DELHI - In November 2019 publishers of The Reporter, Randy and Kim Shepard, had a choice to make: give in to Tina Molé who complained that the county was not being portrayed in a “positive” light, or risk losing business from the county.
The Shepards chose to stand up to veiled threats “to do something about Lillian (Browne, the newspaper’s editor).” They stood up for ethics, integrity and the First Amendment, and refused to fire their editor or dictate the newspaper’s content.
Delaware County then revoked The Reporter’s designation at the beginning of March 2022, resulting in an $13,000 annual revenue loss to the business. Molé, county board chairperson, lashed out at a public meeting in December 2019, labeling ALL media and newspaper coverage as slanted.
“Those media outlets reported on the hearing with a highly inaccurate and biased series of reports,” Molé said.
The fallout arose from media coverage of a lengthy hearing in which the county’s commissioner of social services, Dana Scuderi-Hunter, was placed on administrative leave and eventually fired. Molé, when asked by Kim Shepard to provide examples of inaccurate reporting, stated that Browne “stopped typing” whenever someone from the county testified about something that, in her view, portrayed the county in a positive light; and that Browne was “the ring leader” for all media, dictating what other newspapers reported.
Molé carried the grudge of unflattering reporting, without providing examples of inaccuracies, to March of 2022, when the county revoked The Reporter’s designation as the county’s official newspaper, a contract which it has held since 1887.
At the time, Molé cited an increase in fees charged for legal ads. However, the March 2023 letter from the county stated that a reason for the revocation of designation was that it did not like our truthful reporting, deeming it biased and editorialized - again without providing examples. The reason for the revocation was put in writing March 8, 2023. Instead of self-censoring at public county committee meetings, department heads signed the letter, reprinted below, stating that our reporters cannot understand the “complexities” of discussions at committee meetings.
Most supervisors we spoke with told us that they signed the letter “to support” department heads. Yet, these same supervisors and department heads stated in subsequent telephone conversations that they did not find any inaccuracies in our reporting, and felt pressured into signing the letter.
The Reporter began covering county committee meetings the fourth week of January 2022. The county revoked The Reporter’s designation the third week of March 2022, citing financial reasons, but in March 2023 said it was “a flagrant manipulation of facts and the manner in which the paper reports” as a reason for revocation of the official designation.
The New York Times took notice of events and reached out to us for an interview, the results of which, after weeks of interviews and research by Times staff, culminated in an article titled, “How Local Officials Seek Revenge on Their Hometown Newspapers,” which appeared in the Sunday, June 18 online edition and in print on Tuesday, June 20.
We applaud the diligence of Times staff in compiling their story.
By revoking the newspaper’s contract as the county’s designated official newspaper and tarnishing its reputation with baseless accusations, county government has undermined the essential role of journalism and also eroded trust in local news.
The revocation of the designation appears to be a clear attempt to stifle dissent and control the narrative.
A Free Press
A free press is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy, acting as a vital check on government power and ensuring transparency and accountability. Journalists have a responsibility to report on public affairs objectively and hold those in power accountable for their actions. By doing so, they provide residents, voters and taxpayers with the information they need to make informed decisions and participate in the democratic process. It is essential to differentiate between true instances of misinformation and the cynical labeling of accurate reporting as “fake news” to advance an agenda. Accusing the local newspaper of disseminating inaccurate, biased information without substantial evidence not only damages the newspaper’s reputation but also undermines the landscape of broader media.
Democracy and
Public Trust
By targeting The Reporter for its objective reporting, county officials have weakened the democratic process by limiting residents’ access to essential information, including legal notices. It also creates an atmosphere of fear and potential self-censorship, as other media outlets do not report on many important government actions.
The erosion of trust in local news is a significant blow to an informed and engaged community. When public officials tarnish the reputation of credible news sources, it becomes increasingly challenging for the public to distinguish between reliable information and false narratives. As a result, the community suffers from a diminished ability to make informed decisions and actively participate in the democratic process.
The Way Forward
Delaware County is behind the times, both in the way it governs - it’s one of the few remaining county board of supervisors in the state - and it’s behind the times in its autocratic system of decision making. It’s time for a change. The government is meant to represent the interests of its constituency, not personal interests.
It is imperative for the community to advocate for press freedom and support The Reporter. This action by county officials must be met with a unified voice, demanding an end to these attacks on the freedom of the press, and a restoration of The Reporter as the county’s designated official newspaper.
The Reporter takes its responsibility to provide accurate and reliable information to our readers very seriously, and believes that journalism plays a crucial role in promoting transparency, accountability, and civic engagement, and The Reporter continues to be committed to upholding the highest standards of professional ethics and integrity. The Reporter will continue to cover county government without bias, furthering our mission as a government watchdog.
To support The Reporter, subscribe, advertise or donate at
the-reporter.net.
Randy and Kim Shepard, Publishers
