Harlem area slighted in newspapers coverage
Editor:
Im wondering if your News-Times reporters venture outside the Martinez/Evans area. I read your newspaper online each edition and cant help but notice a few trends.
1. Very few articles are written about the events in Harlem, Grovetown, Appling, Leah and Winfield. Not just politically, but scholastically. The events of those cities do matter - the events of Euchee Creek Elementary, North Harlem and Grovetown Elementary, Columbia, Grovetown and Harlem Middle School, and Harlem High School do matter.
2. Your coverage of Harlem High School athletics is clearly less than that of Lakeside, Greenbrier, Evans and even Augusta Christian. Last time I checked, Harlem High School was still a Columbia County public school. Prime example: A recent edition had detailed paragraphs about each schools games, except for Harlem. All I got was a predicted score, and nothing more. And maybe I missed it, but I think every school had a spotlight over the summer except Harlem. I do know Harlems players dont grace that feature as often as those from the aforementioned schools. Those kids go out there and bust their tails just as much (and often just as successfully) as the other schools student-athletes. A fair amount of recognition from their hometown newspaper would be nice, I think.
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3. I also think a little press about the entire countys middle school programs would be nice, too. Those kids would get a kick out some coverage of their hard work.
Before Morris Communications bought The News-Times, this, too, was a problem, but not nearly as bad as it is now. The population is shifting in that direction; Grovetown has at least doubled in population, and new subdivisions are popping up there and all along Columbia Road towards Appling and Harlem. Id have figured the coverage wouldve increased with the population surge, but it hasnt.
I live four states away and would love to be able to log on and keep track of my hometowns and my alma maters news and sporting events, but youre letting me down. Im sure those who actually pick up copies of your paper from those areas feel the same.
Please, either pick up the coverage gaps or change your name to the East Columbia County News-Times.
Ron Roberts
Alexandria, La.