letter publi

Dear Editor:

Your effort to explain your rules
for publication of letters (Jan. 9)
fails for at least four reasons: 1) its
thrust is misdirected: 2) there are
omissions which belong i in the pol-
icy of any true “community
paper" ; 3) some of the content is
inappropriate; and, most impor-
tantly 4 it does not really explain
your practices. Your brevity rule
allows me to elaborate only quick-
ly.

1) Basically you have chosen to list
excuses for tefusing to publish,
whereas a responsive paper would
focus on what to include.

2) One of the most obvious omis-
sions is your lack of a preference
for local writers. A significant
proportion of the letters printed in
support of Doug Collins have been
from elsewhere, and they have
displaced letters from those of us
who live here.

Furthermore, you frequently
print letters from ‘‘National Citi-
zens”’ and ‘‘free speech’? groups
which have no unique North Shore
message, except that their views
may resemble yours.

3) It is absurd to pretend you are
“*balancing’’ News content if you
do not count editorial content. For
example, you repeatedly allow a
few supporters of apartheid equal
space with its numerous foes, but
you ignore the thousands of words
Mr. Collins has devoted to the
issue.

This makes it clear you have no
affirmative interest in true balance
on any issue covered by editorial
staff. This is especially true when
Collins also can and does write his
own replies.

4) You have used any excuse in
your arsenal, no matter how inap-
propriate, to minimize disagree-
ment with your own published

* Install oil thes

© Complete chassis iube

* 16 point safety check

* Up to SL Premium Quality oif
© Takes only 5/10 minutes

1 MORTH VARCOUUER

Top quality products on all cars, light trucks
and motorhomes.
Offer expires February 15, 1987

1962 MARINE DRIVE (aesseess

Sat. 8:30-5:30

SALE CONDUCTED BY

village ski shop

PANNELL

KERR
FORSTER INC.

My experience may be
is certainly not

opinions.
extreme but it
unique.

Perhaps three years ago you
printed two letters of mine,
shortened but followed by your
own italicized replies (which con-
tain no factual corrections and
were therefore inconsistent with
your policy).

Since then you have refused to
print perhaps eight more letters,
most of which violated none of
your stated rules, The only occa-
sion on which you gave an excuse
it involved your assuming you
yourself might be defamed, but
you declined to give any specifics

7 - Friday, January 16,1987 — North Shieré News

shing poli

to support your personal (non-
legal) opinion in the face of my
legal one.

By your own figures it seems
clear that the News could probably
print half or more of the letters
from North Shore residents. |
know that you allow some in-
dividuals whose views are closer to
yours to get into print quite regu-
Jarly. Therefore it seems obvious
that your policy is a sham.

The North Shore needs some
equivalents to a third crossing and
a true community newspaper. Nei-
ther seems likely in the near future.
Daniel S. Maas
North Vancouver

. I to Reduce Inche.
M From Your

8 Body And

W Thighs While

& You Relax.

: (N.VAN,} LTD.
936-2234 (Cog. Ltd.)

NOW AVAILABLE
AT OUR STORE!

Labatts Blue

ISB ELIEVING

; START SKIING RIGHT!

BINDINGS BOOTS SKIS

ELAN

SALOMON

DYNASTAR SALOMON NORDICA

KNEISSL LOOK
ATOMIC

CABER
TYROLIA + TRAPPEUR

SPALDING
FISCHER

COMPLETE SKI PACKAGES

Skis, Boots
Bindings

North Shore

2 $199

Ski Swap

_ 1625 Lonsdale Ave.
Narth Vancouver 980-1911
Open Sunday
42:00-6: 00

A great new skier
introduction package
provides you with:

Only $24.95 gets you
® Quality rental equipment

@ Professional beginner's lesson
@ Beginner lift ticket

INDINGS ¢ BOOTS ¢ FASHION

1845 Marine Drive, West Vancouver

Y FIXTURES © ANTIQUES @ SHOP EQUIPMENT AND BOOT REPAIR EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

926-7547