Editorial-Oct. 6, 2005

Election coverage guidelines place reader needs first

By: Mae Rhine
   In fairness to all candidates and with an eye toward providing the best service to readers, this newspaper has ground rules for news coverage of local election campaigns.
   Under the guidelines, this newspaper commits to certain news coverage, including providing background information on all known major candidates in an upcoming edition.
   News releases and letters to the editor are welcome. News releases will be used at the editor’s discretion as resource material for stories written by the staff. Story use, timing and treatment are entirely at the discretion of local managing editor.
   Every effort will be made to avoid the initial raising of controversial issues in the final edition before the election. That week’s edition, Nov. 3 this year, is known as the "rebuttal" week edition when only comments by readers and candidates on issues previously raised in this newspaper will be permitted.
   The Beacon will not accept any other letters to the editor on the election that week, including endorsements of local candidates so get your letters in early. Other than rebuttals, the issue of Oct. 27 will be the last opportunity for comments on election issues and individual candidates.
   Letters to the editor will be monitored closely to reserve this space for issue-oriented discussion among readers.
   All letters — which should be no longer than 500 words in length — will be subject to editing and must be signed by the writer. A phone number for confirmation must be included. Phone numbers will not be published.
   The aim is to focus on what the potential voter needs to know, not on what the candidates want to say.
   These guidelines reflect the reader service objectives of all Packet newspapers in local elections, school and municipal. Comments on them are welcome and will be considered for the future as this newspaper continues to re-evaluate its policies and practices in an effort to produce the most useful news product possible for its readers.