Editor,

The news?

Community newspapers serve their subscribers. Hometown issues get priority. But what happens if a local newspaper omits news that could impact the future of the community?

What happens when news gets omitted?

Have you read anything about the Growlers and electromagnetic warfare training in our local Whidbey Island newspapers, all owned by the same company?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Over the past three years, I believe Whidbey Island residents have not been adequately informed with information related to the Navy’s unprecedented expansion of ships, jets and personnel into Puget Sound and on Whidbey Island.

Whatever the reason for the local papers’ failure to adequately report on this important news, it is essential that people living on Whidbey be informed about such issues.

Given the inadequacy of the reporting on the Navy’s unprecedented expansion into our region and the consequences for us and such creatures as our orca whales — one needs to wonder if this information is simply being suppressed by our local papers?

For those who follow the implications of the Navy’s expansion in terms of more Growlers and their electromagnetic radar presence on the Olympic Peninsula and at OLF Coupeville, there are serious questions to be asked related to the health, safety, economic and environmental impact of the proposed war games and increased jet noise. We need to know what is happening in regard to our local Navy operations and their impact on all of us and, if necessary, to criticize and raise substantive questions.

Is it not the role of the press to also raise these questions, to provide the factual information needed for an informed, respectful conversation that allows all points of view to be given and considered for their merits?

On the other hand, it’s not helpful that the papers publish inflammatory letters that intimidate and stifle rational discussion and do little to contribute to civil discourse.

I encourage our local newspapers to provide responsible, factual, in-depth, independent coverage of Navy-related news to welcome and encourage a level of civil and respectful dialogue on their editorial pages and in their news coverage.

Maryon Attwood

Coupeville

Editor’s note: The Whidbey News-Times reported on the Navy’s Olympic Peninsula Growler training in a story that ran Oct. 29, 2014, and was titled “Navy addresses concerns about ‘war games’ involved in Whidbey Growler training.” The issue was also mentioned in a March 4 story titled “Whidbey anti-jet group appeals to Navy brass.”