SR.com Blogs | Ask The Editors

Can you explain the Obama headline?

Q. Can someone explain the thought behind today's (11/5/08) headline? Is there some clever wording or profound innuendo that I've missed? Obama Rolls??? I take it to mean the votes rolled in for him, across the country. If that's correct, then what a disappointing, tepid, weak headline for one of the most significant and momentous events of our country's history. ( Full post )

Can the press make candidates be truthful?

Q. What can the press do to bring pressure on political campaigns and candidates to tell the truth, as opposed to huge distortions or flat-out lies? If a presidential candidate can't respect the truth in a political campaign, then how can we trust them when they want us to get involved in a war somewhere? ( Full post )

Why are the media ignoring the atom smasher?

Q. I can't believe that the media is ignoring the most significant event since the bombing of Hiroshima! In six days, the Large Hadron Collider will be activated (Sept. 10) and not a peep out of the media. The LHC has been featured in Scientific American and National Geographic magazines. It is not just WEB hype. What gives? Fear of triggering a global panic? Waiting until after the event to see if it's a bust? Inability to understand the implications and applications if it is successful? Isn't it the duty of the media to keep us informed? ( Full post )

Did Palin really 'lash out' at her opponents?

Q. Why did your headline about Sarah Palin�s speech read �Palin lashes out at critics, Obama?� She didn�t lash out at the Democrats. Lashing out is something a family member does during a victim impact statement in a court proceeding. ( Full post )

What about their voting records?

Q. Why don't you publish the voting records of those we are being asked to vote for, from state to national? You publish things of limited interest - why not something of interest to most citizens? ( Full post )

Reader complains of 'bias' in story selection

Q. Why did you choose the two most inflammatory and liberal papers in the country (the Washington Post and the LA Times) to report on Governor Palin's nomination? Could you be showing your own bias? ( Full post )

Reader asks about Charles Krauthammer columns

Q: What happened to the Krauthammer editorials? ( Full post )

Reader disgusted with play of Obama nomination

Q. Whatever were you thinking with your front page design this morning (Thursday)? ( Full post )

Reader asks about Obama headline

Q: First a headline of "Biden has substance and style"... Do you plan to run an ad on the front page--Vote for Obama? ( Full post )

Reader asks: Where are your copy editors?

My apologies if this is the wrong direction for my question; I couldn't find a way to email the reporter direct, and actually my purpose isn't to criticize her.

My serious question: do newspapers no longer have copy editors? As the media for conveyance changes more to electronic, will proofing be left entirely to spell checkers?

Is there a way to guard against sad blunders like this one in Ms. Cunniff's story:
�'He and I sat out there and balled for a half an hour,� she said. �I told him he�d win, but he said, �No, there�s no winning.�� ( Full post )

What about those U.S. oil exports?

Q. Will the Spokesman be doing an article on the oil companies exportation of oil to other countries? I just read a Forbes.com article titled "Analysis-US oil firms seek drilling access, but exports soar". The U.S. oil industry is shipping record amounts to other countries while asking for permission to drill more, so that they can export more. ( Full post )

Too much detail about the Spokane Valley fire?

Q. According to the story "Officials reveal cause of Valley fire", there is a person that "supervised" the "allegedly illegal recreational fire" that caused so much damage this last week. And while the authorities are yet to make their decision about whether to prosecute this person, you remind readers that the fire burned eleven homes, ten outbuildings, more than 1,000 acres, caused millions of dollars in damage, up to $1.7 million in firefighting costs and triggered the evacuations of hundreds of residents. And if that wasn't enough, her home got away unscathed and is worth $100 thousand shy of half a million. That's all enough to get someone pretty mad isn't it? Good thing you didn't share this person's street address -- oh wait....you did. What possible positive value does providing this woman's street address add to the story?!

J. Ramon Alvarez
Spokane, WA ( Full post )

Why no coverage of impeachment debate?

Q. Just wanted to pass on to you that after a five- hour marathon on CSPAN discussing the impeachment of GW Bush, I was appalled not to see one mention of this in the press. I personally, as did my neighbors, thought that the points brought up on this program were pertinent and timely for our country. I personally was most disturbed by the civil rights issues.

It seems to me that if I gave birth to a rabbit tomorrow I would probably get international press. Why can't we discuss what's happening in this country? Please answer. ( Full post )

Junior Lilac Parade results will be in Thursday Voices

Q: I am a parent of a band student writing because I am upset that the newspaper did not print the results of the Junior Lilac Parade but referred readers to see a website. As a parent, I am aware of the tremendous time and energy put into preparing for a parade of this nature. The kids and families look so forward to opening the newspaper the next morning to see where they placed in the parade and they need to be able to see the results, cut them out, show them off or send them to family. We pay for the local paper to be able to read about local events, not to be referred to the internet. The paper has always printed the parade results in the past, why not this year? I hope and expect to be able to read the results of the Junior Lilac Parade in the Spokesman Review next May. Thank you. (Please print this letter in your paper).
Concerned Father
Spokane Valley ( Full post )

Publishing STA and Crimecheck editorials side-by-side?

Question: Wonder why the Spokesman-Review didn't consider running the Pro&Con editorials about the STA and CrimeCheck ballot issues side by side in today and yesterday editions. I know as a long time reader that the Spokesman-Review has done this similarly with syndicated columnists. The readership I believe would have been better served in this type of format.

--Mark ( Full post )

Do you archive stories electronically?

Question: By the way, how may editions of the S-R are there? Do they differ by time of day or by area of distribution or both? In general, how does content differ from one edition to the next? ( Full post )

Why no coverage of the Battery P Marines?

Question: At the suggestion of Becky Nappi, below is my disappointment and concern about the Spokesman's lack of coverage of the return of our Spokane Battery P Marines on Sunday. How could this happen - where is your military network? How could these brave men not even be mentioned in our only newspaper? And further - what will you do to make sure an event like this is not overlooked in the future? It is not too late to print SOMETHING!! Please advise when that will happen. ( Full post )

The space shuttle Columbia explosion

Question: What was the date on the historic page reprinted in Wednesday�s Spokesman-Review? ( Full post )

Did the Spokesman-Review report on interrogation discussions?

Question: I couldn't find this story (about the CIA interrogation tactics) in the S-R. Did I miss it? Or did you choose not to print it? ( Full post )

Is the S-R safe to use in a compost bin?

Reader Dave Kilmer called to ask if the S-R uses a soy-based ink and is therefore safe to compost. ( Full post )