New Directions Seen In Political Focus of Home Reporter, Spectator
Two long-standing community newspapers that have covered Bay Ridge and surrounding neighborhoods, collectively, for more than 155 years, are going separate ways in their political leanings. Bitter clashes between Republicans and Democrats, which have come to reflect locally the intransigence so obvious nationally, have led the new publisher to force the titles to choose sides.
“I have full confidence in our editorial staff to handle political hard news stories with fairness and impartiality,” said J.D. Hasty, publisher. “But I believe the different constituencies residing in these neighborhoods cry out for a strong expression of opinion–in both elections and local issues.”
Hasty said he expected to face some “hate mail and and tart tweets” about his choice to designate the Home Reporter a “little C” conservative voice, and the Spectator a more progressive voice in the community.