I repeat below the alleged “news” story appearing in today’s online edition of The Telegraph. In a short couple of paragraphs, this may be the most biased piece of crap I have ever seen in your publication, and I say that as a subscriber since 1980. Where to begin.
First, your headline is prejudicial, using the word “junior” to describe the candidate, as nothing in the unusually short body of the article provides any basis for your claim that she is junior. You are simply trying to convey the idea that the candidate is inexperienced and unqualified without ever stating why. This is not news. It is an unsubstantiated opinion and belongs in the opinion section.
Second, the phrase “lauding so-called progress made under the Trump administration” is also biased. You don’t provide any details of the progress to which the candidate is referring and are opining that the progress is “so-called” without providing any basis for your claim—another unsubstantiated opinion, not news.
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Related: Karoline Leavitt Speaks to the Grafton County Republican Committee
Next, the article quotes a statement made by Granite State Progress. Who the hell is Granite State Progress? You don’t explain. Anyone can assume a name claiming to be “progressive.” Why should anyone care what Granite State Progress has to say? Your article does not elaborate. It’s pretty clear The Telegraph went looking for something negative to say about Ms. Leavitt, likely due to her prior association with the Trump administration. You certainly found a treasure trove of negative hyperbole from this source.
Next, The Telegraph apparently was unable to find a statement from any group that might have had something positive to say about Ms. Leavitt’s candidacy. No doubt you didn’t bother to look for anything like this. If anyone is looking for fair and balanced news coverage, there’s no need to look in The Telegraph.
Next, your article contains zero input from the candidate. There is no evidence that The Telegraph attempted to contact Karoline Leavitt or her campaign for input for the article or to provide an opportunity to respond to your characterizations of “junior” and “so-called progress” or the claims by Granite State Progress. I assume you made no attempt to contact Ms. Leavitt or her campaign, or you would have so indicated.
Finally, this article’s byline is “By Staff.” To me, this means that no individual at The Telegraph had the guts or decency to sign their name to this hit piece being passed off as news reporting.
FYI, I’m not a resident of NH-01. I have no idea who Karoline Leavitt is or what her qualifications for office may be. But I do know BS when I see it, and your “news” here is full of it. Are there any adults at The Telegraph that read this tripe before you publish it? Any journalistic standards?
As a subscriber of The Telegraph for 41 years, I expect and I deserve better. A lot better. Is there any reason I should be hopeful?
Editors Note: The Telegraph has, to date, refused to publish this letter, so we did.
Original piece reference above.
Junior Trump staffer enters NH-01 race
By Staff | Jul 20, 2021
MANCHESTER – Former Trump White House Communications staffer Karoline Leavitt announced her run for Congress Monday, lauding so-called progress made under the Trump Administration.
Granite State Progress Executive Director Zandra Rice Hawkins released the following statement:
“Granite Staters very clearly rejected the Trump agenda last year, but former Trump staffer Karoline Leavitt is sadly still proud of her role in the trainwreck that was the Trump era. It’s disturbing that Leavitt continues to tout an administration that peddled lies and disinformation as we witnessed the death of 400,000 Americans and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The Trump Administration’s legacy is one that emboldened white supremacists and instigated a deadly insurrection on our nation’s capital through vicious, hate-filled rhetoric and disinformation, in addition to encouraging foreign nations to interfere in our elections. New Hampshire is still dealing with the rise of white nationalism spurred by the Trump Administration, and we don’t need more racist dog whistles from the likes of Karoline Leavitt.”
