Ask Elsa

Berkeley

Q The "news" from Berkeley County in Thursday's Your Lowcountry may have generated snickers in your news room, but I was NOT amused.

Articles about a man from St. Stephen who urinated on cartons of soft drink, a Moncks Corner man who exposed himself, and a toothless man in Goose Creek who stole a ham sandwich were the sum total of the Berkeley County coverage in this supplement.

The supplement shows a distinct lack of effort in reflecting the heritage and changing character of Berkeley County. I think The Post and Courier can (and should) do better! Judith.

A This week's section was short on Berkeley County news. This was partly because the regular reporter for that section was on vacation, but it is always a challenge to achieve balanced coverage for the different geographical areas.

The specific items you mention are part of the police blotter, a weekly feature in all zoned sections. They are taken from police reports and are intended to show some of the incidents that would not warrant serious news coverage.

The aim is for them to be bright and irreverent. They often describe off-beat incidents.

ACLU

Q I was disappointed that your proper answer to "Bob, James Island" regarding the ACLU in Thursday's paper did not go far enough. You let slide his allegation that the ACLU was the "hated communist party's legal arm."

I believe it would have been proper and instructive to say there is no proof that the ACLU was the legal arm of the communist party. Archie, Mount Pleasant.

A Thank you for your suggestion. I assumed that was understood. Perhaps I shouldn't have.

Elsa McDowell, public editor, welcomes questions or comments about the paper's news coverage. Call 937-5626 or e-mail her at askelsa@postandcourier.com.