Unfair media coverage? This newspaper reports on all sides

Unfair media coverage? This newspaper reports on all sides

Our View — The Havre Daily News

Based on a story from Tuesday's front page, "GOP claims unfair media coverage, " some of your area Montana legislators want you to believe that the media in general, and specifically the Havre Daily News, is conspiring against them.

Speaking for the Havre Daily News, nothing can be further from the truth. Rep. Kris Hansen, Rep. Wendy Warburton and Sen. Rowlie Hutton and other officials can write a guest column, on a monthly basis in order to get their message across to our 11,000 readers. Since taking office only Hutton and Warburton have submitted guest columns.

Hutton has submitted two columns and Warburton one, and then only to try and correct her misstep in supporting a bill calling for the establishment of an armed paramilitary militia. This bill has subsequently died in committee. The young reporter referred to in her column was a reporter stationed in Syria and Lebanon prior to joining The Associated Press' Helena bureau; he is new to covering the Montana legislature but is not a rookie reporter.

Your legislators have not been restricted to what they can say in their column. If their message about their legislative activities and how hard they are working for you is not getting out, they have no one to blame but themselves. In addition, a simple e-mail to the publisher or editor of the Havre Daily News, giving us a heads-up on important bills they are sponsoring or supporting, would allow the newspaper to provide added information to our readers. That has not happened. Responding to this newspaper's inquiries is important as well, rather than choosing when and if to respond to calls from Havre Daily News reporters.

The newspaper is part of The Associated Press news service and is supplied stories regarding pending legislation on a daily basis. Since the 2011 legislative session began in January, this newspaper has been publishing three or more news stories, out of Helena, each day. The Associated Press would not remain in business if the stories they provided member newspapers were unfair, biased or consistently wrong. It is important for you, as a reader of the Havre Daily News, to know that you are being kept informed and apprised of all legislation that will affect your day-to-day lives, both positive and negative.

We are glad to hear that your legislators are poring over thousands of e-mails from their constituents. They should be seeking your input; they were elected to represent you and vote accordingly on the issues. This newspaper is the community's newspaper. Your legislators can decide whether they want to use it or not to communicate their message about their legislative activities as well as how hard they are working foryou.

Based on a story from Tuesday's front page, "GOP claims unfair media coverage," some of your area Montana legislators want you to believe that the media in general, and specifically the Havre Daily News, is conspiring against them.

Speaking for the Havre Daily News, nothing can be further from the truth. Rep. Kris Hansen, Rep. Wendy Warburton and Sen. Rowlie Hutton and other officials can write a guest column, on a monthly basis in order to get their message across to our 11,000 readers. Since taking office only Hutton and Warburton have submitted guest columns.

Hutton has submitted two columns and Warburton one, and then only to try and correct her misstep in supporting a bill calling for the establishment of an armed paramilitary militia. This bill has subsequently died in committee. The young reporter referred to in her column was a reporter stationed in Syria and Lebanon prior to joining The Associated Press' Helena bureau; he is new to covering the Montana legislature but is not a rookie reporter.

Your legislators have not been restricted to what they can say in their column. If their message about their legislative activities and how hard they are working for you is not getting out, they have no one to blame but themselves. In addition, a simple e-mail to the publisher or editor of the Havre Daily News, giving us a heads-up on important bills they are sponsoring or supporting, would allow the newspaper to provide added information to our readers. That has not happened. Responding to this newspaper's inquiries is important as well, rather than choosing when and if to respond to calls from Havre Daily News reporters.

The newspaper is part of The Associated Press news service and is supplied stories regarding pending legislation on a daily basis. Since the 2011 legislative session began in January, this newspaper has been publishing three or more news stories, out of Helena, each day. The Associated Press would not remain in business if the stories they provided member newspapers were unfair, biased or consistently wrong. It is important for you, as a reader of the Havre Daily News, to know that you are being kept informed and apprised of all legislation that will affect your day-to-day lives, both positive and negative.

We are glad to hear that your legislators are poring over thousands of e-mails from their constituents. They should be seeking your input; they were elected to represent you and vote accordingly on the issues. This newspaper is the community's newspaper. Your legislators can decide whether they want to use it or not to communicate their message about their legislative activities as well as how hard they are working for you.