Opposed to suggested media policy

Complete 2000 Editorial Archives

Newly-elected member of the Plaistow Board of Selectmen, John Sherman, recently suggested the implementation of a plan that would draw limitations as to how board members may interact with the media.

While the town currently has no set policy on making statements to the press, Sherman has stated that imposing such a policy would help avoid any confusion the public may have over what is deemed an "official board decision" and what is merely an opinion of a board member.

Sherman hopes to achieve this by ensuring that all correspondence with the media comes only from the chairman of the board, and then only in the form of a written press release.

Such a proposal, however would make it difficult for the media to report fair, accurate news. If the board's only correspondence with the media is in the form of a press release, the public will miss out on many important personality nuances that reporters glean from face-to-face interaction with board members. The stories will also lack the conversational tones that often provide readers with more of an in-depth glimpse into a situation.

We feel the proposed policy is unfair to the citizens of Plaistow, who will not receive an accurate portrayal of their town officials; unfair to the board members, who will not be allowed to express their independent thoughts to the media; and unfair to the press, who needs to have the ability to interview individual members of the board as credible sources of information.

"Official board decisions" would not necessarily give voters the information they need to make educated choices or to decide which selectmen they would like to vote for. How would citizens know which board members represent their views if the various opinions of selectmen are not reported?

What this plan fails to take into consideration is that it is necessary for government officials to represent a wide variety of opinions and political thoughts, and that people need to be made aware of these differences of opinions.

Freedom of expression, along with freedom of the press, which should include access to public information as well as public officials, are imperative for a democratic society to function properly.

While the board has yet to vote on the proposal, it must be said we are of the belief that if the board adopts this policy, it will only ensure that a fair amount of valuable information will be kept from the public.

If and when this proposal does go up for vote, we urge selectmen to table it. The people of Plaistow deserve to know where each of their town officials stand.

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