I’m disappointed in The Leader editorial staff. They really tripped over their word these last two weeks.

First, last week’s front page had an article about the fatal accident on the Hood Canal bridge. Some of the sentences were disjointed and didn’t track. The first name of the fatality was given at the beginning of the article but not the family name. That didn’t appear until near the end of the article. 

If I had to guess, the reporter is a summer intern. If that is the case good on The Leader for giving someone the chance to develop their skills. However, the editorial staff didn’t do that reporter any favors by not reviewing the article with the reporter prior to publication. If, in fact, the reporter is learning then it would seem to me the staff missed an opportunity to help this reported improve their skills.

Second, Monday was Memorial Day yet there is very little mention of the Legion’s annual band concert or Quilts of Valor presentations. There were 21 veterans presented with quilts but no mention of it in this week’s Leader. There were captioned photos on page A-7 but no accompanying news article to describe events of the Day.

My father owned, edited and published the Bellevue Herald - Leader in Bellevue, Iowa. He took great care to ensure his articles and those of others were accurate and well written. 

In the 20 plus years he ran the paper, he was awarded 11 awards for excellence by the Iowa Press Association. 

I know a thing or two about good reporting. I’d hope the Port Townsend Leader would do as well or better.