Editorials - 08/09/01

Local news stories often raise troublesome issues

This week's account of last Wednesday's showdown at the Justice Center provides the latest example. The combatants were not two hot-headed strangers we saw acting up on the evening news. This fight was between Frank Watson and Marion Jones, two great guys and longtime newsroom sources.

If we need to know anything about Democratic Party politics in Jackson County, we ask Frank - or Marion. If we need help understanding a Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority question, we call Marion. When we need a question answered about court procedures or warrants, we ask Frank. We've even been known to ask Marion those kind of questions, too, given his years of experience in the District Attorney's Office.

So how do we write about these two when they resort to name-calling and thowing punches? Conversely, in a town as small as Sylva, how can we not?

Of course we had to tell the story. Voices were raised, punches were thrown and charges were filed. Clerk of Court Watson is an elected official and TWSA board member Jones is a former Sylva Town Board member. And they staged their conflict on county property.

But that doesn't mean it was an easy account to write. We found ourselves with an array of information and eyewitness accounts. We heard various versions of the circumstances surrounding the melee everywhere we went. Those who didnšt happen to see us on the street called in their two-cents worth.

As a result, we were faced with a different dilemma - a pile of information that had to be condensed into a single story, all the while making sure the story was complete, accurate and as fair as we could make it.

We face these questions each week, to some degree, but the circmumstances surrounding this one made it more difficult than usual. Our decisions may not always be right, but our readers may rest assured that such judgments are not made lightly.

We take seriously our responsibility to report local news clearly and without bias, and we will continue to do so to the best of our ability.

It's just harder some weeks than others.

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