Advertising-Editorial Differences
Del.icio.usMore than one reader called or e-mailed about the ad for the Democratic Party of Hawaii on the bottom of last week’s cover.
The indignant gist of all of them was: “I thought you said MidWeek was editorially independent and would not be endorsing candidates or parties?!”
That’s still true. The ad was paid for by the Dems. It was in no way an endorsement on our part.
That new advertising space was created by our sales team, and as you’ve probably already seen it was purchased this week by Republican Gov. Linda Lingle.
How’s that for balance? * Speaking of policies, we are also not running letters to the editor supporting or trashing candidates. We are, however, continuing to publish letters relating to our columnists’comments - such as one this week from an army officer regarding Bob Jones’ comments about Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona.
* Meanwhile, MidWeek continues to grow. In the past month we added Lisa Asato, who had been working for us as a freelance writer, to our office staff. That brings our staff to 13- compared to three when I became editor in December 1994. To say my job description has changed in the past dozen years would be an under-statement.
* And as long as we’re talking shop: In addition to producing two MidWeeks every week, our staff also produces a weekly military paper, Military Oahu Star, weekly community newspapers for Windward and West Oahu, plus community papers for East and Central Oahu. That’s a lot of pages.
* I’m proud to have Attorney General Mark Bennett and McGruff the crime-fighting dog on our cover this week. Twenty years ago, I was a member of the Judiciary Committee that introduced McGruff to Hawaii.
* Otherwise: Here’s the reality for Kim Jong-Il and his nukes: As I was told by a Korean expert at Camp Smith and later by a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel at the DMZ in Korea, Kim understands very well that “he gets one shot and one shot only.” In other words, if he fires a missile at South Korea, Japan or the U.S., we bomb him to smithereens and end his rule. He’s goofy but not suicidal.
* Was anybody else not exactly encouraged to hear that FEMA, the folks who bungled Katrina, were riding to the rescue of earthquake victims on the Big Island?
* The thing that lingers still from the quake is the sound of the groaning Earth.
Fortunately, the fridge was stocked with food and chilled beverages, and there was plenty of charcoal for the grill. Other than missing a couple of ball games, it turned out to be a really good
day. Go figgah.
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