Politics, The Paper & The People

We'd been sitting on this post title for a few days now, kinda in a lull, looking for the right angle to approach it, AND THEN, the WilsonTimes wrote an editorial entitled "Tell public names of chief candidates." 
The editor has a problem with the city not divulging the names of the five local police officers who are vying for the position of chief of police. According to the WilsonTimes the selection process should be open laying claim that's the only way the citizens can have any confidence with the selection made at the end of the assessment.

The newspaper went on to suggest that perhaps a national search should have occurred first. The reasoning and rationale behind that statement is unclear. It almost sounds as if they are suggesting no one locally really qualified for the top job. That thought is insulting and infuriating to the integrity of this city and the dedicated police officers who serve this community.

Other comments in the editorial went on to talk about openness in the selection process, closed doors, secrecy and what's in the best interest of the community. The editor writes, " That kind of openness will work in favor of the next police chief and in favor of the selection process. It builds confidence in both the decision and the capabilities of the person who is chosen. It also provides an additional opportunity for any potential red flags to show up." Rather interesting assessment by the media of who knows best.

Yet, the very things the paper is accusing local officials of doing, they themselves partake of the very same practices. Whenever they so desire and when it fits their purpose. Let us give an example of what we mean.

Take for instance the decision by the WilsonTimes in a recent article on a law enforcement officer who is  living his dream of police chief. The editor made the decision to place that story on the front page. Why? The placement and timing is coincidental and questionable. And we're sure the WilsonTimes did not confer with local officials to see if it would be alright with them to run that story in particular at such a time as this with the selection process underway.

Truth be told, that headline had a lot of local folks thinking that individual on the front page had been chosen as the newly selected Police Chief  for Wilson. Now the question is was that the intent and purpose of the The Times. And was it in the "best interest of the community" to run that story at that time. Only the WilsonTimes knows the answer to that question.

We know it was a conversation piece in the community as we had lots of calls from citizens asking if that individual was the new police chief. Again, we ask was the timing intentional on the part of the WilsonTimes and in the best interest of the community. Doesn't matter. They did what they wanted to do anyway. Such as they have always done. And such as what they are used to doing.

Now the WilsonTimes wanna cry "wolf,'" DISCLOSE THE NAMES FOR POLICE CHIEF PROMPTLY.

Since WHEN does the City Newspaper start telling the CITY what to DO and WHEN? There's a saying in the community that we can't say right here like we really want to. BUT if you're pretty good at reading in-between the lines you'll get it. If not, oh well, jingle bell. So, we'll just leave it at "WilsonTimes PLEASE." You have your assignments. You have your call to duty. Tell the stories. Stay in your lane. Stop trying to run the town government and let the elected officials do their jobs. You'll feel a whole lot better about things. There's another election coming up soon let's see if you can do  better job covering that than you did in the last election. Cover the facts, cover the candidates and cover their credentials and their ideologies and present then accordingly to the community. Now that's your assignnment. Let's see if you can do that. Politics, The Paper & The People.