Over the 12 year period when I wrote columns for the SNH, I survived four editors and there was more than one conversation between us about the city of Suffolk Administration exercising control over what the SNH printed about local government. There is much city information that could or could not be placed in the SNH for public consumption, legal notices for an example. I know that many of my column's paragraphs were scrubbed, censored, because they took issue with city activities. The word they used as an excuse to cut was “strong language.” When I would offer to tune it down a smidgen they often preferred to just leave it out. They were in business to make a profit and my little column was never allowed to stand in the way by printing the facts. After twelve years of free columns for them I finally told one editor to stuff it. Recently a reader made the charge that the Mayor dictated terms to the editor and we allowed his opinion to run until we checked it out. The editor said it was fiction, and the mayor denied it emphatically. So we pulled the POST that had been written anonymously. Had the writer used his name and sent his email address we would have allowed it to stand. We would have withheld his email address, and perhaps toned his/her Post down if necessary. Feel like writing one? Just write in the comment section and label it "POST."
5 comments:
Just because the editor and the mayor both denied it doesn't mean it didn't/doesn't happen. They both have jobs they want to keep.
I believe that Debbie George wrote an editorial blasting the SNH for their comments on Obici House. Sort of reminds me of the Obama administration making open comments against Fox News...
Virginia House Bill 952 was approved yesterday by House Delegates allowing three half ounce samples of distilled sprits per person to be consumed by customers at ABC Stores. The Bill has the support of Delegate Chris Jones who commented the legislation was proposed by the Distilled-Spirits industry with the profits going to education. Sampling a product before purchasing has been a well established retail practice. However questions arise of how to enforce sampling distilled high proof sprits. Serving samples creates liability concerns creating new opportunities for trial lawyers and challenges for police enforcement. There is the loss of valuable retail space for a counter and fixtures and the additional manpower demands to monitor sampling. Some suggest that pharmacies should pilot the program with cough syrup and similar alcohol based products.
I've never heard of hard liquor samples being given to store customers anywhere in the country. Wine and beer samples have been for many years, but these are in well regulated areas and they have much lower alcohol content. Downtown Nip Joints are having a tough enough time staying open because of the economy and police surveillance. But now they have to compete against the state government. Chris, put down the bottle of Nyquil and think this over with a clear head.
How much did Chris Jones receive in donations from the Distilled-Spirits Industry? How did they lobby him so effectively? Somebody must find out because we need a bridge in Chuckatuck.
Post a Comment