Journalist death raises questions

Passions run high during election cycles and sometimes candidates lose perspective about the real reason they should be seeking office — the opportunity to be servants of the people — and the contest becomes ego-driven. When that happens, winning becomes everything and dissenting voices are no longer tolerated. This week, The Chronicle received reports from the camps of two candidates in The Dalles mayoral race about people being harassed for posting campaign signs. Apparently, supporters of the other candidate were upset enough to harass the sign holder for exercising free speech.

Editors note: The following editorial was written in support of Sunshine Week, March 13-19, during which journalists nationwide focus on the public’s right to information. Last year when Environmental Protection Agency staff members knew there were bigger problems with the Flint, Michigan, water supply than the agency was saying, they were under orders not to communicate with reporters without oversight by the agency.