NEWSLETTER | An exceptional week in Biddeford

Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK | Randy Seaver

Being almost 48 hours late in publishing our weekly newsletter? Okay.

Misspelling the name of a city councilor in a sub-headline? Definitely, not okay.

Giving a big boost and voice to an elderly gentleman – a man who has sacrificed and given so much to his community over a lifespan of more than 90 years?

Folks, from over here at the editor’s desk – it doesn’t get any more okay than that — especially when you’re the editor of a small, community-based news outlet.

Of course, I’m talking about last week’s story regarding former city councilor Clem Fleurent and the remarks he was hoping to share during the “public addressing the council” portion of last week’s Biddeford City Council meeting.

ICYMI | Former councilor cut off during public comments about National Day of Prayer

That particular story drew swift and somewhat divided commentary from Gazette readers.

Some folks were delighted that we shared the story about Mr. Fleurent’s frustration with the city council and their rules for public engagement.

Other readers, however, questioned the story’s “news value,” and still others accused me of “gaslighting,” and using “click-bait” to sensationalize a rather benign event only to increase the Gazette’s online circulation metrics.

Let’s not create the most mortal sin of any newsroom. Let’s not bury the lede. (spelled correctly).

All three reactions are valid and ring somewhat true. How can that be?

Folks, we do not live in a black and white world. The world and its news stories are comprised of many shades of gray. When you’re a reporter, you do your very best to accurately reflect what is happening even when it’s complex and layered in subtle nuances.

Quite often, a story can have several different truths and still be an accurate reflection of what is happening in our community.

Allow me to repeat what I wrote on these pages last week. My job is to tell you what is happening. Your job is to decide what to do with that information.

A larger, community conversation | The role of a community news source

On Tuesday evening, I had no idea that Mr. Fleurent would be speaking or what he would be talking about.

At that point, I also had no idea what the Gazette would be putting on its “front page.”

That’s how the news cycle works. Always in flux. Always evolving. I am one of many editors who was working on the front page of a newspaper on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

I honestly cannot recall what we had planned to have on the front page, I just know the whole layout was scrapped sometime shortly before 10 a.m.

Make no mistake. I am NOT comparing that horrific day in American history to Mr. Fleurent’s remarks last week about the National Day of Prayer. It should just be noted that professional reporters and editors have to be flexible and ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.

On Facebook, one regular Gazette reader asked, “how is this even news?”

My response was immediate and sure-footed. “That’s my call,” I replied.

There is an old colloquialism that defines NEWS as “anything that happens within 15-inches of an editor’s desk.”

Our reporting about Mr. Fleurent’s experience certainly spurred a robust community conversation. It also became a central point for discussion among students in the Journalism Basics class that I am facilitating through the Biddeford Adult Education program.

The reaction was mixed, and that made me quite happy and comfortable. I did my job. I told you what happened. It’s now your job to decide what to do with that information.

Yes, we have rules for a reason, but the city council often bends those rules of decorum for their own needs — most notably whenever Councilor Marc Lessard wants to take three bites at the apple by speaking more than twice on an agenda item.

In my opinion, the city council could have extended that same professional courtesy to an elderly, former statesman who simply wanted to share a message from his heart.

My opinion, however, doesn’t matter. But I am proud.

I did my job.

___

There was lots of other news this week, and our new mantra of “Less Randy | More Biddeford” is really taking shape.

Since publishing our story about Mr. Fleurent five days ago, the Gazette has published and shared a total of 10 more stories.

That’s an average of two stories a day about Biddeford. Stories about Biddeford people, community events, informative news and local high school sports — and all of it – every single story – was generated outside of our newsroom. It all came from the community.

That’s our job. Keeping you connected to Biddeford.

This has been an exceptional week at the Biddeford Gazette. As always, thank you for reading!

_____

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