Congratulations for awards given your staff journalists

Congratulations to The Maui News for the 21 awards by the Society of Professional Journalists for your staff journalists.

Top kudos to Melissa Tanji for winning first place for her touching story of a Maui Little Leaguer who had lost his father (Sept. 1, The Maui News, A3).

We are blessed to have the following outstanding journalists: Melissa Tanji, Robert Collias, Kehaulani Cerizo, Lila Fujimoto, Lee Imada, Colleen Uechi and the fabulous photographer, Matthew Thayer.

In this fast everything age with cable news sound bites and flashy teaser bits, many are succumbing to incomplete snapshots of issues of importance. We rely on the diligent investigative reporting by journalists to dig for the facts and relevant context for comprehensive coverage.

Though I do not always agree with the editorial opinions, I do appreciate the relevant and well written staff stories and reports. President Thomas Jefferson said, paraphrased, a Democracy will only succeed if there is an educated populace. To be well informed is to be educated.

Thanks to The Maui News reporters for keeping us well informed with excellent journalism.

Credible journalism is based on fair and balanced reporting, not propaganda that promotes incomplete and/or false views.

Mrs. Schoen, my Hilo High social studies teacher, taught us the difference between propaganda and facts based on primary sources.

With the decrease in advertisements as businesses struggle in this COVID-19 environment, I hope The Maui News will survive.

Thank you, journalists, for staying on Maui, your home. Your aloha for Maui is so very appreciated.

Susan M. Lussier

Wailuku