On Nov. 7 you published a short letter of mine that merely pointed out that no individual has a right to be published by any concern that has editorial discretion. A week later, you published a response by a Charles Dunaway, who claimed my “screed” failed to address some nebulous obligation that local newspapers have to be responsive to thoughtful community members.
I am not an apologist for Israel, or The Register-Guard for that matter. The Middle East mess has been thousands of years in the making, and being “thoughtful” about it is fine for scholars, but I haven’t seen much objectivity on behalf of any of the actors involved.
That happens when you mix massive oil reserves with nuclear arsenals, ancient religious feuds and the most divisive world political climate in decades.
For the last time: Print newspapers are becoming either a niche market or the tools of various political interests. If someone thinks they have something important to say, it had better be trending on social media, or you may just be whistling in the dark.
Robert A Knapp
Springfield
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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