In journalism, there’s an old saying: “Everybody loves the newspaper until it says something they don’t like.” We’ve certainly seen this play out in Grants Pass and Josephine County lately. Our newspaper has come under fire from other news blogs, radio shows, and local Facebook groups, accusing us of bias against Commissioner John West and claiming that the recall effort against him is our primary agenda. Well, let’s be clear: if you’ve been reading our paper, you know we are indeed involved in the recall. And there’s a reason for that.
Back in June, Commissioner West attempted to intimidate us and silence our reporting. We’ve made no secret of our stance, nor do we intend to hide it. We are involved in this recall because we believe it’s a matter of public interest and community integrity. We’re not here to sugarcoat the truth or shy away from the hard stories, even if it makes some people uncomfortable. This town has lived behind a curtain for far too long, and it’s time that curtain is lifted.
The notion that we are somehow obligated to appease those who disagree with our reporting is misguided. Some local voices, like Mike Jones or Bill Myer, have taken it upon themselves to publicly critique our style, as though they’re English teachers grading an essay. That’s not journalism—that’s playing referee in a game that doesn’t require one. We’re not here to seek their approval, nor do we believe it’s the job of another journalist to “grade” our work.
Objective journalism is about maintaining the freedom of the press, not about conforming to someone else’s notion of how the news should be written. If people don’t like what we have to say, they are free to ignore it. There’s no shortage of videos, blogs, and social media posts circulating about us, and we don’t spend our time poring over every piece of commentary. Whether it’s called propaganda or fake news, it’s up to each individual to decide what to believe. The real issue here is that some individuals would rather shoot the messenger than confront the message.
Today’s climate in Josephine County has become increasingly divisive, with many acting more like rival factions than neighbors. Instead of finding common ground, the community seems to be splintering further apart. But we will not be silenced or intimidated. We will continue to fight for what we believe is right. As Donald Trump famously said, “Fight, fight, fight.” And that’s exactly what we’ll do—to defend the integrity of our reporting and to advocate for this community’s right to know.
If some local figures want to treat us like we’re on trial for delivering news they don’t favor, that’s their choice. We’re not concerned about the grades on their opinionated report cards. We’ll continue to deliver the news in our own unique style, without fear or favor. Whether you approve of our approach or not, we’re here to stay, and we’ll keep bringing the stories that matter to Grants Pass and Josephine County.
