I received an email Feb. 17 from a man who writes for the website truthout.org

In his email, the writer complained about a letter to the editor in which his writing about the Navy on Whidbey Island was criticized by a newspaper reader.

In his email, the writer asserted he was “slandered” because the letter to the editor called him a “second rate journalist.” He also said the letter contained misleading information associating him with Al Jazeera, “where I used to work, but left due to my disagreeing with some of their editorial policy (sic) … I’m no fan of Al Jazeera.”

I replied to the email with the following:

“I apologize if (the) letter was deemed insulting. Free speech, as the United States Supreme Court has ruled time and again, is often not pretty. Unfortunately, the media, and journalists, myself included, are frequently targeted for harsh criticism. In my case, I consider myself a fair target for criticism and have published letters critical of me and/or this newspaper with little or no editing … We invite you to write a letter to the editor in response to (the) letter.”

Frankly, I’ve been called a lot worse than “second rate,” and that’s just during the past two years.

There was no reply, and I assumed the writer took the opportunity to cool his jets — so to speak — and move on.

Apparently not.

I received an email with a link to a March 9 article posted on truthout.org. The article, written by the author of the email, rails on the Navy and paints a bleak picture in which the Navy flies over homes day and night “generating sonic booms.”

If you’ve ever heard a sonic boom, there’s no mistaking it. They shake buildings, set off car alarms, and 911 switchboard are inundated with calls from people asking the cause.

I haven’t heard a sonic boom over Puget Sound since 2010, when jets were dispatched from Portland, Ore., during a visit to Seattle by President Obama.

What really caught my attention in the truthout piece — and the reason the link to the story was emailed to me — was the following paragraph: “A small newspaper on Whidbey Island, where the Navy’s air base is located, has regularly run bellicose op-eds written by a retired member of the Navy, who regularly attacks those critical of the Navy’s plans while writing under a pseudonym.”

Since the words “small newspaper” contained a link directing readers to the Whidbey News-Times website, I think it’s safe to assume he was referring to me and the News-Times.

First, use of the word “bellicose” is, in my opinion, hyperbole, but that could be construed as subjective. So be it.

To characterize me as “retired military,” though, is incorrect. I am not military, past or present. A quick call or email would have easily corrected the record. Heck, he could have pulled up my Linked In for my full resume.

From the tone of the piece, I suspect the truthout writer’s intent was to cast doubt on my credibility by portraying me as being in the pocket of the military.

If that’s his opinion, he’s entitled to it. However, his article wasn’t identified as opinion. If someone seems to be bolstering their argument by relying on misinformation, one has to wonder about the veracity of whatever else he or she says or writes. Anyone who presents themselves as a journalist shouldn’t expect to be immune from criticism.

Keven R. Graves is editor and publisher for the Whidbey News-Times. He can be reached by email at kgraves@whidbeynewsgroup.com