In this week’s letter to the editor “Truth without bias,” the writer makes a valid point about an attempt to deceive readers by not listing “syndicated news” as advertisements. I agree with her message 100 percent.
The copy on the pages toward the end of the paper “” usually in sections titled “Business & Services” or “Health & Beauty” “” has never been handled by the editorial staff, also known as the editors and reporters. That is to say I do not review the content and our in-house and freelance writers do not contribute to it. For this reason, I am disappointed that those pages take on the appearance of preceding sections containing real news that we have worked hard to present in an unbiased and objective manner.
While advertising is a fundamental part of every for-profit newspaper, it is almost always labeled as such for obvious reasons “” this is particularly important for ads appearing to be articles.
Newspapers are businesses that need to make money, but they also serve a critical role in society and are entirely founded on the tacit understanding that editorial content is selected solely for its newsworthiness and is beyond the reach of advertisers. When a publication messes with that fundamental principle of journalism to earn a few extra bucks, it is compromising its reputation as a credible news source.
I strongly believe that the readers of The Beacon are smart enough to spot the unlabeled ads posing as articles. And when they do, what other conclusion can they draw except that we are trying to trick them? But as an editor who does not have any jurisdiction over those pages, I have no input into the labeling procedure.
I can assure the readers, however, that each and every story from the front page to the calendar page has been selected exclusively for its importance and interest to the community “” and that will not change while I am editor.
Blake Jones, Editor, The Peninsula Beacon

NOTE: Prior to press time, The Beacon’s co-publisher agreed address the issue by adding a disclaimer or heading to the syndicated news section.