Roundup's self congratulatory piece reveals flaws

In a self serving editorial reeking of Pete Aleshire in Friday's (Oct. 7) Roundup, the paper commemorated National Newspaper Week by patting itself on the back for being the only game in town.  It even had the chutzpah to imply it was keeping a close eye on town government, when, in reality, many see the paper (owned by a Kansas company) as little more than a promotional mouthpiece for Payson Mayor Kenny Evans.

But what began as a "make me gag" moment turned into something very different with a second reading.

Because the Roundup bragged about its circulation of 6,000, a far cry from the days when, under different leadership, it was a respected force in the community.  If I were an advertiser, the message I would take away: since I'm only reaching 6,000 Rim Country households, maybe I should consider direct mail or even outdoor as a much better way to deliver my message to all my potential customers.

And at the end of the editorial, readers were invited to tell the Roundup what we need from our newspaper.  Well, okay.

We need a newspaper that is not in the pocket of the mayor.

We need a newspaper whose publisher is truly independent of the chamber of commerce and other pro growth bodies and institutions.

We need a newspaper that publishes letters and opinions from both ends of the political sprectrum.

We need a newspaper that reports the news in the next edition after it happens - and doesn't skip an edition because there's nobody else to beat them to it.

We need a newspaper that welcomes competition instead of stifling it.

We need a newspaper that asks the tough questions and digs deep for the truth (without using the excuse: "We're not an investigative newspaper.")

We need a newspaper that puts real news on the front page, not sensational stories that have little value other than to sell newspapers.

And perhaps most of all, we need a newspaper with a little humility.