Pacifica Tribune Apologizes, Reverses Ban on Endorsement Letters

The Pacifica Tribune has rescinded its ban on candidate endorsement letters, and apologizes to readers in its October 3 edition. The newspaper bowed to community pressure to keep this popular feature of the editorial page during election campaign season. It also admits that it found other newspapers in the Bay Area News Group did in fact allow endorsement letters, contrary to its earlier claim that such letters were not allowed in any of the chain's papers. Join the conversation on this issue by clicking the Comment link below this story.

BJ Nathanson's protest started this whole kerfuffle:

Please immediately read the September 26 Pacifica Tribune editorial page:  publisher and editor Elaine Larsen's column on no more free letters-to-the-editor candidate endorsements (you have to buy an ad, although you'll be happy to know you don't have to be part of a PAC, and it's "reasonably priced"), and my letter to the editor (which was supposed to have a question mark after the subhead "Freedom of the Press"). Flood them with objections.  It may already be too late to remedy this in time for the current election, but this policy cannot stand, and they can't change policies without warning and so late in the game. Hurry; they've moved up their deadlines, submit BEFORE Friday. This new policy is WRONG, no matter which candidate you like.

Tribune Policy That Riled the Townfolks

Comments

[Paul Slavin]

An excellent outcome and BJ, Avril, and Riptide readers deserve the community’s thanks. But we should remember that the Trib is still in tough financial shape. It would be a nice gesture, and a smart political move, for all the local campaigns to run a weekly ad.

[Jim Alex]

I have found out over the years when its a win its called, well this is how the system and democracy works. The system is in place, to hear both sides, and make a decision.

When it works for the opposite side, it's regress back to the 3rd grade, stomp your feet, hold your breath, lock your self in your room, threaten to run away.

The same core group in Pacifica, has manipulated the Tribune, the general public, and the voters.

When Tramell Crow(the largest Commercial Property Developer) at the time,came to Pacifica, to build out the quarry. You chased them out of town. When Peebles came to town, you chased him out, cause he was from out of town? Really? How has the lost revenue from the quarry, even half the size of the quarry been helping the city?

When a local builder wanted to build a project, the city council would send them to a neighborhood community organizer to get her approval first. Really?

The city is broken, broke and dysfunctional and needs a complete rebuild from top to the bottom. In fact my friends from out of town call it Dysfunction Junction.

This core group, could care less if the town lives or dies. Files bankruptcy or gets taken over by the county. Their own self centered cause is more important.

Highway 1 is a perfect example. We don't like Caltrans proposal and we start a new group.

Pathetic. I thing I will rent the billboards that say. The last people in Pacifica, please turn out the lights!

[Lionel Emde]

"I must take issue with those who thought this topic was insignificant or the reason we're in dire financial straits (really?). The issue was freedom of speech, representation, and communication through the press."

That is not the case with many newspapers, in terms of allowing endorsement letters. Look at Mr. Paterson's linkedin page, and you'll see he's been in multiple news markets over the decades.
He just screwed up in this case, applying what may be true in other areas to this area, before knowing BANG's policy.

Now we'll see if the Tribune can manage the flood of letters.

[Jay Bird]

Thank you, everyone who participated in this. Newspapers are part of a well-informed public, and as such are fundamental to democratic civilization. THANK YOU!!

[Jim Alex]

Dance a little jig.

You have may have won this battle, but in time you will lose the war.

Bankruptcy!

[BJ Nathanson]

I must take issue with those who thought this topic was insignificant or the reason we're in dire financial straits (really?). The issue was freedom of speech, representation, and communication through the press. Democracy. Aren't these part of the American ideals we all extol to the world? What people have fought and died for, and many of whom still lack?
We begin to lose our rights when we allow them to be usurped. And then what country are we living in?

[ian butler]

I am relieved that sanity has prevailed. Kudos to Mr. Paterson and to the many citizens who made their voices heard. Long live the Tribune!

[todd bray]

Welcome, Mr. Paterson.

[Chris Fogel]

"Oh, and for those of you who live in Linda Mar, don't forget to replace "Joe Pacifica" with the name of your candidate."

Okay, I admit it. I laughed. A lot.

And yes, I live in Linda Mar.

[Peter Loeb]

Considering Steve Paterson's retraction of the policy change, I retract everything I said about him. He has learned something. So have I. Thanks to Riptide for facilitating our edjimication.

[Mary Jana]

See that! This is EXACTLY why this city is in such dire financial straits -- absolutely nonexistent problem-solving and/or critical-thinking skills going on here. Nada. Please, allow me to clue in those of you on this thread who would no doubt be helplessly stuck between floors if for some reason the escalator broke down. Listen closely and don't make me repeat myself: If you want your endorsement printed, simply preface it with the following disclaimer: "This is in no way a political endorsement for candidate Joe Pacifica." Then write your endorsement. Problem solved. Sheez! Do I have to tell you knuckleheads how to do everything? Oh, and for those of you who live in Linda Mar, don't forget to replace "Joe Pacifica" with the name of your candidate.

[Peter Loeb]

A friend notes that the SF Chronicle has published letters endorsing candidates this week, further challenging Steve Paterson's knowledge of standard newspaper practice. The Trib is hardly alone in this practice, and if Steve Paterson has never seen it in 30 years in the newspaper business, he needs to open his eyes and look around. He might learn something.

[Avril Hughes]

Breaking news!!!

Dear Avril Hughes,

I will be writing another column stating I was not correct about our policy concerning endorsement letters. I based my decision on my experience and assumptions which were not correct. I should have done a better job of due diligence in this matter. We will be encouraging submissions and will be printing them based on Media News Group policies. The column will reflect this. Thank you for being a reader of the Tribune and bring this forward.

