To the Editor:
I read with interest the letter from State Rep. Nick Menapace, 37th House District East Lyme, etc.
I believe what should put his mind at ease is that in worthy publications, journalism is separate and apart from the comments and thoughts of columnists or letter writers. I believe he has inadvertently combined journalism with opinion in his comments, to the detriment of journalism.
Journalism, in the form of news articles, should be diligent about facts and display as much objectivity as humans are capable, not intertwine reporter commentary or agenda with simple, complete and accurate reporting so that readers may come to their own conclusions.
Columnists and letter writers, however, are optimally free to express their thoughts, which may indeed include mistakes about facts. The historical response is a counter argument in a column or letter, which Rep. Menapace undertook, and I respect that. If The Day thought David Collins detrimental to business, their prerogative is to make a business decision. If their readers feel differently, I am sure results of cancelled subscriptions and a deluge of nasty-grams may change its mind about Mssr. Collins.
To me, it feels like people throw around the term “journalism” too loosely these days. To me, judge your sources of actual reporting based your own feeling of objectivity, and restrict conflating opinion with good journalism. I believe the downfall of journalism has been the increased infusion of activism, no matter the politics, which properly belongs in the opinion pages. Opinion pages are places for strong, persuasive conversations, and a healthy press allows the latitude for others to offer corrections and counter-arguments to those with whom they may disagree.
J. David Kelsey
Old Lyme, CT