This page was last updated on September 13, 2013.
Bring back J.D. Prose’s column; John Mukanos; Beaver County Times; September 11, 2013.
A previous Mukanos letter was “Learn from history.”
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“It was very disappointing to see J.D. Prose’s political column removed from The Beaver County Times. When media outlets can be pressured into becoming silent about truthful criticism of arrogant public officials or greedy corporate heads, it shows we that we no longer have a free press. I really hoped that The Times would resist the trend of being so politically correct that it forgot about giving the people a voice. J.D. Prose is a good reporter and an excellent political writer. Although we have very different political views on some issues, I have always found him to be honest and to tell the truth about anything he would write. So come on guys, give the people of Beaver County a voice. Bring back J.D. Prose’s political column and let him tell the truth.”
[RWC] I covered my thoughts on this topic in my critiques of “It was a good run, but this column’s over” and “New look to editorial page.”
At least one other letter asserts political correctness was behind the cancellation.
Where did Mr. Mukanos get the idea the BCT was “pressured into becoming silent?” When did Mr. Prose become “a voice” for “the people?” Mr. Prose wrote on behalf of BCT ownership, not on behalf of “the people,” unless you believe “the people” are raging leftists. Remember, Mr. Prose himself conceded he is a “surly progressive.”
Here’s a thought. Instead of anointing a self-described “surly progressive” as the voice of the people, why not let the people speak for themselves via their letters-to-the-editor and their websites?
As for Mr. Prose “tell[ing] the truth,” seriously? A review of Mr. Prose’s body of work shows his stock-in-trade consists of anonymous (imaginary?) sources, name-calling, and personal attacks.
© 2004-2013 Robert W. Cox, all rights reserved.