To the editor:
Last week The Daily News printed a story about the controversial vote made by Pentucket's school board to revisit the voted budget on March 16. The story was balanced and presented "for and against" arguments. In the same week the Eagle Tribune printed an editorial about the controversy at Whittier regarding the continuation of pay for the principal without working.
The difference between a story and an editorial is that the editorial includes an opinion from the editor. In both cases it was good journalism. So what's wrong?
Below the columns the papers allow people to engage in the DISQUS/blog segment that empower some to defame people instead of debate issues. Under the guise of anonymity, anything goes essentially. I am a strong proponent of free speech, but I do not believe that free speech should be practiced without human decency.
In The Daily News story one passionate contributor re-wrote my quote and then asked ... who writes your material, the superintendent or the chair? In the Tribune editorial a contributor labeled a board member as a "... delusional quack."
The editors and staff do have control over the material before releasing it onto the DISQUS system. I think they should re-examine their policies to allow unrestricted libel from being practiced in our community.
If they truly want to be a "community paper," they should support us by practicing responsible journalism followed by an invitation for its readers to participate in expressing their opinions fairly.
The publications have a duty to defend the integrity of our community.
J. D'Amore
Groveland
