This week, the Burke County Board of Education crossed a line that should alarm every citizen who values open government, transparency, and the free flow of information.
In a unanimous vote, the board approved a formal Statement that singles The Paper and revokes its media access privileges.
Singling out a newspaper for adverse treatment because of its reporting violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the free speech and free press guarantees of the North Carolina Constitution.
On Saturday The Paper will publish a series of stories examining this rare and consequential dispute between a local government body and a community newspaper.
This series will not be about rhetoric or personalities. It will focus on facts, process, public policy, and the shared responsibility of both government and journalism to serve the community honestly and transparently.
Strong local journalism and accountable public institutions are not opposing forces. They are both essential to an informed community. This series is intended to give readers the context they need to decide for themselves what transparency should look like in Burke County.
Read the series in print and online this week at thepaper.media.
—AVN
Allen VanNoppen is the publisher. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 orallen@thepaper.media.
Elected people have always complained about what newspapers, TV and Radio, plus all media have said about them but that is what makes it great, we all have the right to talk about things. If you do not like it, voice your opinion.
No one can appreciate the BCPS Board’s unanimous position as I do. Almost every article about the Valdese Town Council clearly showed The Paper’s bias. The Paper published numerous erroneous statements from “favored” elected officials or staff without checking facts in any way. Any negative and false statement about “Councilman Harvey” by an elected official who refused to accept the results of the 2023 election was published as gospel without ever giving me an opportunity to challenge the misinformation. The difference with the Board of Education is that all seven members and their attorney is challenging unfair news coverage. With the Valdese Town Council, the negative bias injured only me; like Don Cervantes Quixote, the thrust of every lance aimed at me, was mine to parry alone.
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(3) comments
Elected people have always complained about what newspapers, TV and Radio, plus all media have said about them but that is what makes it great, we all have the right to talk about things. If you do not like it, voice your opinion.
No one can appreciate the BCPS Board’s unanimous position as I do. Almost every article about the Valdese Town Council clearly showed The Paper’s bias. The Paper published numerous erroneous statements from “favored” elected officials or staff without checking facts in any way. Any negative and false statement about “Councilman Harvey” by an elected official who refused to accept the results of the 2023 election was published as gospel without ever giving me an opportunity to challenge the misinformation. The difference with the Board of Education is that all seven members and their attorney is challenging unfair news coverage. With the Valdese Town Council, the negative bias injured only me; like Don Cervantes Quixote, the thrust of every lance aimed at me, was mine to parry alone.
A wise person once told me perspective is 100%...something to think about!
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.