Thank you, Citizen, for being the only newspaper in the local area that I can depend on to present its readers with a semblance of balance in its editorial and commentary pages.

The “Al Jeezera Constitution” (AJC), my euphemism for the way the paper conducts its business, recently carried commentary by Ms. Angela Tuck describing how the AJC went to great lengths to insure there was no bias in their reporting.

The following was my response to Ms. Tuck:

I have read your latest commentary concerning how journalists strive to keep bias out of the news pages.

The fact that you seem to have a need to explain this so often would indicate why it is perceived to be such a force in the AJC.

You are obviously an intelligent individual or you would not have such a prestigious position in a major newspaper.

Having said that, I cannot understand your attempts to explain away the bias of the AJC.

You indicate “a second set of eyes often brings a brand new perspective. In the newsroom, editors and copy editors provide those extra eyes. Every story and headline is read by at least three to four people.”

That is all well and good; however, if all those individuals have the same prescription in their lenses, then they will see the same thing as the author.

“Reporters are expected to write stories that are balanced, accurate and complete.” Complete means telling both sides of an issue, not necessarily the side the reporter wants to put forward. Remember Joe Friday, “Just the facts ma’am.” and let the reader make the evaluation.

Nelson Antrim said, “In the U.S. there is no phenomenon more threatening to popular government than the unwillingness of newspapers to give the facts to their readers.”

“Supervising editors are expected to work with reporters to shape story ideas and plans for coverage.” I revert to my earlier comment about the same lenses. I would really like to take a look at your “Always List.”

How can you look at the last three pages of the AJC every day and say there is no bias. Maureen Dowd, Paul Krugman and an overwhelming number of commentaries from the Boston Globe, Los Angles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, complimented by a barrage of points of view from academia, who are known for their ultraliberal mindset as they often stultify the free exchange of ideas in the classroom.

No matter what the subject, the AJC always seems to find a cloud on every silver lining.

And as the final blow you blame the perception of bias on the reader and absolve the paper from its slant and attempt to make the argument that an issue is being reported accurately.

Joe Pulitzer said it best, “A cynical, demagogic press will produce in time a people as base as itself.”

The media has a duty to be committed to balanced reporting and that means reporting the facts in an intellectually honest manner.

You might also consider this reply for insertion in your letters to the editor section.

Thanks for taking the time to read an everyday reader’s point of view.

John A. Milani
Fayetteville, Ga.