MEMO TO NC SPIN READERS/VIEWERS

By Tom Campbell, Producer and Moderator of NC SPIN, February 28, 2019.

From reading your comments on our website and our Facebook page it is clear that some of you don’t understand the difference between our TV show vs. what we attempt on our website and social media.

NC SPIN, the TV show, is now and always has prided itself on being balanced and impartial. From show one in 1998, our program has had 4 panelists, two representing the center/right and two representing the center/left political space. I won’t guarantee it has happened that way over 1,058 shows but I challenge anyone to verify it hasn’t happened that way in 96% of them. The few exceptions have occurred when a panelist became ill or incapacitated and a last-minute panelist change had to be made prior to airtime.

NC SPIN is an unrehearsed TV show, so we cannot guarantee or have input as to what a panelist says on-air. There are times when three or even four panelists will agree on a particular subject. Does that indicate we lean left or right? Nope. We make no attempt to endorse candidates, parties or philosophies. For those who believe we are more critical of the current Republican legislative leadership we would suggest you haven’t watched our show very long or you would know that when Democrats ran our legislature, they complained all the time that we were too tough on them. We have been and will continue to be equal opportunity commentators on what they and others in government do, regardless of their party affiliation. That’s the job of a free press.

Now as to our website or Facebook page, they have different purposes. It has been our mission to present to readers the opinion of a variety of persons with something worth reading. Just because we post an opinion column doesn’t mean we supports or favors that person or  position. We are careful to indicate who writes the particular piece and would never suggest that you should agree or disagree with it. Our purpose has been to be a place where people could read and consider opinions from the right, the left and the center. And we make a genuine effort to do so.

Having followed public policy debates in our state for more than 50 years,  I (Tom Campbell) have opinions and thoughts about issues affecting our state. Seldom, if ever, will you see me take sides in the TV debate. My job as producer/moderator is to make sure the discussion flows and all panelists have a chance to talk. I determined the best way to express my positions was by writing columns/editorials myself, pieces where I clearly identify it is me offering the opinion. Again, I welcome comment from you and others.

While on the subject I think it is time to say that I am weary of all the really ugly, demeaning and nasty comments people make on our website and Facebook pages and that I am fed up in having them on our sites. It is fine if you disagree but name calling, obscenities and threats have no place and will not be tolerated.

BE ON NOTICE THAT IF YOU CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN A CIVIL MANNER YOU WILL BE UNFOLLOWED OR NOT PUBLISHED.

If you choose to stop visiting our social media sites that is perfectly fine. Enough is enough.