Elected Officials: The News is not negotiable

The Vicksburg Daily News believes it is the duty of the press to observe and report the news as it is without bias or opinion. The news, in short, is not negotiable. We take our responsibility to the community seriously. As a community, we obviously want local news, locally owned without a corporate agenda that also holds elected officials accountable. Thank you for your incredible support.

From the inception of our great country and it’s founding fundamentals, the press holds a duty to shine a light on the truth and to do so without a bias or agenda. It is one of, if not the most important right granted by the founders.

In a small town…

In a small town, those dynamics are the same, but much more personal. In addition to covering the news, it is also a small town newspaper’s duty to hold elected officials accountable. In modern times print media is being bought up by spurious organizations that pretend to be newspapers. Their business plan includes not reporting controversial topics. It is a business strategy that shows a lack of journalistic integrity.

Journalism involves telling the whole story, including the parts that aren’t favorable. If a local paper is more concerned about protecting those who give them the most money, they’re not journalism, they’re propaganda.

Propaganda – information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

When a story or series of stories point out an unpleasant truth about elected officials, those in power respond in one of two ways: They either accept the responsibility and work to fix the problem or they lash out at those who reported the news.

You mad, bro?

Vicksburg, Mississippi’ Mayor George Flaggs and Ward Two Alderman Alex Monsour are engaged in a full on battle to lash out at the Vicksburg Daily News for reporting the news. They silenced the police radios that tipped off the media of crimes in the community. They actively work to block the media when it shows up on scene.

Both Flaggs and Monsour are both up for reelection in early 2025 – six months from now, and the news from Vicksburg is bad. To be fair, there are many in positions of authority and power that are doing great things for the city. In spite of the good; the crime, the derelict buildings, the trash, is not good for the city. It makes them look bad. Now that it is time for reelection, and they need votes, their solution to the problem is to lash out at the Vicksburg Daily News for reporting the truth.

We are a city where citizens are fleeing in record numbers. Vicksburg has lost 25% of its population since 2003. One out of four people who lived in Vicksburg in 2003 no longer live here. 17% of that population loss has been since George Flaggs became Mayor.

Based on the last seven years, it looks like Flaggs and Monsour’s priority is not fixing things, it is getting reelected.

Politicians lie sometimes

Politicians trying to avoid responsibility lash out at the media is an old trope. It is a way to shift responsibility from them and create a bad guy. If you sow the seed of doubt that those who are reporting the news have an agenda, you may make them less credible. At that point, the truth feels malleable. That always, conveniently, works in favor of the politician.

George and Alex, we are the organization that holds you accountable. There are few things more satisfying than being on the opposite side of politicians who put themselves above their city. Politicians who are sleeping through outrageously high crime and historic population loss. All while giving themselves outrageous pay increases. True leadership requires decisions that might not always score good political capital. A good leader brings those who disagree with your action, or inaction, to the table.

Mayor Flaggs and Alderman Monsour, when the last person moves out of Vicksburg, or is killed, be sure to turn off the lights. But one light you will not turn off is the light the Vicksburg Daily News will shine on the truth.