Didn’t like story

Dear Editor,

When I read the article written by Randy Hanson about the foreclosure of North Point Bar and Grill in the Sept. 25 Star-Observer I just had to question, “What is this community and its newspaper coming to?” Have we no compassion for others anymore?

I understand that a local business closing and foreclosure may be considered news. I do, however, suspect that not every business closure/foreclosure has been splashed across the newspaper and reported in such financial detail in a pictured, attention-seeking article. I am not sure why North Point and the Benoys were chosen as targets by Mr. Hanson and the Star-Observer.

Is it really considered “news” to list every detail of loans and monies owed by the Benoys in a prominent article? What is the value to the community? Are those details really newsworthy? There was little mentioned about those who failed to meet their financial commitments to the Benoys and thereby lending to their circumstances.

There was no reference to the Benoys’ previously successful businesses. No mention of the crowds of people that previously filled the Benoys’ North Point on Friday nights. No mention of the thousands of small business owners throughout the U.S. that have fallen into similar circumstances.

Perhaps Mr. Hanson felt it would be just too time consuming to actually check into other aspects of the story rather than to simply spew out court record numbers that seem more tabloid in nature. It is difficult to tell what the reporter may have been thinking. Perhaps he should have been thinking about the impact this type of tabloid journalism has on others.

The Benoys are a very community-minded and friendly family and they, like many others who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances in these economic times, should not be made targets of a reporter or a newspaper.

I had hoped I lived in a community where other people’s unfortunate circumstances would not be turned into fodder for gossip under the guise of news. I would suggest that Mr. Hanson and other Star Observer staff consider this: “there but by the grace of God go I.” I hope that none of your family members end up as targets of Mr. Hanson and the Star-Observer. In this case it is my family and I can tell you it is hurtful.

Tags: northpoint bar, opinion, letters, closure, benoy