Based on the fact that the Patriot News has displayed an almost inexplicable increase in the coverage of local events and reports released by the Mayors Office over the past several days, I’d like to hold a conference with the Patriot News Editorial Board and ask them a few questions.

If the Patriot News Editorial Board were willing to listen to the concerns of a panel of people just like me who wonder some of the same things with regard to the way they report their news, I would ask them the following questions:

1. What is the thought process when deciding which events or activities that occur within the walls of the Martin Luther King Jr. building in Harrisburg are considered newsworthy?

2. Does the newspaper aggressively seek realistic, accurate and relevant crime data from the records department in The City of Harrisburg? If not, why? If so, what investigative methods do you use?

3. Does the editorial board of The Patriot News have a bias for or against any body within local government?

4. Does the Editorial Board of The Patriot News aggressively seek out stories and happenings? Or is it more of a passive endeavor; reporting on and responding to only the press releases sent to them?

5. Does the Editorial Board of The Patriot News view it’s readers as intelligent, concerned and capable citizens of the city within which it reports? Or are the demographics and readership data used for selling advertising it’s only concern?