Bakersfield.com Sound Off

SOUND OFF

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:54:58 PDT

This feedback forum is designed to give readers an easy way to voice criticisms and compliments or ask questions about news coverage. Your questions are answered by Editor Mike Jenner each Sunday.

Sound off for June 14

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:22:11 PDT

Reader: I was very disturbed about the bullying article. As a teacher of a couple of the students, I can attest they are exceptional young men. They're typically well-behaved and, since they don't have a pattern of bullying, it must have been a prank gone wrong. So why, with all the possible topics on our national economic, political and social crises, did you publish this on the front page?

These boys took responsibility for their actions and paid the consequences for their folly. What did you hope to accomplish by prominently displaying their names?

Sound off for May 31

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:20:50 PDT

Reader: This is in reference to the front page of Thursday's Californian. The headline is "Girl shoots baby brother" and then there is a picture of this precious little girl.

Why would you authorize putting a picture of this precious little girl on the front page and put "Girl shoots baby brother"?

Sound Off for May 10, 2009

Sat, 09 May 2009 20:18:54 PDT

Reader: I must say I am extremely disappointed in last Sunday's real estate "column" that is nothing more than an advertisement for real estate services. The crux of the argument that this is a good time to buy in the article revolves around inventory. The argument, as I can see it, is that since inventories have been shrinking, now would be a good time to buy.

I feel that this is a terrible oversimplification of the real estate market. If one were to look at simple supply and demand as the end-all barometer of when to buy a home, then the boom periods of 2005 and 2006 would have meant that it was a great time to buy a home, as we all now know, that simply was not the case.

Sound off for May 3

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:23:27 PDT

Reader: I enjoyed reading Thursday's article about San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's bid for the Democratic nomination for governor of the state of California.

I am also looking forward to seeing the Republican gubernatorial candidate in color on the front page, feeling certain The Californian wishes to be viewed as unbiased in its political coverage to the local community.

SOUND OFF

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:47:33 PDT

Jenner: We received a lot of comments on our coverage of the "tea party" protest on Tax Day -- April 15.

One reader wrote: "It is a sad state of affairs when the press can only see "anti-government" when there are no signs to that effect in the photos that accompany your story. I believe that interpretation can only be attributed to your liberal bent.

Sound Off for March 22, 2009

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:07:33 PDT

Reader: At 4 a.m. Thursday we received a call from a Californian deliveryman who said he could hear a car horn going off in our garage.

My husband thanked him for calling. When we got to the garage, the horn on our truck was indeed honking and emitting an electrical smell. When my husband opened the garage door, the man from The Californian was still waiting in his car to make sure we were OK before he drove away.

Sound Off for March 22, 2009

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:24:40 PDT

Reader: At 4 a.m. Thursday we received a call from a Californiandeliveryman who said he could hear a car horn going off in our garage.

My husband thanked him for calling. When we got to the garage, the horn on our truck was indeed honking and emitting an electrical smell. When my husband opened the garage door, the man from The Californianwas still waiting in his car to make sure we were OK before he drove away.

SOUND OFF

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:16:16 PDT

Reader: This is in response to reporter Courtenay Edelhart's recent review of the new Jimano's Pizzeria in Bakersfield.

How could she not be critical of the prices in this place? Almost $17 for a small 12-inch pizza and $33.75 for an 18-inch stuffed crust pizza? C'mon, get real!

Sound Off for March 8, 2009

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:16:52 PDT

Reader: In the March 3 Californiana headline reads, "Could This Gun Kill You?" Maybe it's just me, but what kind of headline is that?

That Californian headline alone gave readers the assumption that Bakersfield Police Sgt. Scott Thatcher made the wrong and ill-advised decision in shooting a person who was reaching for a BB gun instead of a real gun.

Sound Off for March 1, 2009

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:02:12 PDT

Reader: I was impressed with James Geluso's story last Sunday on city pensions. I found it to be well-researched and for the most part, unbiased. I also found it curious that it was published on the eve of a critical council vote on whether or not to sign a labor contract with its police officers, a contract that is almost two years overdue.

I also noticed a few errors and omissions that I would like to clear up.

Sound Off for Feb. 22, 2009

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:22:46 PDT

Reader: I was gratified to see the great program at the Oral Language Festival for grades 4 through 6 on Feb. 12 at our new University Square building. And then I was so disappointed to see the poor coverage in both The Californiannewspaper and on the Web site the next day.

Why did you not put the pictures and names of the winning schools on the front page, and the names of the runners up inside the section, rather than the opposite? Your coverage was disrespectful of the extra efforts made by all of the winners, solo, duo and verse choirs alike.

Sound Off for Feb. 15, 2009

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:26:21 PDT

Reader: I'm calling to complain about the crossword puzzle missing from the Classified section. I keep opening the paper every day thinking maybe today the crossword puzzle will be in there, but alas, no puzzle.

When I see the big ads in there for the car companies I think well, if they can make room for all those cars they surely have room for the crossword puzzle. I looked forward to that every morning when I got my paper. Now I don't even look forward to the paper any more.

Sound Off for Feb. 8, 2009

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:27:47 PDT

Reader: I'm a teacher at a local school and my colleagues and I are appalled that The Californianpicked this quote by Barack Obama: "This was a mistake. I screwed up."

We're appalled by the improper English and the words "screwed up," which teachers are trying to eliminate from the English language. I realize he probably said that, but do you have to put it on the front of the newspaper?

Sound Off for Feb. 1, 2009

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:30:55 PDT

Reader: Is the assembly of more than 200,000 people in Washington, D.C., marching for the culture of life newsworthy?

Is the upcoming assembly of more than 20,000 people in San Francisco newsworthy? They are also marching to promote the end of the scourge of abortion. I can only imagine that the majority of persons promoting abortion and all forms of the culture of death have never seen the blatant and undeniably barbaric killing of a pre-born human being.