Lancaster is fortunate to have relatively competent, well meaning, and generally responsible newspapers— but the Watchdog is very frustrated on occasions by the obtuseness of the editors, their valuing sensationalism over the rights of individuals, and their failure to report on some big local issues lest they ruffle friendships or antagonize advertisers.
Five cases at point:
1) Yesterday they plastered the photo and a prominent front page article concerning a young man accused of exchanging drugs with a friend, something which is a violation of dubious law and not uncommon, albeit certainly undesirable. What made the unfortunate but relatively routine infraction so important? The youth was the son of a local politician. The young man is not a public figure; the father is. So why special treatment for the young man, let alone when he has only been accused, not even convicted?
2) To further bollox up the handling of the matter, the newspaper was not critical of the county district attorney, Craig Stedman, for passing the case along to the state attorney general. If Stedman felt conflicted because of his relationship to the youth’s father, he should have simply recused himself and allowed an assistant district attorney handle the case, as is normal. This was patently unfair to the young man, making the usual plea bargain to a lesser charge and a lighter sentence far less likely.
3) The newspapers ran the story of this relatively minor police matter as the second most prominent front page article along with a photo, yet when J. P. McCaskey high school youngsters went to the state mock trial finals and barely missed winning, there wasn’t a photo or any conspicuous coverage of their extraordinary accomplishment. Which is more newsworthy: the prosecution of a relatively routine drug offense or the achievement of local youngsters representing the best and brightest of their generation and likely our leaders and professionals of the future? (The answer in private from LNP would likely be the former sells more newspapers.)
4) Most disturbing is the abject docility of the newspapers in covering Lancaster’s biggest scandal: the arrogant and unrepresentative handling and mishandling of hundreds of millions of dollars of public charity funds by Lancaster General Health.
5) Finally, The Lancaster Newspapers, Inc. has their executive vice president, Dennis Getz, sitting on the board of Lancaster General Health. Being privy to confidential information and hob knobbing with directors and executives inhibits frank coverage, let alone criticism. No representative of the media should be on any board outside its own industry. The Fourth Estate is not just about making money; it is also a public trust. Like Caesar’s wife, it should be above criticism.
The Lancaster Newspapers carry some excellent articles and provide commendable opinion items on both editorial pages. A recent example of excellence in journalism was the Sunday News series on the county judicial system. Over the past few years, our pride in the newspapers has been restored. But they could do better. And to our last edition we will encourage them to do so.
This is ridiculous!
1. Michelle Bachman’s photo and article were also on the front page:http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/575718_Woman-charged-in-drug-death.html. This kid for some reason received far less charges than she did. And this is not insignificant – a young man died! It’s a legitimate story and if you don’t want this kind of publicity – don’t run for office!
2. The DA was absolutely correct in what he did. As you note in #5, he should also be above criticism. He can’t hand it off to an Assistant District Attorney. At the end of the day, it is his office and his stamp of approval is on everything that comes out of it. It would have been a direct conflict of interest.
3. Once again, this is an important story. Prescription drugs are being abused everyday and again, a young man died. It’s too bad they didn’t cover the McCaskey team – but I’m sure there are lots of folks who think the newspaper misses or mishandles stories.
4. Then keep after them about LGH and do your own series as well.
5. Agreed. LNP CEO Harold Miller is on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Investment District which is a blatant conflict of interest and Peggy (Beverly) Steinman is an F&M Trustee. These conflicts should be avoided.
Since you have never stepped foot in the courthouse, how would you know if the series was excellent or not? Newspapers do not set courthouse or judicial policies! Period.