Supervisor concerned with Dispatch’s error
On May 31, The Commercial Dispatch ran an article on the front page, above the fold of the newspaper. An editor’s note at the bottom of the story on page 3A stated the following:
“Norma Sanders is the wife of Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders. Supervisors appoint county school board members.”
Only one of these things is true.
Unlike the Columbus Municipal School District board, the Lowndes County School Board members are elected by constituents who are parents and taxpayers in their respective districts. These board members are elected to their positions in the same way the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors are elected to theirs. We serve the same people.
A correction was printed deep inside a later edition of The Dispatch, hidden both in print and online and does not clarify how the board is constructed.
However, perception is reality and the damage that misinformation can cause has already been done.
It is imperative when dealing with sensitive topics, like that of people’s careers, that the facts are reported correctly.
The original Editor’s Note at the bottom of the article was targeted and unfair. The implication that I would or could assert influence over the school board is wrong. This isn’t just an error in reporting; to me it is representative of media bias.
This error has affected the school district, elected officials, citizens and the overall credibility of our community newspaper. On a personal note, it has subjected additional and unnecessary stress on my wife and family.
In the future I would hope that The Dispatch would do their due diligence when reporting and if an error is printed in a story on the front page, the correction should be printed on the front page.
Harry Sanders
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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