The Raleigh N&O editor and the prison warden

For weeks now most reader comments at Raleigh News & Observer executive editor for news Melanie Sill's blog have been critical of the paper’s Duke lacrosse coverage.

Many readers were upset, for instance, by The N&O's decision to publish a photo of the infamous "vigilante poster" despite warnings that doing so would only further encourage hate groups to target the players pictured on the poster.

Many readers were shocked when they learned The N&O ignored a statement NCCU Chancellor James Ammons issued on one of the tensest days in Durham's recent history. Ammons called for calm and urged people to let the legal process take its course. The Durham Herald Sun printed Ammons' statement in full.

Even The N&O's public editor, Ted Vaden, usually very supportive of the paper, has been critical of its Duke lacrosse coverage (here and here).

Sill feels The N&O's coverage has been excellent. She's praised it often.

Sill usually dismisses specific, fact-based criticisms with the old "we get it from both sides so we're doing just fine" line. In her most recent column, she told readers, "[O]ur focus has been on journalism, not on trying to appease critics."

Sill's dismissal of The N&O's critics reminds me of the old political hack who got himself appointed warden at the state penitentiary.

The place started going downhill fast, and pretty soon there was a big riot.

The governor was forced to appoint a commission to investigate things.

The commission naturally wanted to know what the warden had to say.

"Well," he told the commissioners. "You have people saying the guards and I are too strict; and others saying the guards and I are too easy. That tells me we're doing about right. So I ignore the critics; and I hope you commissioners will do the same."