Frustration with Facebook

In my first column for Starkville Daily News, I said I wanted the newspaper to reflect the balanced, non-partisan news that is so often lacking from our national Cable media. Yesterday, I failed.

In a Facebook post, made without my knowledge or consent, the Starkville Daily News posted a paid advertisement for Bart Williams’ Senate campaign. Unlike newspaper advertising, however, no context was given to the post that acknowledged the post as an advertisement, and, as far as I am concerned, was a blatant endorsement of Bart Williams.

To say I was livid is an understatement. In today’s hyper partisan world, posting political advertisements on a newspaper’s social media is foolhardy at best, and to post one without context clarifying it as a paid advertisement is nothing short of asinine.

But, if I’m being honest, the reason

I spend the majority of yesterday afternoon looking for the responsible party was not because of the content of the post. Sure, it violated the basic tenants of journalism: avoiding bias, clearly labeling opinion, etc., but I was mostly upset because it made me a liar.

Being the editor of Starkville Daily News is a responsibility I do not take lightly. The trust of the community to share its stories with me and allow me to tell them to others is something I treasure and work hard not to betray. I try to be a man of my word and do what I say I will do, when I say I will do it.

For those of you who had the same reaction I did to the Facebook post, please know I am truly sorry and still quite peeved. While I am at the Starkville Daily News, the paper does not and will not endorse political candidates. I enjoy my sanity too much to get invested in politics to the point where I’d feel comfortable endorsing someone, and frankly it’s not my job to tell readers who to vote for.

To use my office terminology, we will be having “discussions” about how our social media can be better “utilized,” and I invite you all to be a part of that. Send me letters to the editor at thomas@starkvilledailynews. com or call me at 662-323-1642 to tell me what we’re missing, what you want to read and most importantly, how we need to change to better keep you informed.

Also, be sure to vote next Tuesday in the special election for Senate District 15. Whether you support Mr. Williams, Ms. Miller, Ms. Yates or Mr. Murphy, I hope you’ll get out and support your candidate and your community by voting for who you think is the best person to represent us.