The title of your opinion piece in the SV Weekend on Jan. 19 was appropriately titled “Press must hold up its end of democracy.” I heartily agree the media has a vital role, although I, and most intellectually honest people in our nation, would say you have not done your job. 

As you said in your piece, “Information in … the news media … is how most people find out what their government officials are up to.” For that matter, it's how we find out anything. It’s true to say that most wouldn’t know what happened on the other side of town, let alone the country or state, if it wasn’t for the news media.

They possess tremendous power in shaping the opinions people have of their public officials and other issues. Those opinions translate into votes. What you in the media cover and don't cover – and the tone of that coverage – has a large part in deciding who gets elected.