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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Why Is This News?

Question: Why in God's name was a church's shunning of a member front page news? --HBO Commenter Sue Haynes to Spokesman-Review editors re. this story here.

Answer: We placed Virginia de Leon’s excellent story about church shunning on the front page because we thought readers would be interested in learning more about the customs of a religion that is practiced in some of our communities. By writing about one couple’s experience, we put a face on the real-life experiences and struggles that people of various faiths and beliefs confront every day.

It is important to consider the context here. The news isn’t so much that one couple was shunned, but that specific development is a way for us to inform readers about how a community at large can be affected by such things. I would also note that the story was timed to appear before an upcoming conference discussion on shunning -- Managing Editor Gary Graham.

Hat Tip: Sue Haynes, for going to the top to get an answer to her question



Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.