Knoxnews.org

[Johnny Ringo]

I recognize that all newspapers have an editorial position. That's a given, and it has been central to American politics. But today, the KNS runs a front-page picture, a top of the fold local section story, an editorial in support of the Charter petition, and then this:

This Wednesday, the News Sentinel will take the unusual step of publishing a pair of petitions, the ones being circulated by Knox Charter Petition to change county government.
...
The petitions that will appear in News Sentinels in Knox County on Wednesday will be identical to those circulating elsewhere in the county. I encourage all citizens to sign them and send them in according to the instructions attached.

So now the KNS has gone beyond simply supporting the idea of the Charter petition and has actually joined the effort to get it approved.

So the question, dear blabbers, and especially those of you with a journalistic bent, is this: at what point does a newspaper stop being an organ of news and opinion and start becoming an explicit advocacy organization? How would you feel if the KNS was publishing forms that would allow you to more easily contribute to the McCain or Obama campaigns, or publishing suggested astroturf letters and instructions on sending them? Doesn't it seem like this action by the KNS steps over the line? Should there be a line at all?

[rikki]

Doesn't it seem like this action by the KNS steps over the line? Should there be a line at all?

I'm not sure there is a line. I don't see how what they are doing differs from endorsing a candidate.

On the other hand, I think it is a disgrace that these petitions bundle unrelated items, as if wanting to end nepotism goes hand-in-hand with wanting to shrink the Commission to 11 members. As far as I have been able to tell, the questions may end up bundled on the ballot in the same way, which would be a serious affront to democracy.

The Sentinel's over-the-top advocacy pretty much proves Knox Charter Petition is an elitist group attempting to manipulate and possibly even deceive voters into reforms while the climate is favorable.

[faybe]

I don't know if it crosses any ethical or legal lines but i do think that it is pretty self serving and undemocratic for the KNS/ Jack mac to do this.

the Knox County Petition group should have to do it the old fashioned way like every other citizen that has to get petitions signed.

the fact that they get this unfair boost is enough to make me NOT sign the petition.

[rikki]

For the love of mud, they changed their name to Knox Accountability. So sorry to have used the old name.

Nothing says "accountable" like changing your name every six months.

[# 9]

I recognize that all newspapers have an editorial position. That's a given, and it has been central to American politics. But today, the KNS runs a front-page picture, a top of the fold local section story, an editorial in support of the Charter petition, and then this:

This Wednesday, the News Sentinel will take the unusual step of publishing a pair of petitions, the ones being circulated by Knox Charter Petition to change county government.
...
The petitions that will appear in News Sentinels in Knox County on Wednesday will be identical to those circulating elsewhere in the county. I encourage all citizens to sign them and send them in according to the instructions attached.

So now the KNS has gone beyond simply supporting the idea of the Charter petition and has actually joined the effort to get it approved.

So the question, dear blabbers, and especially those of you with a journalistic bent, is this: at what point does a newspaper stop being an organ of news and opinion and start becoming an explicit advocacy organization? How would you feel if the KNS was publishing forms that would allow you to more easily contribute to the McCain or Obama campaigns, or publishing suggested astroturf letters and instructions on sending them? Doesn't it seem like this action by the KNS steps over the line? Should there be a line at all?

Over the line? Big time. When did the daily paper become the decider?

Against the law? Maybe campaign law. Unethical? Yes. Journalistically ethical? No.

I am curious if anyone will defend this move by McElroy.

Should their be a line at all? Yes, most definitely. If there was a ballot initiative to ban gay marriage and Jack McElroy sided with the people opposing gay marriage, all hell would break out. This is not the same as endorsing a candidate over another candidate. It is one thing to write an editorial supporting "Knox Fill in New Name", but to carry their water this way is unprecedented and unethical.

[Jerseyhighlander]

The petition process could have been avoided had County Commission placed the amendments on the ballot. The News-Sentinel postion is clear: let the voters vote on the amendments rather than letting a minority of commissioners with axes to grind deny them the vote.

[# 9]

The petition process could have been avoided had County Commission placed the amendments on the ballot. The News-Sentinel postion is clear: let the voters vote on the amendments rather than letting a minority of commissioners with axes to grind deny them the vote.

Do you support McElroy's move?

[Jerseyhighlander]

Do you support McElroy's move?

Do you object to allowing citizens to vote on the amendments?

[jumblemind]

Line from a somewhat lengthy New Yorker profile of Keith Olbermann that is just interesting enough to read most of it.

"But Olbermann contends that the labored pretense of neutrality in the news business is a fruitless exercise."

[# 9]

Do you object to allowing citizens to vote on the amendments?

Do I support letting the people vote to forever give away their right to vote?

I support letting the people keep their right to vote.

Isn't it the height of sophistry to say "let the people vote" when the ballot question is to take away their right to vote?