As a regular contributor to the letters section in local newspapers, on matters of community interest and public policy, I have observed a continuing interest with the subject matter referenced by some of the letters. They are re-published here as a public service.

Following is an article on the role of newspapers, first published in 1999 and re-published here for information purposes only.

The Editor The Moncton Times & Transcript

I think you will agree that the role of a newspaper is to find news, report news and comment on the news. It is not to create the news.

The use of your front page a few days ago to fabricate the results of an election campaign, in favour of a particular political party, by interpreting the observations of an astrologer as fact, was a blatant attempt to mislead your readership and create news where none existed.

The conduct of your newspaper over the last few months has, in my view, been shamefully unprofessional in its bias against the Government of New Brunswick and its political leadership. I have no problem with your paper's editorial support of a political party. That is your right.

However, I do have a problem with irresponsible and inappropriately negative tabloid journalism. It may be appropriate in South Africa but not in New Brunswick.

You do this community a dis-service by making it your mission to hunt and destroy anything and everything that is positive about the Government or positive about the City of Moncton. In the process you endanger the financial well-being of your paper.

The reason - thoughtful people are now openly mocking the Times & Transcript and its 'news' content as irrelevant. The paper has no credibility on issues of substance. You have become the subject of jokes and laughter.

The paper looks good but its read is empty of substance. Many years ago, my father began a very successful journalist's career at the Transcript before heading off to Ontario and the Toronto Star.

He would turn in his grave if he could see how low the Transcript has sunk. I believe he would join with K.C. Irving to condemn the editorial management that could allow this to happen.

The next thing you'll probably do is publish some sort of fabricated poll to stampede your readers towards an untested and untried alternative on election day. My concern is that such a result could set this City back 15 or 20 years.

The Conservatives have been promoting a so-called "made-in-New Brunswick" economic strategy that would turn off outside investment. The President of the Greater Moncton Economic Commission has said unequivocally that 80% of the job growth in Moncton over the last decade has come as a result of attracting new businesses from outside the Province to the City.

His colleagues in Saint John and Fredericton agree with him. Your paper is doing everything in its power to turn off the growth that new jobs and outside investment bring to our communities and our Province.

The Times & Transcript has become the laughing stock of Moncton, a newspaper without credibility that will soon find it hard to sell newspapers or generate advertising if it doesn't take a good hard look at itself.

Sincerely
W.E. (Bill) Belliveau,
Shediac, New Brunswick

cc J.K. Irving,
J.D. Irving and Jamie Irving ,
The Atlantic Newspaper Council ,
The Canadian Newspaper Association,
The Canadian Advertisers Association,
The Toronto Globe & Mail, T
he National Post,
CBC Television,
Global Television,
CTV