From the Quill
The Meridian Star on the public’s right to know and reporting bad news: ” Our job is to keep our readers informed. We are here to be the cheerleaders for the community when the positives occur. That type of reporting is easy, and it feels good. Equally as important, however, it is our job to be the eyes and ears of the public when things go wrong.”
The Star’s editorial answers responses to this story.
Meanwhile, Star assistant editor Steve Gillespie ponders the prolific use lately of the N-word: “Since November the N-word has probably had more exposure than it ever has. From comedian Michael Richards’ tirade at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood on Nov. 17, to our District 5 Lauderdale County Supervisor Ray Boswell’s use of the word in a year-old police video we reported on in December, and this past week as a group in the Enterprise community came together, upset because Coach Tommy Perkins allegedly used the word toward one of his players.”
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal on the decrease in cancer deaths nationwide, but continued struggles in (surprise) Mississippi: “…while the overall news is good, Mississippi does not fully share in the encouragement. The ACS’s estimated death figures in Mississippi from cancer this year project only a tiny decrease from 2006, including a virtually steady number of deaths from lung cancer…”
Star-Herald editor Mark Thornton offers advice on rhetoric and fully-funding MAEP: “Anytime you hear a so-called education proponent or school official say these four words — “It’s for the children” — grab your wallet and run. Fast. Hind-end first, so they can’t pick your pocket on the way out.”
The Mississippi Press wants to snuff it out: “Ban smoking in public places.”