Letter: Post missed a civic duty before Election Day

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 10, 2019

I was somewhat baffled by the front page of the Nov. 5 Salisbury Post. There was a large 2-picture story about painting a helicopter that has been sitting along Brenner for most of the eight years we have been here, a story on the left side of the page about a college bond moving forward and on the right an article about Al Heggins leading in campaign financing. There were lesser stories on the lower half.

There was nothing about the election, nothing about one issue which could change the way of electing the city’s mayor and election of City Council. There was nothing about encouraging residents to vote.

In my study of journalism, I was taught that the left side should contain the most important news of the day with secondary stuff to the right.

Where did the election rate in the eyes of the Post?

There could have been a 72-point headline across the top like the Chopper head saying “Get out and vote,” or words to that effect.

Something like that might have got the attention of the medical assistant at the doctor’s office who said on Wednesday morning that she thought Tuesday was for early voting. Something like this might have been considered necessary in view of the 16-18% turnout Salisbury received in the last council election.

The Post did give prominent attention to the election when they posted the results the following day.

So, what happened on Tuesday? The Post surely missed a civic duty.

— Jack Connery

Salisbury