Yellow journalism

Western News:

Dear Editor: Re: “Penticton’s mayor-elect already under scrutiny” by Steve Kidd (Penticton Western News, Oct 24).

For a minute when I read The Western the other day, I thought was reading a grocery store tabloid instead of one of Penticton’s regular newspapers.

Wikipedia says that yellow journalism presents little or no legitimate well-researched news while instead using eyecatching headlines which include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering or sensationalism. Yellow journalism is used as a pejorative to decry any journalism that treats news in an unprofessional or unethical fashion.

Penticton’s civic election became a seventh day wonder from a journalist with many years experience that should know better than to bend the news out of shape in this manner.

A total of 37 candidates ran in the past civic election. I am assuming that all — if not most — voted.

Many of the candidates voting in this election aside from John Vassilaki are extremely well known. Jake Kimberley; Julius Bloomfield; Judy Sentes; Katie Robinson ... to name a few.

Where was the comparison to other candidates voting?

Personally I saw one of the above candidates voting on the same day as Vassilaki. I didn’t see any bags over any heads, but maybe they wore their invisible cloaks while they were standing in line so that people didn’t see them.

Winning and/or losing in an election is a traumatic event for candidates. Most put their hard and soul into their campaign. Steve Kidd ruined what should have been a well-deserved victory lap for a candidate that won in a landslide. Shame on you.

Unexpectedly, the advance poll on the day in question had three times the normal electors voting. There were long lineups, but thanks to the excellent organizational skills of Laurie Darcus the wait times were short.

For the protection of the candidates and the voters there are a few changes that will have to be made scrutinizing future elections. No elections are perfect and for a first run this went very well.

I have no hesitation in saying that thanks to the hard work of the many scrutineers that devoted their time in service to their community the entire election process was a resounding success. Thank you for your service.

Democracy is not a spectator sport, it’s a participatory event. Every election is determined by the people who show up. Elvena Slump

Penticton