Regards,

Steve Paterson

Publisher, Palo Alto Daily News

Publisher, Community Newspaper Division

[Lionel Emde]

I shot Elaine and Mr. Paterson an email questioning the fact that the Merc allows endorsement letters and I received a courteous reply from Mr. Paterson indicating that the Tribune will change course on the new policy. Stay tuned.

[ian butler]

From today's Mercury News:

Khamis is a good candidate for council

I have known and worked with San Jose City Council candidate Johnny Khamis for about 20 years. Way back when we both had hair. He is a civic-minded fiscal conservative who has served the community for years. He will make a very good City Council person. I wholeheartedly recommend him.

Keith C. De Filippis

San Jose

[todd bray]

Paterson seems to be playing a bit of a country bumpkin. He certainly has zero feel for our community.

[Lionel Emde]

Avril is right on target. I was recalling this morning that I have read many endorsement letters in the Merc: school boards, water boards, city councils, you name it.

Perhaps Mr. Paterson should read the lead paper in the chain.

[Peter Loeb]

Thank you, Avril Hughes, for doing the research that shows Steve Paterson's statement is bullcrap.

[Avril Hughes]

I've just read the "My Turn" article by Steve Paterson, Pacifica Tribune 9/26, where he explains the Tribune's new policy of not publishing endorsement letters from citizens wanting to support candidates. Mr. Paterson writes that in his 30 years in the newspaper business, he has never seen this practice. He states that he checked with his local colleagues, and that it appears that the Pacifica Tribune is alone in this practice. Folks were encouraged to put a notice in the newspaper.

Directly under his column, Editor Elaine Larsen confirms the new policy, clearly stating, "Our company policy is that political endorsements are advertisements and should be treated as such." This was followed by the rates for political ads.

I was curious about the "company policy" and went to the Mercury News website, the flagship paper of the Bay Area News Group, to see what was being published in the letters to the editor there. Here are bits of a few from this past week: 9/22 Ralph Wheeler writes, "Liz Kniss, candidate for Palo Alto City Council, has spent her life advocating for children, seniors, and families, first as a public health nurse and then in various public service positions." 9/23 Tom Cobourn writes, "Tseng deserves support in race...I'm voting for Katherine. You should, too." 9/25 Doug Ramezane's letter begins, "As a respected leader, Rossi deserves a yes vote." 9/26 Vandana Kumar writes, "I am writing in support of Deepka Lalwani, candidate for Milpitas City Council."

Company policy? How can this be company policy when the flagship paper is printing endorsement letters from citizens?

[alan wald]

I don't have a problem with the Trib's policy to ban endorsement letters. To me there's little difference between a paid ad extolling a candidate's virtues and a bunch of supporters writing free letters to the editor.

[Victoria Monroe]

I don't agree with it, but I understand where she is coming from, and maybe she could -- and should -- have explained this. Newspapers' revenues have shrunk drastically in the past decade. To have a community newspaper is a rare thing these days, as many have not survived the Internet, Craig's List, and eBay. To continue to have a newspaper, the community needs to support it with advertising. This is the only "real" revenue stream a newspaper has, as subscriptions are only a small part of the revenue breakdown. How many of you place classifieds on Craig's List instead of listing your items in the paper? It's pretty cheap, and you are helping the paper AND selling your stuff to a LOCAL person—a neighbor! How many of you sell things on eBay? How many of you read the paper for free online instead of paying a very nominal price to subscribe? We're all guilty, right? So, Elaine, instead of explaining that the paper needs revenue and why, has put forth a policy that she won't print any more letters to the editor endorsing candidates. Letters to the editor take up a lot of space. Space in a newspaper is MONEY. There is a price for the use of a printing press, the skilled labor to run a press, the paper, the ink, the gas and maintenance for the truck that drives the finished product over to Pacifica to be delivered. There is a price to pay to the people who deliver the paper to your door. Advertising traditionally paid for all that. Classified advertising, the bread and butter of a newspaper, has all but dried up. If you would take a look at some other papers, you'd see that there are not a bunch of endorsements in letters to the editor. Elaine actually prints MORE letters to the editor than most papers do, to be fair. She's not stifling anyone's voice, she's just asking for folks to pitch in a bit for the space their voices take up in the paper. This has to happen or the Trib will go under. They've already laid people off, and are working with a skeleton crew to put the paper out every week. Is there an assumption that newspapers are a public commodity, like a utility? Do people believe that newspapers get some kind of public support (and by that I mean government subsidies)? NO, they don't. That's the way newspapers work in other countries, but in a democracy with a free press, a newspaper has to be self-sustaining, and FREE of any government support or involvement. Maybe there is a compromise; maybe she could put endorsement letters only online and not in print. But before you talk about the failure of the Tribune as a community newspaper, you have to talk about the failure of the community to support it.

[Peter Loeb]

It’s not clear what letters will not be printed under the Tribune’s new “no endorsement letters” policy. Is it only endorsement letters for local candidates? What about state and national candidates? Will endorsement letters for Obama or Romney not be printed? What about letters of opposition? Will letters opposing Obama or Romney not be printed? Making a distinction between endorsements of local candidates and county, state, and national candidates is arbitrary and unfair at best. But banning letters supporting any and all candidates, even state and national ones, is a complete failure of a newspaper.

Does the new policy apply only to candidates or also to measures? Does this mean that letters supporting or opposing Measure A, the county half-cent sales tax, won’t be printed? Will letters supporting or opposing Measure E, the Jefferson Union High School bond measure, not be printed? If not, that represents another failure of the Tribune as a community newspaper.

And if letters supporting or opposing measures will be printed, but not letters supporting candidates, why? What’s the distinction being made?

The new “no endorsement letters” policy is an abdication of the Tribune’s responsibility to allow community voices to be heard.