There are always two sides of a story. Our job is not to choose a side but stand in the middle of the road.
Regardless of how we feel, we have to see both sides of the story. When we don’t have cameras, recorders, note pads or computers in front of us, we’re regular people too. That means we do have thoughts and opinions. We just keep them to ourselves when we write.
In other ways, we will not be swayed to support one side or the other.
Politics are often brought up from readers, and we are asked to help promote one side over the other. Not everyone who communicates with us about politics are trying to pull us to one side. There are people who understand and merely want to share their opinion. I can think of about three people off the top of my head that I hear from that will say, “They respect your opinion, but here’s what I think.” Those same people may contact me later after they look into what we discussed, and even if it doesn’t change their opinion, it makes them more aware and gives them insight of where an opposing opinion comes from.
Then there are others . . . The people who try to pull you to their sidewalk and then say you are against them if you don’t move. That is not, and never has been, the case.
We report facts not opinions. We also ask questions. Even if we don’t always get the answers readers want.
When we’re reporting on local politics or politics – county or national – that relate directly to Taylor, we stay in the middle. We don’t root for one side or the other. We also don’t promote or endorse candidates.
However, if candidates or supporters want to buy an ad, give me a call at 512-352-8535. If you see an ad in our paper from one candidate and not the other, that means one bought an ad and the other didn’t.
When it comes to some of the local issues, I always want to give opportunities to both sides. If an incident happens, we get information from our trusted local official sources, but we try to reach out to people on the other side as well.
Taylor is still a small community, so we probably know someone involved or someone close to most situations. A small community also means we may run into someone involved at the store or the gas station.
We stay neutral, even when it’s frowned upon or people disagree. Why? Because that’s what newspapers are supposed to do.
If you want to write a letter to the editor, great. Just know that it will be subject to any other readers who may want to write an opposing letter. It’s happened.
I’m going to get off my soapbox now and go do some research for March Madness.
“There are three sides to a story . . . There’s your version, the other person’s, and then there’s the truth, which is somewhere in the middle of the two.”
— Helena Hunting
