STILL WANTED: A real public editor

In the guise of a "public editor's" column in today's Erie Times-News, Kevin Cuneo gives us yet another house advertisement heralding the makeover of the paper's weekly Showcase tabloid insert. In retaliation, here's a reprint of my Oct. 21, 2007 post on the subject.

In a recent column, writing as the Erie Times-News’s “public editor,” so-called, Kevin Cuneo introduced by name the “people who represent newspaper’s readers" (Sept. 16, 2007) by serving as volunteers on the Reader Advisory Board. He wrote that they are “the kind of people…who love their daily newspaper, consider it an important part of the community and are never shy about suggesting ways to make it better."

It’s hard for me to believe the board members, who supposedly advise, consult with, discuss and help the editors guide the newspaper's news and editorial content, had anything to do with today’s farcical offering by Cuneo (Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007).Once again, in the guise of the paper’s public editor, Kevin donned his cap as promotions and public relations director to outline a desperation gimmick to increase the company’s declining advertising lineage and readership.

Kevin calls it the “know all about it” program designed to “deliver the details faster and easier than ever before,” (conceding for the first time ever I’m aware of, that the newspaper is less than perfect), apparently a play on the newsboy cry of old, "read all about it." More resembling an in-house ad than a column, today’s “public editor” offering gobbles up about 30 column inches of precious space on the op-ed page which should have been devoted to a serious discussion of public affairs, not to huckstering.

With one broad stroke, Cuneo not only corrupted the position of public editor, but the integrity of the newspaper’s op-ed page as well.If the Times-News reader advisory board is going to serve any useful public service,it could start by urging the newspaper to replace Cuneo with a real public editor who takes the position seriously.