Not all articles are created equal. Some are timelier than others; some deal with more emotional issues; others are more newsworthy.
Suffice to say, I am always amazed at which pieces we publish in Leaside Life that generate the most interest.
A few months ago, we published a piece by a reader whose father was attacked by an off-leash dog. This provoked various sympathetic responses, as well as a letter from a reader with strong words for people who allow their cats to go outdoors.
The latest tinderbox was our feature on a new pickleball court proposed for the Northlea school revitalization project. We first reported on the school’s plans last March – and heard nothing. Last month, though, after publishing the strong objections of some local non-pickleball fans (and the trustee’s responses to questions about the court), we heard plenty!
Many of the comments were personal in nature, and you could feel the steam rising from their keyboards as they expressed their dismay at our giving space to these particular pickleball-haters. Where was the balanced reporting, they wanted to know? Including the trustee’s comments as well as our previous reporting on the school’s plans, we felt, constituted fair coverage.
But…we appreciate the thoughtful and impassioned letters we received on what’s become a much hotter topic than we anticipated. We want to hear from people expressing diverse opinions, whatever the topic. It means you’re engaged in your community – and that’s Leaside Life’s ultimate goal: to create a forum for fair comment. Keep reading! Keep writing!
