Reader input: Local media needs to be fair and balanced

An open letter to Gold Mountain California News Media, The citizens of South Placer County welcome Gold Mountain California News Media, new owners of the former Gold Country Media established by Brehm Communications, Inc. The citizens responsible for this open letter deeply appreciate the continuation of this media serving our area. A 2022 census estimated Placer County's population at more than 400,000 (census.gov). The greatest concentration of that population is in the southern part of the county. There are also 118 public schools within this county (countyoffice.org). This is a great county that you serve. What this letter would ask is that you represent as many citizens of this county as is humanly possible. We are well aware of the limitations of this undertaking, due to the cost of it. We wish you financial success in your endeavor to reach as many readers as may benefit from your reporting. Objectivity is elusive but achievable and serves only to eliminate bias. We understand what appears as bias to one may not appear as such to another. We all have our opinions and applaud all efforts to present the truth, in light of education's effort to tell us there is no truth – can that be true? Opinions, bias and politics can divide us, but not so deeply if an effort is made to present differing sides of an issue. Again, difficult because of the expense but evidence of the attempt is telling in itself. Prompting this letter is a recent issue concerning a Loomis-based Church of Christ with a non-religious youth group called The Landing Spot. Although both have websites, little was known of either until its programs showed up on the campus of several Placer County high schools. One program was a request for boys to dress in drag and dance for adults to raise money for a summer youth gathering known as Camp Fruit Loop. Although this might seem normal to some, it is not normal for all – especially parents who might have a child attending one of these schools. This program was permitted to take place on the school campus and was in its third year when discovered. Word of this was not well received by all parents. A protest was brought to the school board in question and the show was cancelled. Gold Mountain California News Media editorialized in favor of the program, which it has the right to do. However, it did not editorialize featuring the side of those in protest. Again, not a requirement of the media. Without going into historical detail as to why "freedom of the press" was included in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, we ask the California Gold Mountain News Media to consider it. Being divided on certain political topics is the right of every U.S. citizen. We attempt to resolve these issues at the ballot box. But churches and schools are community, and favoritism shown toward either defines the character of its media. "Fair and Balance" has been overused, especially by a medium that has recently shown neither. We do not expect Gold Mountain Media to bow to our demands, but we do expect consideration, and that is why this open letter is being written. We subscribe to newspapers, we shop at your advertisers' places of business and pay taxes in hopes our schools will maintain a high level of academics. We do not threaten to alter those activities, as some have done, only to ask for the respect the local media owes us. We may not all agree with what Gold Mountain Media reports, editorializes or prints, but we would like a media that we can point to with pride. Kevin Cooper Taking it to the Streets Facebook group