Brooklyn Newspaper

I wrote a letter to the Editor encouraging them to replace a local Strip Club headline with a story about how it was Election Day 2011 (on Election Day, 2011). I received what I interpreted as a sarcastic reply and reasons why the Editor resented the content of my letter. To his credit, the Editor responded to me both promptly and directly.
The headline strip club story, while not a bad story, does not compare with the greater story of how voter turnout in NY is consistently bad. Would the «immediacy» of the strip club story have been compromised by, say, running it on November 9 to make room for a story on Election Day (November 8)? Also, the election coverage the Editor describes below is a single story on a single candidate with no more info about other candidates or the General Election itself. Additionally, clicking on the link for «Politics/​Election Coverage» on the bottom left side of the homepage routed to a link to Election 2009 coverage. Decide for yourself who was reasonable (if anyone). Below is the content of the email exchange.
— — — - Forwarded message — — — -
From: Jay –jodiii-​at-​gmail-​dot-​com–
Date: Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Subject: Election Day coverage?
To: Newsroom-​at-​cnglocal-​dot-​com, GKuntzman-​at-​cnglocal-​dot-​com
Good Morning Brooklyn Paper,
I have a great story tip for you! It’s called «Tuesday, November 8 is Election Day.» NY has had one of the lowest voting rates in the country and newspapers play a critical role in informing voters, not just about what day it is but who is running, how to vote, etc. I encourage you to change today’s headline «They told you so! Neighbors irate over strip-​club switcheroo» to something election-​oriented.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jay Dunn
Brooklyn, NY
— — — - Forwarded message — — — -
From: Brooklyn Paper Editorial bpnewsroom-​at-​cnglocal-​dot-​com
Date: Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Subject: Re: Election Day coverage?
To: Jay jodiii-​at-​gmail-​dot-​com
Cc: «DiMiceli, Vince» vdimiceli-​at-​cnglocal-​dot-​com
First of all, thanks for your «consideration.» But you should know that I resent a few things about your email.
1. It ignores that we have done some election coverage, albeit not on the day you chose to look for it.
2. It minimizes the importance of the Red Hook strip club story, which actually has real and immediate impact on my readers in that neighborhood — greater immediacy, I would add, than today’s election.
Thanks.
–
GERSH KUNTZMAN
Editor
The Brooklyn Paper and Brooklyn Courier
(718) 260‑4504
newsroom-​at-​cnglocal-​dot-​com
— — — - Forwarded message — — — -
From: Jay jodiii-​at-​gmail-​dot-​com
Date: Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 12:56 PM
Subject: Re: Election Day coverage?
To: Brooklyn Paper Editorial bpnewsroom-​at-​cnglocal-​dot-​com
Mr. Kuntzman,
Firstly, thank you for replying to me directly. As Editor, I’m sure I can’t imagine how busy you are.
Second, I am a Kings County resident who encourages all papers to include more coverage of elections, especially because NYC residents have a horrible voting turnout, And local papers generate as much interest as, say the NYT or WSJ. I read the Brooklyn Paper and this was my first time contacting you.
I’m not sure why you took a sarcastic tone in your email to me and I’m disappointed that you chose to respond to a reader’s feedback in such a negative way. If you read any negative tone from my email, it certainly wasn’t intended. I actually did read the article before I sent my email and just saw your election coverage. I can’t say I’m impressed with either in comparison with the significance of getting New Yorkers to vote in their general election. Differences of opinion…
Thank you again for replying. And while you chose to put «consideration» in quotations, I actually meant it.
Sincerely,
Jay Dunn
Brooklyn, NY
— — — - Forwarded message — — — -
From: Brooklyn Paper Editorial bpnewsroom-​at-​cnglocal-​dot-​com
Date: Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 2:28 PM
Subject: Re: Election Day coverage?
To: Jay jodiii-​at-​gmail-​dot-​com
My first words were thank you. There was no sarcasm.
–
GERSH KUNTZMAN
Editor
The Brooklyn Paper and Brooklyn Courier
(718) 260‑4504
newsroom-​at-​cnglocal-​dot-​com