Editorial: Flo and Joe

Over the last several months the DCI has not been following policy. The DCI refuses to print unsigned Letters to the Editor and anonymous comments posted to the web site are removed. If people call the office anonymously and will not identify themselves the call is not taken.

The Flo and Joe column is more of a guest editorial commentary than a Letter to the Editor. Either way, the comments warrant the signatures and names of the writers. A phone number, which is listed at the bottom of each Flo and Joe does not qualify as a signature.

I should have held my ground and made this decision when the column first started running. At the bottom of the articles is the statement, "Sponsored by KARE (Kasson Alliance for Restoration)". I am not sure what that means because we do not charge for the articles.

Kasson city councilman Matt Nelson wrote a letter last week questioning some of the comments made by Flo and Joe. There was also criticism as to why this newspaper would print information without author(s) being named.

It is important to protect our reputation as a newspaper and try to be fair with everyone and that includes letters, guest editorials and, yes, Flo and Joe. Like the old saying goes, "Better late than never". I have never been a fan of "anonymous". If an opinion is important enough to be expressed then a signature should not be an issue.