Ohio bill will further protect free speech

February 9, 2020

Lively public debate and dialogue about community issues is a big part of our democratic process. Residents must be able to discuss issues and journalists must be able to report on them — each without fear of landing in court facing accusations of libel or defamation. Yet, sadly, there are people who sue both journalists and other citizens for defamation and libel even when there is nothing false about statements that are clearly opinion. In these cases, the plaintiff often knows he or she will eventually lose, yet still files the civil suit as a simple tactic to silence or slow the ...

Hints on how to get your news published

February 2, 2020

I have heard recently from some newspaper readers seeking information on the best way for organizations — particularly nonprofit groups — to get items published in this newspaper. To help answer this question, here are a few helpful hints: First, if you have an upcoming event that would be of public interest, by all means send it to us at the Tribune Chronicle. We pride ourselves on being a community newspaper, and we really want to help promote your club’s and nonprofit organization’s events. If you don’t tell us, we may not know about it. Send your info about two weeks ...

Newsman showcased fairness, balance

January 26, 2020

Frequently I have used this space to protest what I perceive as a growing divide and increasing lack of balance in news reporting by the national media today. Sadly, consumers of news lost one of the great ones in journalism last week — one who always could be counted on to report with fairness and absolute balance. These days, he was one of the few. Jim Lehrer, longtime host of the nightly “PBS NewsHour,” died Thursday at the age of 85. A consummate newsman, Lehrer often was known, and at times even poked fun of, for his solemn and serious nature — quite a contrast from ...

I’m not tougher than the flu, after all

January 19, 2020

It was one month ago today that I sat on the exam table in my family physician’s office for my annual checkup. Clacking away on the computer keyboard, the doc entered her notes, then paused and glanced up at me. “Do you want a flu shot, today?” she asked. “No,” I responded. “I never get one. I just don’t like putting unnecessary chemicals in my body.” She kind of chuckled. “OK.” Definitely one of my lesser intelligent moments. Today marks Day 10 of, yep, the flu. I missed the entire week of work last week. I can only once remember missing that many ...

Context, balance key in good reporting

January 11, 2020

“Context is key.” I’ve shared those words with young college journalism students when I taught basic reporting classes several years ago. I also shared those words in a column almost exactly one year ago when I wrote about the viral video of young Covington, Ky., high school student Nick Sandmann, portrayed in a negative light by some in the national media. Sandmann had been caught on video facing an elderly Native American man, Nathan Phillips, when their paths crossed by chance in Washington, D.C., last January. The boy and his Catholic high school classmates, who were in ...

High-tech safety comes with controversy

January 5, 2020

An upstate New York school district now is using new technology to keep students safe from intruders. On the surface, it sounds good, but the idea has triggered much outrage and controversy from parents and civil rights advocates who fear it will compromise student privacy. That’s because the $1.4 million high-tech system now being used at Lockport Central School District, about 20 miles west of Niagara Falls, New York, involves new-age facial recognition. Welcome to the future. The school district activated the system Thursday. It originally had been set to go live in ...