It’s been a turbulent few weeks here.
Typically spring signals busier times for this Newspaper and this year was no exception. The past few weeks we have published a great product, thanks to the patronage of businesses and groups county-wide.
Everyone here has their head down focused on their particular task, whether it be selling, servicing, writing, designing, billing, inserting or beginning deliveries starting in the wee hours of Thursday morning.
We like to believe we have a good relationship with our readers. Sure there will be occasions when coverage or delivery or overall quality may be imperfect, but unlike other businesses, we’re out there warts and all, good or bad. It’s a reality we live with.
It was heartening to see a letter over the weekend from a reader in Rockwood who seems to understand one of our primary goals is having a forum for free expression.
To be clear, free expression is about ideas and it’s always been our belief that ideas generate understanding. That includes ideas we may not personally like or readers may not agree with.
Negative feedback on stories and cartoons in recent weeks were cause for discussion with our editor.
This past week members of the Concerned Residents Coalition were encouraged by group officials to write letters to the editor. We received two letters, neither of which were complimentary.
One moaned about an editorial we penned last week about the numerous pit and quarry operations in Wellington County and how the absence of provincial leadership impacts residents and local councils.
The other chap took exception to our reporter outlining the quarry applicant’s decision to go the OMB but not asking his group for a special comment how they felt about it.
Left out from their correspondence was the fact a whole article was published in the same issue outlining CRC concerns about the quarry project and that since 2013 we have published dozens of articles and letters on the subject. Despite these criticisms we will continue to cover the issue for the benefit of the whole community.
Elsewhere we have watched with some interest as the cartoon saga has played out. Reviewing the letters as submitted, prior to editing for libelous commentary, we see there are people with some different ideas and advice on the subject. That’s fair and welcomed.
We were happy to publish those letters in the interest of challenging others and ourselves to see a different world view.
Although it is easier to name-call rather than take the time to bring others around to a certain point of view, that seems to be a facet of today’s poor communication skills.
Perfection remains elusive, but trying remains our goal.
