Commonwealth Journal

October 16, 2009

CJ Coverage is Unfair

letters to the editor

by Dave Cazalet, Somerset, KY 42501

Dear Editor:

I again take pen in hand to express my consternation to the news staff of the Commonwealth-Journal for their unfair and unbalanaced coverage of the two political parties in Pulaski County.

The Commonwealth-Journal, in my opinion, has a duty to cover both political parties in Pulaski County equally and you do not.

The Republican Party enjoys front page coverage of its annual picnic with a news story written by a member of the Commonwealth-Journal staff attending the event.

The Democratic Party on the other hand must take its own photographs and submit a news release in order to have any opportunity to appear in your newspaper. Then, its photo might appear on some interior page of the newspaper, if you are feeling generous that day.

This is patently unfair.

In the past, a candidate for national office running against Hal Rogers could not get his name in your newspaper despite sending you numerous news releases about his candidacy. I know because I submitted those news releases.

I was told to "buy an ad" if I wanted any information about an opposing candidate in your newspaper.

His name finally did appear in 48-point bold type after the election which he lost.

I will admit that this situation has improved a somewhat under the leadership of Publisher Jack McNeely, but it needs further improvement.

As the only newspaper in this county, the Commonwealth-Journal has a special responsibility when it comes to political discourse.



Sincererly,

Dave Cazalet

Somerset, KY 42501