On Friday afternoon Mike Miorelli, editor of the Morning Call, clarified for their readers that although the paper is giving up their work space, the paper will continue on, with the staff working from home. He wrote, "Our commitment to the Lehigh Valley and our readers is as strong as ever."
Well, I'm not sure about that. I do know that Mike Miorelli feels no commitment to the residents of South Whitehall, at least in regard to Wehr's Dam. Although he knows that the Wildlands Conservancy interacted directly with the Pennsylvania DEP to complicate the status of Wehr's Dam, he will not allow my opinion piece on the impropriety of such ex-parte communications.
Mike Miorelli knows that the director of public works in South Whitehall, Randy Cope, is the son of a former Wildlands official, and that the Wildlands is determined to demolish the dam. Cope has made no good faith effort to defend the structure. Although Miorelli knows that the voters of South Whitehall approved a referendum to keep their cherished dam, he ignores a commissioner wondering aloud how the township can get out from under that obligation?
Miorelli is apparently committed to what he deems important. For other topics, seemingly, not so much. Not only doesn't his staff have a work place, the public doesn't have a voice. While he has positioned himself as the gatekeeper of opinion in the valley, truth has suffered. Whether you're the CEO of St. Lukes, or just a citizen advocate for a dam, democracy needs an open opinion page.
ADDENDUM: Because of censorship at the Morning Call opinion page, I will reinstate a blog feature from years ago, OPEN MIKE. For this alternative public square on any subject of concern, label your submission Open Mike, and submit through the comment windows. They will be collected and printed periodically as a special post. All Open Mike submissions must contain your name and phone number for verification.
photocredit:Wehr's Dam by Jason Fink
With this move to produce and operate our newspaper from the basements and kitchens of employees, it seems appropriate for the Morning Call to reduce its subscription prices significantly.
ReplyDeleteNo more building to maintain. No large Real Estate Tax to pay on Sixth & Linden, no heating, electric and water bills, no insurance on the structure. Even little things, like toilet paper and soap for the people who now cover all of that on their own.
It seems the Morning Call’s editorial opinions and values could use some adjustments, too. Couldn’t hurt!
anon@4:50, I have been a full fare subscriber for over 50 years, and only recently in the digital format. Although a critic, I'm glad that our community is still served by a local paper. Mike Miorelli, first a page editor, and now as editor in chief, has been censoring news for years. Now that no recourse exists around his personal opinion based firewall, I'm compelled to speak out. Years ago I had an "Open Mike" feature on this blog, and will reinstate such as an alternative public square.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking this initiative. Our family has always subscribed to the Call as well as the Chronicle. I haven't been happy for years with some of the editorial content and as in your case it should not be censored.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. But I would encourage some fact verification process so it doesn't turn into another screaming match.
ReplyDelete