Left In Lowell

I had decided to spend Christmas Day not reading any newspaper, opening my computer or playing with my IPhone and rather devote my time to family and friends. So today, I had some catching up to do.

He’s back!!! I am referring to the editor of our local newspaper whose sporadic columns are used for self-promotion and vicious attacks on those who do not bow at the Dutton St. museum’s altar. From where I sit, there are two public officials, in particular, who are recipients of the vitriol dribbling that comes from this man’s keyboard: one if CM Bernie Lynch and the other, Registry of Deeds and fellow-blogger, Richard Howe.

On 12/12 the Sun ran a column, “When will government cut back?” The editor states that while property value are declining, property taxes are increasing and wonder why the cost of government is not declining? Then comes the cheap shot: “No one in public service in Lowell is going to get less than they did a year ago. In fact, they’re going to get more, courtesy of a ‘professional’ management that met the forecasts of a fiscal downturn by creating its own perfect storm — it handed pay increases to every public employees’ union in the city.”

Well, since he asked, CM Lynch decided to answer him. So the Sun published Lynch’s explanation. But the paper had to have the last word, so they took the opportunity to add an editor’s note at the end of Bernie’s column. If they wanted to debate the issue with the man, they should have resent the column back to City Hall and told CM Lynch, what about these points; address them. But was the point to bring clarity to the issue or attack the CM?

How lucky we are to have a newspaper in town whose editor looks out for our interest before the paper’s financial gains and political influence. (snark!). If you thought that the treatment the CM receives from the Sun’s editor is blatantly biased, you must have spit out your eggnog yesterday when you read his not-so-veiled “cheap-shot” at Dick Howe.

But as Dick lays out in his commentary on his blog today, this paper asked him to take out an ad for an Obama supplement (yes, Obama). He politely declined and then yesterday he receives this Christmas present from them. I guess last week that “bitter blogger” was good enough to buy an ad that will go towards the editor’s salary, but this week he is characterized as “rooting for the paper’s demise.”

As for the point that Dick made on his blog, that is the Sun blurring the line between editorial content, political influence and finances, that issue has been discussed a few times outside of Lowell: Dan Kennedy when he worked at the Phoenix; Steve Bailey when he was their business columnist at the Globe and Emily Rooney on her Greater Boston Show).

As for the demise of the Sun, no one who is a blogger wants that paper to fail. On the contrary, we are enthusiastic supporters of the (underpaid, overworked and unappreciated) reporters; those women and men whose professional approach to their job shines the light on local government and business. What we would like to see an end to is the late 19th century model of the editor as king.