tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955592194917412939.post2201268314149490498..comments2013-08-24T02:56:27.132-07:00Comments on st albans odeon photos: St Albans cinema cash shortfall Herts Advertiser 28 January 2010paxtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03770548169014175168noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955592194917412939.post-4287851716440049152010-02-01T00:44:30.993-08:002010-02-01T00:44:30.993-08:00Dear Paxton,
I was surprised to read your comments...Dear Paxton,<br />I was surprised to read your comments regarding the cinema, and more so your claims that what is a fair and balanced article, raising awareness of the need for backers to come forwards with their donations, is in anyway pessimistic and scaremongering.<br />I would have thought the efforts made by both the Herts Advertiser and the Civic Society in raising awareness of the cinema campaign should have been welcomed, rather than cynically condemned as a means of generating publicity for our own organisations.<br />As a newspaper, we have to remain impartial to retain editorial integrity, therefore we do not expect, or encourage even, reporters to get personally involved in causes. If there is a genuine personal interest, that's OK, but I would not pressure my staff to put their hands in their pockets to support any campaign the newspaper was backing.<br />Unfortunately, causes which get saved are saved largely because enough people rallied around it, usually because of the publicity generated, and not because the media presented it with financial aid.<br />If we were to provide financial support for what is effectively a commercial venture like the cinema, would there not then be a demand for us to back other similar projects?<br />I stress again that the cinema project is a commercial venture, which will eventually generate revenue for Mr Hannaway and his investors. Whilst the Herts Advertiser welcomes the need for a new cinema in St Albans, and supports the efforts being made to bring this about, we are here to publicise the campaign and raise awareness of its aims, rather than providing financial support ourselves.<br />Matt Adams<br />EditorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com