Pubdate: Mon, 17 Nov 2014
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK)
Copyright: 2014 Fairbanks Publishing Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/764
Author: Louis Waldo

THE NEWS-MINER HAS ANTI-POT BIAS

To the editor: I noticed during the recent election season a 
disturbing bias by the News-Miner editorial staff.

Specifically, this was related to the campaign to legalize marijuana, 
but now I suspect it occurs on other important issues.

What occurred to me during this period was I only saw negative 
stories about marijuana being published. In fairness, there were pro 
and con letters to the editor that were printed, but it seemed most 
guest-contributed articles were from those opposed to Ballot Measure 
2, such as that submitted by the Archbishop under a large header. I 
never did see the editor actually come out with an official position 
- - it was primarily done by omission.

Away from the editorial page, it seemed that most of the articles 
written or picked up from the Associated Press were on the negative 
side of the issue. This is what I thought during this time, but I was not sure.

Obviously, I was a supporter of the initiative, so was looking for 
articles that would have been supportive.

What led to this letter was an AP article reprinted on page A3 of the 
Nov. 12 News-Miner under the title "New Pot Shops on the block aren't 
always so popular."

This is a specific example of editorial license being used to slant a 
story to express a bias without actually stating a position. This is 
dishonest to the reading public. I happened to have read the same 
article online, but I saw the full article.

The beginning and the end were the same, but in between was a 
different story. There it was told about how the pot shops have been 
kind of pushed into decaying and seedier parts of town and have led 
to a rejuvenation of some of those areas.

Along with bringing many more cash customers to the areas, the shops 
have taken over many boarded-up shops and breathed life back to those 
business neighborhoods. They also brought a lot of new jobs for residents.

While it is true some of the neighbors were at first against the pot 
shops, many were for the economic stimulus they brought. The article 
also stated the pot shops and their neighbors were trying to work 
together for the benefit of both.

The News-Miner seems to have left out these parts of the article. 
That is stating an editorial position without the honesty of actually 
taking the position. That seems like an abuse of the power of the free press.

It makes me wonder now how many other issues have been treated this 
same way. Since the News-Miner is the only paper we have, we deserve 
open and unbiased reporting and reprinting of news articles. They can 
address their political views clearly on their editorials.

Louis Waldo

Fairbanks
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom