Over the last several weeks, the Hernando Today has published some very blunt articles about the budget crisis in Hernando County government. Is this budget information necessary for public opinion? Yes it is, but the Hernando Today staff has gone over board with their comments about county employees in the process. In my opinion, the Hernando Today has been overly abrasive in their language with their coverage of this budget issue.
Take a look at the headline in this morning's edition of Hernando Today and judge for yourself. It reads, "Layoffs begin; county dumps 5 workers". Even though layoffs are inevitable in any organization facing a budget crisis, these 5 workers are living, breathing, human beings that have families to support in our community. This headline underscored the glee of the staff writer, with the approval of the editorial board, to allow this crude headline. Yes, lay-offs are necessary but to say the county "dumps" 5 workers is very tasteless for this paper.
In my opinion, the Hernando Times coverage of this budget crisis has far surpassed that of its competitor, the Hernando Today. The Hernando Times articles have included hard facts, without the accusatory tone of the other local newspaper. The opinions in the Hernando Times on this budget crisis have been voiced in the proper perspective in their editorial columns, not in the foundation of the their articles.
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