Rally coverage set new journalistic low

Published 9:00 pm Friday, October 24, 2003

Concerning The Herald’s Oct. 14 front-page photo and caption related to the teachers’ strike, I think you have set a new journalistic low.

First, from a meeting where 750 teachers from around the region were present (a fact that was cleverly hidden in the text on the back page), you managed to zero in on the single dissident picket. Second, you extolled the bravery of that person for appearing before a group of teachers.

What jeopardy was the picket facing? Might the villainous teachers have popped a quiz, parsed a sentence, taught a theorem or perhaps squeaked a piece of chalk?

There is no shortage of individuals in our society who deserve praise for their courage. To mention only a few – soldiers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, and often teachers.

Please do not cheapen our words of appreciation for our real-life heroes in order to slant the news to fit your political views on the teachers’ strike.

Lake Stevens