To the Editor:
"Two off-duty newspaper employees charged with drunk driving in separate incidents." This is a front page headline we definitely will not see in the Thompson Citizen. I'm sure that it happens in various occupations, be it communications, education, justice, the unemployed, youth, retirees - you name the category and I'm sure it has happened.
I'm disappointed with the communications media that it has to sensationalize an incident like this and relate it to the employers or occupations. I like to feel that every employee or employer that I have yet to meet is a conscientious and dedicated worker on the job and what they do in their private or off-duty time is their concern and if they are caught breaking the law that the report will be about the person and not a reflection of their occupation. If it is a reflection of their occupations why does the media not report every person's name and occupation when they are charged with drunk driving?
The headline in the Oct. 7, 2009 edition of the Thompson Citizen is nothing more than cheap, irresponsible sensationalism to which a responsible paper does not need to resort. I hope the paper continues on a more positive informational format as demonstrated by many of its other stories.
Garry Paziuk
Thompson
(Editor's Note: The RCMP issued separate news releases Oct. 5 announcing the arrests of both of their officers, summarizing the events leading up to those arrests, named both officers, and said when they would appear in court.)
