I know that newspapers consider bad news the only news worth reporting, but this is too much.
The Star ran a series of articles about the young boy with the tumor he dubbed “Frank.” Members of the public read these articles and were moved by the boy’s courage. The Star pulled at our heartstrings. Money was raised to help pay for a biopsy; the public cared about the boy and prayed for good news for him. Thank heavens, good news came, and the biopsy showed that “Frank” was harmless. The boy will live.
This should have been cause for celebration. The Star made the story a public event; it should have made the ending a public triumph. But where was this happy ending to be found? On the last inside page of the paper. Only those who read the entire paper front to back would find the story. This is a small percentage compared to all the people who saw the first articles on the front page.
After inspiring the public to get involved, doesn’t The Star think it owes it to us to publish the ending as widely as the beginning? I’m sure if “Frank” had proved fatal, the article would have been on the first page.
Sometimes, good news is as attention-grabbing as bad news. The world is full of bad news to report. The Star should give us something good, to keep our hope up and reassure us that sometimes, good things happen to good people.
— Natalie Katz, Thousand Oaks
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