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Having received many recent letters and comments regarding my June 29 editorial, the Heidcamp Report, and the Saugerties Board of Education, I came to realize that my editorial, which I thought sent the message that I didn't want to be in the middle of anything, and would not choose sides, was apparently misunderstood by many readers. On August 8, I approached the school board, first to apologize to Michael Brennan and Michael MacIsaac, but also to reiterate the meaning of that editorial from the end of June. Neither I nor the Post Star should be congratulated nor become targets for simply allowing Mr. Heidcamp to express himself, and all responses to the Heidcamp Report should be directed to him. Mr. Heidcamp can be reached at hreport1@yahoo.com. My comments to the school board are as follows: On June 29, 2006 The Post Star published an editorial that I had written, entitled To Print or Not To Print. In that editorial I responded to requests for the Post Star to discontinue the publishing of The Heidcamp Report, a weekly opinion column written by George Heidcamp Sr. We have also offered, on more than one occasion to print any rebuttal or opposite point of view. We have not however, received any. In this editorial, I stated that two members of the Board of Education had approached me, each presenting me with correspondence received from Mr. Heidcamp that they perceived to be threatening or bullying. Although I did not name these two board members, both had asked that their conversations with me stay "off the record." I would like to apologize to these two board members for not honoring that request. It is not a mistake that I plan to repeat. Meanwhile, the complaints about The Heidcamp Report and the requests to have it discontinued go on. In my editorial I had tried to explain the Post Star's reasons for continuing to print the Heidcamp Report. I tried to explain that this is our policy, and has been for over 100 years, I tried to explain that to refuse to print the column would not only be unfair, but would be censorship, and would put the Post Star in a position of choosing sides in a personal disagreement between Mr. Heidcamp and the Board. Obviously, as a newspaper, we cannot choose sides, but must continue to remain unbiased, and impartial. Since the writing of that editorial, comments concerning the Heidcamp Report have become increasingly directed at the Post Star. A letter to the editor by Wesley Maxwell made reference to the job of the school district not being made any easier when a local paper devotes an entire page to complaining about the money the superintendent spends. A letter from the superintendent stated, "I am disappointed with any newspaper that gives a free ride to individuals who pen slanderous and inaccurate statements." Another letter to the editor reads, "this paper is now attacking the new school board president via The Heidcamp Report." There are positive comments as well. Tom Craighead wrote, "Thanks to your editorial, the move was squashed, and justice has been served. My faith in the Post Star just went up several notches." Ralph Bogert also wrote to congratulate me for standing up to the school board. The Post Star has also been accused of providing a disservice to the community, practicing poor journalism, and more. I am at a loss to understand how the Post Star has done any of this. The Post Star has not attacked anyone, just as we have not stood up to anyone, or squashed any moves. I do not feel that we are providing a disservice, we are simply providing the same service to the Saugerties community that we have provided for more than a century: to print articles and opinions submitted by any and all of our readers, without censorship. Therefore, I have come to the understanding that perhaps my editorial was unclear. I tried to direct comments and criticism regarding the Heidcamp Report through the proper channels, to Mr. Heidcamp. I tried to explain that Mr. Heidcamp's opinion is his own, and should not be confused with the opinion of the Post Star. I realize that phrases such as "Post Star" and "this paper," pertain to the employees and staff of the Post Star so, let me say simply that I am offended by comments that infer my disservice to the community, or my attacking anyone, and that my opinion is my own, just as the opinions of my coworkers are their own. Our opinions in this matter are also completely irrelevant. What I have done is my job, and I have tried to do it to the best of my ability. Yes, I did make a mistake by mentioning those two board members, and I am sorry. Yes, I have printed a controversial opinion column that some do not agree with. But, printing articles and columns submitted by members of the community is a part of that job. I will continue to do my job, every week, the best that I can. I do not wish to be congratulated for this. Nor do I wish to be condemned for simply doing what is expected of me. NOTE TO RALPH Thanks for taking the time to sit and talk with me. Unfortunately the subject is so expansive that I am still researching. But, a story will definitely appear next week. I would rather take the extra time and get it right, than to rush it and not have all of my facts straight.
8/12/06 |