" coverage. As a former Powell Tribune contributor, I had a verbal agreement with your owner-publisher that the PT would always try to be a Park County newspaper in addition to ( i.e.complementary to ) a local Powell community paper , more or less proportional to the presence of corporeal Cody in the Powell fishbowl . A shame he either abrogated or did not communicate the same context to the Staff. Bluntly put , Powell summarily owes a huge amount of its livelihood and r'aison d'etre to Cody , the county seat being here, the source of your precious irrigation water, regional airport , etc. And of course we have the Federal offices and State offices. A rather staggering number of your citizens come to Cody for their paychecks and jobs , and what they don't spend at our Wal-Mart they export back to Powell at our sufferance... much more money " leaks" to Powell than comes the other way . More immediate to your own perspective is the bald fact that your own Powell Tribune has a LOT of Cody advertising in it and a substantial number of readers here . You should be more mindful of that in apportioning your editorial coverage.
ReplyDeleteDewey Vanderhoff
Cody