Longtime readers of the Enterprise know that we’re hyper-local.
If it happens in the county, we cover it. And historically, we’ve generously allowed letters to the editor with few rejections.
But in recent news cycles, the writers’ focus has gone to national issues — over which we have little control.
Social media has given everyone a voice, which is great. However, the name-calling and vitriol from both liberal and conservative writers must stop.
It’s gotten so bad in the past year that we’ve contemplated doing away with letters to the editor altogether.
Why? First, as a newspaper we are responsible for letter content — including libelous and defaming content.
We’ve had to adjust our policy to address this issue and have had to spend much time fact-checking — difficult in these days of “doublespeak.”
Letters reflect the content of national media coverage — be it CNN or Fox News — and not all the content is accurate.
This has gobbled up time vetting and fact checking letters and dealing with writers who insist their content is the God’s honest truth.
That is time we could spend writing about the lives of people living in Leelanau County — which is our bailiwick, and sets us apart from other media outlets.
Leaders from townships, villages, county and other governmental units such as schools, expect to see their happenings on the pages of the county weekly.
No one covers Leelanau County like the Enterprise — something as an institution we’ve done since 1877.
And at a time when news deserts are popping up all over the country, we are committed to put community — the community we all share — first.
We are committed to proactively cover community as our staff limitations allow and focus on local issues.
To this end, we have several new sections and products that we are rolling out this year. Stay tuned.
