An action-oriented newspaper that won't be bullied

In November 1985 I entered the office in Narrowsburg to visit a former associate editor, whom I had known for 15 years. That visit was significant for me.

All my life, I have been naturally curious, questioned "the official line," and felt driven to expose or fix wrongs and injustice. Reporting for this newspaper, then, was a natural place to end up.

The River Reporter is a newspaper I can respect because its owners aren't afraid to take unpopular or politically incorrect stands, or to report news which politicians would prefer be kept under wraps. It has always prided itself on being a feisty publication that wouldn't be shoved around. Staff are not expected to toe a party line.

A few significant examples stand out in my memory.

In the mid 80s, prior to and just after "going weekly," seeming gangster-type activity resulted when the paper supported federal protection of the river. Stacks of papers mysteriously disappeared from news-stands. Reporters were threatened with bodily harm. Anti-Semitic flyers appeared, directed at staff. But the paper and its staff never yielded, and in fact became stauncher.

Two years ago, the newspaper and its entire editorial staff were subjected to a frivolous $5-million harassment lawsuit by a lawyer whose feelings were hurt by a mention of him. As some may remember, a parody had appeared in an April Fool's issue. In the end, it was the plaintiff/lawyer who came off the fool when the judge who heard the case ruled that "no reasonable person" could take the offensive article seriously.

In 1986, under a Honesdale judge's threat of incarceration, The River Reporter stood behind a reporter's invocation of the "shield law" which protects journalists from testifying in such cases. I was that reporter, and was grateful for the integrity of the publisher for standing firm. A local man had been arrested for speaking loudly at a Buckingham Township supervisors' meeting. Two reporters were the only witnesses who were subpoenaed by the prosecution. That case, too, was thrown out of court when the judge realized that threats of jail would be ineffective.

Ahead of the times, not surprisingly, The River Reporter was the first newspaper in the river valley to have a presence on the Internet. When I spoke with the editor today about adding a link to the World Wide Web page [ riverreporter.com ] opposing a new unconstitutional law, recently signed by President Clinton, banning "indecent" expression on the Internet, she seemed receptive. Watch the web site at the Internet address shown in our masthead box.

What I value most about this newspaper is its independence and the freedom of thought which it encourages in writers. My wife, Carmen, and I remain active in local affairs because we care about our community, while I still continue to report. The paper, in turn, seems to respect and even value this.

It's been a wonder to see this paper grow and prosper from its humble format. Despite the occasional and difficult times and bumps in the road, life goes on. From the standpoint of editorship, graphic arts, advertising ratio, or any other, the paper has improved dramatically over just the last year. Best wishes for the future.

Happy birthday from myself, Carmen, and our children, Eddie and Carolina!