In April, the Portland Press Herald splashed front-page headlines, with pictures, bylines and full coverage, of the resignation of the Westbrook schools’ athletic director, whose suspensions of athletes after an October drinking party were overturned (“Westbrook athletic director resigns after year of turmoil,” April 9).
More coverage followed a second drinking party (“Westbrook High investigates students after underage drinking party,” April 23).
The students involved deserved that bad publicity.
On May 14, on Page B3, the Press Herald printed 15 inches of dispatches, of which only a 2-inch by 5-inch section mentions “After-prom party results in summonses for 8 people” – this about Windham and Gorham students’ drinking parties.
There was no front-page story. Only fine print was used. There were no pictures and no bylines, and the story is almost buried among local and state news.
This is unfair reporting to all residents and students from each hometown featured.
Your press is obligated to present both sides of each newsworthy item you print. Favoritism and cover-ups should not enter into good, honest reporting.
Eleanor Conant Saunders
Westbrook
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