I believe that The Olympian has done a disservice to the community in regard to what has been its biased coverage of the Isthmus debacle. I submitted a letter to the editor last week (on Wednesday the 24th of September).

I just telephoned the paper today to ask about it - because I usually receive a verification call within a couple days of submission. Not so this time. It turns out the letter was not selected for publication. The letter contains a critique of The Olympian's coverage of the Isthmus Rezone.

Another letter I can remember having gone unpublished was a critique of The Olympian's "comments section" - where hate speech against gays, against people of color, against ethnic groups, and etc., is tolerated.

Does The Olympian have a policy of not publishing letters that are critical of The Olympian?

Maybe the newspaper would be more successful if they found a way to integrate constructive criticism.

Here's the unpublished letter, without further ado:

September 24, 2008

To the Editors:

Coverage of the isthmus rezone proposal in The Olympian has been disappointing. Coverage has been incomplete and biased in favor of the rezone. Where is the appropriate skepticism and attitude of oversight?

Meanwhile, the Olympian has portrayed those who oppose the Urban Waterfront Isthmus Building Height Rezone (proposed by Triway Enterprises) as "simplistic nay-sayers." Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, opposition to the proposal is based on a multitude of reasons: reasons that are both complex and meaningful, and sophisticated and solid. To brand the opposition as somehow simplistic is, quite frankly, insulting.

For example, some Olympia City Council Members have received campaign contributions, and other support, from vested interests, which stand to benefit financially as a result of the proposed zoning changes. Already, $50,000 dollars of city money - public money - was spent on an analysis of the zoning changes as proposed by the private developer. The rezone, if passed, is likely to net the developer significant private financial gain.

There is an appearance of impropriety here. This is a conflict of interest issue. Council Members are in a position to apparently reward a campaign contributor by changing a law that will provide direct private financial benefit. Information on campaign contributions can be found on the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission website. Has the Olympian provided any coverage of this issue? Not that I have seen.

This highlights the importance of alternative media structures. I recommend OlyBlog.net.

Sincerely,

Robert F. W. Whitlock
Olympia, Washington
(360) [telephone number redacted]

[word count of body text: 238]