Hearsts on the Housatonic?

As a longtime Stratford resident, I'm disgusted at the fact that the overwhelming majority of the articles written in our hometown newspapers (The Bard and the Star) are written exclusively by two people: the editors. Tristram DeRosa writes almost all the local articles for the Bard, while John Kovach handles the bulk of those duties at the Star. Each has outside "filler" from the parent publishing company, but it's never local news. Combine that with the fact that the editors handle all the copy without a byline (community announcements, police blotter, etc.), and we are left with two people disseminating all our information in this town.

Who said the Hearst Era was dead? Not even Rupert Murdoch could get away with such a one-sided approach to reporting. At least give us the illusion of a multitude of voices! No wonder many turn to the Connecticut Post for "local" news; even the New York Times "Connecticut" section offers more insight into key matters such as the Shakespeare Theatre development (see today's paper). Is it too much to ask for some in-depth analysis into Stratford's issues that go beyond the same voices each week? In this crazy era in Stratford's history, certainly we're more than a "two-voice town"?

To go even further, what happened to the days when we had some commentary in our local newspapers? These days it's all snippets of news that read like the crawl at the bottom of the screen while watching CNN. Where is the humor? The outrage? The push for the citizenry to rise to a common cause?

I'll tell you where it is: the bulletin boards. Our two local newspapers have abdicated their roles and passed the responsibility of offering a full view of the news to those few who take the time to comment on their stores. The whole purpose of weekly newspapers is to offer the very analysis our papers lack; for Associated Press coverage, I can buy the Post or the Advocate and get the news faster. Why have these two editors left the analysis to their readership rather than offer some insight themselves?

I think it's because they need other voices in those pages. You cannot be both the journalist and the opinion-maker; no one person is supposed to wear both hats because they lose credibility.

It is this Observer's hope that our local news lives up to their responsibilities and offers this town the news coverage we deserve. Otherwise... well, guess who just bought the Connecticut Post? Hearst Corp!