A Letter from the Publisher: Why be a bully?
This election cycle has been marked by division and bullying from all sides. Recently, some people reported on Facebook that Davidson Local showed bias in its coverage of Mark Robinson and related protests due to a volunteer's Facebook Live post and the publishing of contributed content. Note: Several individuals often live-stream for Davidson Local and have done so in past years.
The comments below the live feed turned nasty and violent, so for the first time, we had to turn off all comments on the live feed, which had over 9,000 views. Davidson Local has covered Mark Robinson's events and speeches on several occasions at the request of his supporters. We have faced backlash from those who find some of his language offensive, but our family members have never been mentioned or threatened. Through it all we continue with a non-bias approach to reporting news.
Fast, Free, Hyperlocal News plays a crucial role in serving the public by providing news and information for everyone. We strive to keep citizens informed about important issues, from voting to government actions, especially when we investigate and hold powerful entities accountable.
Journalism also gives a voice to grassroots groups, amplifying their presence in public discourse through interviews, photos, and direct quotes. My most pressing example is working directly with a friend to obtain a late-night quote from the Daughters of the Confederacy about the new location of the controversial Confederate Monument. Diverse perspectives on public concerns, such as drug addiction, are brought to light by critical voices. As a journalist since 1995, I am accustomed to personal attacks, but I will not subject friends, family or volunteers to such treatment.
As the publisher of Davidson Local, I have worked hard to ensure coverage of both sides, even when it was personally uncomfortable.
Although Facebook Live streams are not our first preference, they are wildly popular with our audience, and when we have the resources, we follow them with a more traditional new story. By holding the powerful and grassroots organizers accountable for their actions, journalism contributes to the common good.
For journalism to function effectively, journalists must have the security to report the news and the finances to hire local reporters. This is why acts of violence and intimidation against journalists are so harmful.
We've had calls for people to boycott or protest Davidson Local and since I disagree with bullying of any type, we will cover that, too!
The good news is that we received an outpouring of support from our readers that know the truth. This support has turned into a fundraising opportunity for Davidson Local to continue to be your #1 source for Hyperlocal News in Davidson County.
Join us at Goose and Monkey to support Davidson Local and so we can further discuss our future plans.
Best Regards,
Antionette G. Kerr
Publisher
Davidson Local
