Dear Editor,

Nine months ago I submitted a letter which appeared in the Times News on Nov. 10, 2018. In that letter, I criticized the “new” type of mainstream journalism wherein far-left radicals, posing as legitimate news reporters, commonly spew leftist and anti-American propaganda disguised as real news. I referenced a recent Associated Press news item which clearly displayed the writer’s leftist bias and open contempt for the president of the United States.

I just read an Associated Press news item in the Aug. 8 Times News edition. The article followed the headline, “Protesters chant as Trump visits Dayton, El Paso.” The anonymous Associated Press writer wrote the following as if it was factual: “But his divisive words preceded him, large protests greeted him and biting political attacks soon followed.” Also written as fact at the end of the article: “… at least 200 protesters gathered, blaming Trump’s incendiary rhetoric for inflaming political and racial tensions in the country …”

Tripe like that is undisguised leftist dogma and has no place in this paper’s news pages. By any reasonable standard it is not legitimate news reporting, it’s just some jerk’s opinion. In fact, a strong argument could be made for calling it “fake news.” Put it on the Opinion page, where it belongs, with a disclaimer so as not to insult your subscribers.

L. Ernie Foucault

Kresgeville