Dear Susan,
I grew up loving newspapers and columnists. I especially loved Mike Royko, I once awarded him my BULLSEYE AWARD for being right on point. It was a phony-baloney award but I got a letter back from him saying that even though it wasn't a real award in MY opinion, he was prouder to accept that award because it came from an ordinary citizen than from professionals trying to fawn all over him. Anyway, the reason I gave him the award was that Royko had an ability to get down in the trenches and actually find and confirm the story. He never relied on print-outs or press hand-outs to write his opinion columns.
Today's newspaper writers don't send many reporters out into the field and thus have no man in the street perspective. And that is why they are failing. They don't go after the stories. They let them come to them.
Today's reporters should take a lesson from one of the all-time greats of the LA Times sportswriter Jim Murray.
Mr. Murray, who in his later years was almost blind, could see more than the average sportswriter BECAUSE HE HAD THE ABILITY TO LISTEN and he listened carefully to what people had to say. I remember watching him after a game in Philadelphia.. While every other reporter shouted out questions, he very quietly listened , took notes, and then next day, his column was the best written and perceptive of anyone who had been in that room. He reported WHAT HAPPENED not what he was told. Today's newspaper reporters would do well to emulate Jim Murray.

Your John Edwards article helped me better understand this insanity known as the Liberal (lack of) Thought process. For instance, I truly liked Bill Clinton as President and a world Leader, even have a nice signed letter from him. Until his answer in his book as to 'why' the whole Monica thing occurred. Simply put, he said, "Because he could"? In the REAL world, Not those tiny but very loud ‘abnormal centers of pure stupidity' like New York, LA, Chicago and so on, we say NO too many things Because! Why? Because in your gut, in your heart or in your upbringing and teachings from family you know right and you know wrong. That any of us ‘Can' do something should NEVER allow that we should do it?
John Edwards IS a lying, lousy lout as you say, and that alone must permanently assure his demise. He did it all on his own and here in the REAL world (again), the higher up the Power or Money ladder one goes, the HARDER and farther one must FALL! You end your piece saying Edwards was either a Lout or 'we are all hypocrites' and you surmise it must be the latter? Speak for yourself. Whether in a big city (of stupid) or the bible belt, when something is wrong, its wrong, plain and simple. IF 9 out of 10 people act stupid, that should NEVER allow that stupidity to be elevated to normal (didn't your mothers ever tell you if a friend jumped off a bridge would you as well)? I am that person and only through daily effort. I know many others too that understand for instance, Divorce is never an option. Far too many promises to far too many entities, including one's deity if one is so inclined. Loving my wife (10 yrs now) and daughters is a ‘minute to minute' job requirement for every marriage. When done right, a real joy too and when done wrong only one real answer exists…not near enough effort!
That leads me to another recent article you wrote. I disagree, vehemently, with your analysis and solution for Gay marriage. Gay really IS also OK, for others. Please, do as you wish, adults only mind you and always in private behind closed doors. Gay should never be allowed to marry; marriage is a religious, cultural and societal institution over all of human history with the express PURPOSE (funny word huh?) of protecting the next generation. You flagrantly dismissed that as the BEST and only argument? Real people don't dismiss or question the natural order that's been underway since before the Big Bang or before our city (stupid zones) taught ‘Learn-ed' got so very full of themselves! Another argument, ‘why would anyone put up with the put-downs and attacks for being Gay?' Well…. Why do people act stupid to get on American Idol? Why are Maury, Springer, Reality TV and other trash shows so popular? Why do teens and adults put holes and tattoos on every visible (and not visible) inch of their bodies? Attention! Try A.D.D. or A.D.H.D! All these afflications are resultant of horribly POOR parenting, no boundaries and no effort along the way and those parents should be mortified. The ‘15 minutes' of fame that every idiot apparently NEEDS is actually ‘crying out' yet the ‘Learned' haven't figured that one out yet? Love your show, so to speak.
Steve Donovan
Centreville, MD
smd@annapolis.net

Ma'am;....Well, if you do not want to swallow new speak then you need a hard copy...The thing is that corporate news is no better than any form of news, and much as we feel we have moved beyond the paper as a source, our source is not reliable, because we cannot count on the new technology being immune from some attack, or simple false news... The fact is that the internet is a better devise for spying on the people than delivering the truth.....Thanks...Sweeney

The newspapers are failing and they only have themselves to blame. I do not subscribe to any of them anymore because of their bias. I use to love sitting down to read the paper. If the reporters would do their jobs like we expect them too and just report all the news not what the liberal media wants them to, I would subscribe. I am so disgusted and scared about the control the liberals have over the mainstream media. I get my information from FOX news, talk radio and the internet. I do my homework and will dig for information but I am informed. I want to see how much telfon the media will put on Obama with this Chicago government disgrace. Either Obama is lying or he is just stupid if he claims he is unaware. Either case I am ashamed and afraid of his presidency.

Oh my! Journalists are scared of losing their jobs and are pleading with the public to not let them die off. Sorry folks. 2008 is the year when true journalism died. The Democratic mouthpiece of NYT, LAtimes, NBCABCCNNCBS et al has so disgusted the American population that you give us no choice but to refuse to subscribe to your blatant communist, socialist, liberal agenda. The obscene Obama-mania media was in full display all through the election cycle. No investigative reporting on where he got all his money to buy the White House, no investigative reporting on his connections to Rezko slum lord, Bill Ayers, Rev.Wright and a host of shady Illinois characters including the Govenor of Illinois. But when it's a Republican, you are over eager to uncover every last bit of dirt. vis a vis Sarah Palin. What BIAS !! The American people do not need these newspaper rags. When you can report honestly and truthfully all the shady dealings of Obama and Democrats without bias, maybe then the American people will respect you. For now you have lost all respect and belong in the garbage heap of history.

Susan, the more I read your articles the more I feel sorry for you. Are you on medication? I have only a high school education so here is a simple mans evaluation of the demice of newspapers. First, newspaper publishers do not seem to grasp the fact that the American form of government requires two or more political parties each trying to win over the electorate and thus control of the country. Seems pretty basic to me but then again I never had a smelly long haired sandle clad professor explain it to me. Now, given the fact that roughly 40% of voters are Republicans and 40% are Democrats wouldn't it serve the newspaper and the country well to take a central position, and HONESTLY report each parties position? Plus in my estimation a newspaper has no business endorsing any one candidate. Your job is to inform us of the facts and we, the readers, will take it from there. But these facts must be truthfull. None of this disgusting Sarah Palin nonsense. This Susan will in time encourage people to read newspapers.