Good news plea (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Good news plea

I'M pleased to see that you had the grace to apologise for the appalling lack of taste that you displayed in publishing in colour, on the front page, that heart-breaking crash scene.

I'm afraid, however, that I cannot help but believe that this act was deliberate in order to sensationalise and attract more readers to your newspaper. It has become apparent over the last few months that whenever bad news showing the worst in our towns occurs, that this will be splashed on the front page as though you are competing with the tabloid press.

The Wiltshire Times is a LOCAL paper for LOCAL people. Yes we expect to read about all that has happened in the area but we are not looking for the worst we are looking for a mixture of good and bad with hopefully plenty of emphasis on the good.

I am hoping that the more balanced front page on last week's Wiltshire Times is a promise of better things to come.

I have bought the Wiltshire Times every week since I moved here in 1971 and the only thing that will make me change my mind about buying it is if you continue to fail to think about the fact that the people you are writing about are local and are likely to be involved in many of the incidents that you report.

J GILBERT

Hilperton Marsh

PS: I dread to think what this Friday's newspaper will show in view of recent events but I do pray that you will think very carefully before you print.

The Wiltshire Times is well aware of its responsibility to publish all local news, whether it is good and bad, in accordance with our stated Editorial Policy. We are proud of the fact that the paper has won major national awards for its outstanding journalism. EDITOR