Let the punishment fit the crime

The news media has the unenviable job of not only reporting the news but of dealing with any fallout it might produce.  Fallout, by the way, usually comes in the form of criticism from those who may think the news media has made them look bad.

No government official ever likes to see bad press, and no government official has ever hesitated to launch a preemptive strike against any news source that might shine a light on any of their more nefarious activities. 

Of course, you don’t have to be a national politician to distrust the press.  We’ve had plenty of those in our area who are just as unhappy with the Appalachian News-Express and who’ve been all too willing to let the paper know all about it.

The most recent unhappy office holder to take action, literally this time, was Elkhorn City’s Mayor Mike Taylor, who filed a criminal complaint against News-Express staff writer Ross Coleman because Coleman won’t stop asking him questions.

Of course Coleman won’t stop asking him questions.  It’s his job.  It’s what motivates him as an individual.  In certain circumstances it could even get him recognition by his peers.  And let’s face it, if reporters were jailed for being inquisitive, our prison population, already the world’s largest, would swell to far greater numbers.

In its response to Taylor’s actions, the News-Express published an editorial in which it called on Taylor to resign as Mayor.  With all due respect to those people who publish my drivel, I think this is going a bit too far. 

Yes, Taylor may be trying to intimidate Coleman and his colleagues, but it’s not the most intimidating action ever taken against an employee of the News-Express.

It’s not been too long ago, if you remember, when another Mayor took exception to a story published in the News-Express.  Only this Mayor was a bit more direct in his try at intimidation. 

Instead of bringing criminal charges against any measly newspaper reporters or staff writers, this Mayor took a swing at the editor; popped him right in the nose.

Cooler heads prevailed because the thing was smoothed over rather quickly; the mayor apologized and the editor forgave him.  No calls for any resignation were heard.

In a story published only this past week, the Fiscal Court tried their hands at intimidating a citizen.  And this wasn’t your ordinary citizen, either.  This was Monk Sanders, the one man who makes it his life’s work to bring help to the poor and needy.  And God only knows how much of that there is to do.

Seems Monk had the temerity to question members of the Fiscal Court in some letters to the Editor.  And that made those members of the Fiscal Court mad, mad enough to tell Monk not to be seen around the county with stationary or postage stamps ever again if he wanted the Fiscal Court to help him.

Of course, Monk agreed, because he does need to get the Court to help him in his mission.  It’s too bad he had to give up his right to express his opinion in exchange for this help.  It’s also too bad that our paper didn’t come to his defense as quickly as it did with its own reporter.