Welcome

"Free speech is the core of the First Amendment. And the Internet represents the most participatory form of mass speech in human history." Bill Frist, U.S. Senator from Tennessee. 2006.

Today I begin what I hope will be a lively, informative and interactive exchange with you, the readers and audience of The Sun News and myrtlebeachonline.com. Occasionally over the almost eight years that I've served as editor of The Sun News, I have written columns explaining our news decisions or updating you on changes we are making to our coverage. Now I will use this blog as a more regular way to share our thinking with you.

We want our journalism to be useful, to include information from all parts of our three-county coverage area as well as our nation and world, to serve as the watchdog for our communities and to tell the stories of triumph, courage, love, grief, all the emotions that define us as neighbors, family and friends. Through it all we are seeking to be accurate, fair and contextual. We know that's what you expect and we work at it seven days a week. I plan to update the blog several times a week, and I hope you will join in the conversation. I look forward to it.

Comments

[chocomlk]

You could start by examining the Mayor's remark where he defended the high school shooter which was followed by another student bringing a gun to school. Then there were a rash of shootings which I do not blame the Mayor for, only the fact that his out of place remark lends itself to a sense of hands off which appears to have permeated Myrtle Beach. Where is the Police Chief during this crime wave? Planning his retirement? Running a side business? I've never seen a more vacuous police management team or public lack of response by government to what amounts to a crime spree in their area. Their lack of public outcry makes one wonder what would prompt them to take action.

[p_e_s_t11]

It would be a wonderful experiment in the FIRST AMENDMENT category, if we are not "POLITICALLY CORRECT", but just plain "CORRECT".

[Thomas Isaac]

I have to agree with the comment about the Mayor. The student was in violation of a federal law. Guns are not allowed on school property, no excuses. What was the Mayor and city councilman thinking coming to the student's defense. For a student to have a gun in his possession clearly indicates there was a motive. Just what was the motive?. Had this been a teacher she would have been fired with no recourse. And as for the Myrtle Beach Police Chief, he needs to get out from his desk and make his presence known especially as we gain new citizens to the city. The school board must stry and find the funds to protect all our students.

[Pat]

I found it somewhat surprising but somehow refreshing to see city leaders such as Rhodes (Beach Ball Classic interests) and Councilman Chestnut (whom allowed the student to live with he and his family) come to his aid. Perhaps politically incorrect yet on a person level, they went before a judge to help clear any pre-conceived notions of the type young man the student is or was. While he faces the results of his actions as a young man, the school acted properly. Expulsion was clear. The results in court may tend to go toward his environment and the reasons he felt he needed to protect himself or carry a gun on to school property. Following the Va Tech shootings, hind sight says what in the world could have happen? What if that gun had gotten into the hands of a different student? What if he shot someone other than himself? Would Rhodes and Chestnut been before a judge so quickly? Athletes get different attention. Sad but reality. As a juror I wouldnt be torn. The law is clear.

[watchdog]

"Through it all we are seeking to be accurate, fair and contextual."

Accurate? Fair? That would certainly be a welcome change for the Sun News Ms. O'Conner. When exactly can we look forward to Mr. Wortel implementing this new policy?

[Mark]

watchdog,

What is your point? Do you want to give a reasoned explanation of what's not fair, or do you just want to be snide and inaccurate yourself? (Hint: Her name is spelled O'Connor...)

Don't let this blog turn into just another discussion board with awful, banal, childish jabs.

[watchdog]

My sincere apology to Ms. O'ConnOr.

Mark, it would be a full-time job pointing out all the lopsided, inaccurate, pointless (how about Mr. Wren’s latest steaming pile of poo on the CCU consultant?), irrelevant, and left wing dribble offered up by the Sun News on a daily basis. I have neither the time nor the interest. Ms. O’Connor knows who I am and why I made the comment. She also knows the comment is well deserved. I suspect you do as well. If Ms. O’Connor wants an open forum, great! But if she’s expecting everyone to be a cheerleader, and blow a bunch of sunshine up her skirt, perhaps she should rethink the whole idea of having a blog.

I couldn’t agree with you more. Let us not allow this blog to turn into just another discussion board with awful, banal, childish jabs; like you copping a superiority complex and calling me “snide,” and referring to my comment as “awful,” “banal,” and “childish.” You don’t know me from Adam, sir. Or do you? My comment was based on personal experience with the paper, a particular “reporter,” to use the term very loosely, Ms. O'Connor, and Mr. Wortel. I stand by it one trillion percent. How can an article be "fair" or "accurate" when only half the story is being presented? The paper is "fair" and "accurate" so long as it suits them, works for the story, and supports their predetermined position. If you didn’t care for the comment, I apologize, but in my own defense, it really wasn’t intended for you. Although, if you are who I think you are, it applies to you more than anyone.

I don’t like the paper. I don’t like the left-wing nature of the content, I don’t care for their bleeding-heart liberal position on virtually everything, and frankly I don’t care for any number of the paper's staff. By starting this blog, Ms. O’Connor has presented an opportunity for me to express my opinions and I intend to take advantage of it. She has opened the door to much deserved criticism which would otherwise fall on deaf ears. And I can tell you from personal experience it has! Again, I intend to take advantage of it.

No Mark, I do not want to give a reasoned explanation of all that’s not fair at this time. I will, however, make every effort to point out the paper’s many injustices and multitudinous shortcomings as I catch them and am able to do so.

I don’t know “Mark,” but it seems to me that’s what a blog is all about, isn’t it? An open exchange? In fact, isn’t the first line of Ms. O’Connor’s “Welcome” all about free speech, sir? Does free speech apply to everyone “Mark” or just to the Scum, oops, no, I mean, “Some,” no, oops sorry, I mean the “Sun” News?

[Mark]

Wow, okay. I obviously hit a nerve with someone who has a personal vendetta against the paper. If they really did write something biased against you, why don't you just come out and say what it was? All I was asking for was for you to stop name calling and using euphemisms and insults like: "latest steaming pile of poo"; "left wing dribble"; "bleeding-heart liberal"; "the Scum, oops, no, I mean, “Some,” no, oops sorry, I mean the “Sun” News?"

You clearly do have the time, and the interest.

I can guarantee you I'm not who you think I am... i'm just a reader & I have no idea who you are. And yes, my name is Mark.

Sir, I hope you do point out the articles you think are lopsided or unfair, because then we will have a chance to see what you're talking about. An open exchange. Open, not just one marked by name-calling and (now I'm referring to your post) vague and unenlightening cliches.

[watchdog]

"You clearly do have the time, and the interest."

No, Mark, I truly, truly do not. As I stated though, I will make every effort to point out
the paper’s many injustices and multitudinous shortcomings as I catch them and am able to do so.

"I hope you do point out the articles you think are lopsided or unfair, because then we will have a chance to see what you're talking about."

I can not point out anything or make any comments at this time as litigation is pending.

".... vague and unenlightening cliches."

"Steaming pile of poo," and "... the Scum, oops, no, I mean, “Some,” no, oops sorry, I mean the “Sun” News," are completely original and therefore not clichés (yet), but I do
thank you for the complement.

Is it just me or has Ms. O'ConnOr been noticeably absent from this exchange? I thought this was her blog, not "The Mark's Blog."