Determination
2
Minnesota
News Council
In
the Matter of the Complaint of
Charles Samuelson against the Thief River Falls Times
The
paper printed a letter of his, critical of the Thief River Falls City
Council, withholding his name.
Complaint:
Charles R. Samuelson of Thief River Falls complained that the newspaper
was misleading in stating its policy regarding withholding names of
letter-to-the-editor writers. The paper printed a letter of his, critical
of the Thief River Falls City Council, withholding his name as requested.
But Samuelson claims the paper acted unfairly when it later released
his name to the city council chairman without first informing Samuelson
that this was the paper's policy.
Background:
On April 19, 1972, the weekly newspaper published an editorial encouraging
letters to the editor on questions of public interest. The editorial
stated: "Anonymous letters not acceptable. Names of the timid will
be withheld on request."
On April
25 Samuelson submitted a letter critical of the Thief River Falls
City Council's practice of spending long business lunches at a local
cafe. Samuelson requested that the letter be published with his name
withheld. The letter was published on May 3 without Samuelson's name.
Soon
after, the newspaper editor showed the original letter, including
Samuelson's name, to the city council chairman, upon the chairman's
request. The chairman subsequently took Samuelson to task for the
letter.
Response
of the news organization: The editor explained that the paper's
established policy regarding letters to the editor was to withhold
the writer's name from publication if requested, but to release that
name upon request to anyone who, in the editor's opinion, had a legitimate
interest in finding out who wrote the letter. "If the letter is critical
of a group or individual, we believe that group or individual is justified
in knowing who expresses the criticism," the editor said. He said
he informs letter writers of that policy if they ask, and admitted
laxity in so informing Samuelson.
Determination
of the Council: The editor should publish at once all conditions
that attach to withholding names of letter writers. Failure to inform
the public of all the rules leaves writers, as in this case, at the
mercy of those who would use the policy for the purpose of implementing
reprisals. The complaint against the newspaper is upheld.
June
12, 1972
Read
Determination 3
Back
to Main Determination Index
Want
to comment? Send a message
to the News Council.
