Letter to the editor: Cunningham’s article should be identified as press release
To the editor,
I appreciate what you do, and as a former journalist, I understand the trials and tribulations of producing content in a timely, efficient manner.
Today there was a segment of your daily email about Cunningham’s bill to limit Newsome’s authority. It appears to me that the article was a press release issued by Cunningham and not an actual news article. As journalistic ethics require, a news article should report fair and balanced news and provide readers with valid data, in-depth facts and information, and at a minimum, a voice from both sides of the topic. As a press release, it should be identified as such with a disclaimer that the info/opinions are that of the author. If this was a news article produced by your staff, it failed to adhere to the basic tenets of good journalism and only gives Cunningham’s one-sided opinion on the matter.
I bring this up because the public’s trust in mainstream media has been undermined and eroded, and I think all legitimate mediums such as yours should strive at every turn to make sure that accurate and complete information is all that is published as news. I have no problem with news agencies using PR and op-eds as long as they are clearly identified as such. I think it is important that we re-educate the public as to what real news really is.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Becky Zelinski
Paso Robles
Editor’s note: Yes, the article was a press release from his office that we edited and published. We strive to edit press releases so they are presented in a neutral fashion. We include a disclaimer at the bottom of the story that reads, “News staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote and edited this story from local contributors and press releases.” Letters to the editor are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Paso Robles Daily News or its staff. We welcome letters from local residents regarding relevant local topics. To submit one, click here.
