15 October 2008

speaking of letters.

I recently received a letter to the editor that reads as follows:

The Alamance County Republican Party would like to welcome back the students of Elon University to a very interesting and important election year.

For those of you who prefer the Palin Power energy drink of less taxes, less government, and more freedom, our headquarters is located at 16 N.E. Court Square in Graham, NC, and is open from 1-6pm Monday-Friday. The phone number is (336) 222-8289.

To those of you who want to sip the Obama koolaid (flavor of your choice) of higher taxes, big brother government, and socialism, the Democrats will gladly serve you up!

I did not publish it because I see it as an advertisement -- something people pay a nice penny to do in our paper -- and something that we prohibit in Letters to the Editor. I also thought the letter lacked any opinion, seeing as it doesn't actually approach any of the issues that separate the parties (aside from the surface propaganda that is...)

After not printing this letter I received a very severe phone call from the author that I suspect was meant to intimidate me. I explained our policies, and that we have refused similar letters from the Democratic party, but this person continued to say that we were editorializing, Obama-loving liberals.

Now I know most of you who read my blog are media people so I want to know: What would you do? To print or not to print? Did I make the right decision or was my refusal to print this letter an unjustified act of editorializing?

3 comments:

Kaitlin Ugolik said...

I think you made the right decision Olivia. That letter really has nothing to do with anything, and I saw it as an advertisement too when I read it. No worries chick, as always, you're on the ball ;) Miss you!

Ashley Barnas said...

I was thinking the entire time - dang, that Olivia kicks butt. I think you totally made the right decision and that's why I admire you. You always know how to handle situations like that and take those nasty phone calls. It definitely didn't offer enough opinion and seemed like an advertisement. Way to go, O! :-P

Anonymous said...

The author was a clever writer, I didn't agree with what he or she said, but it was definitely an ad! Good job, Olivia!

Mom