OPINION READER’S FORUM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020
A4
EDITOR’S DESK
This country needs newspapers
A
pet peeve among journalists
is when people ask, “Why
isn’t the media covering
this?” about a topic that every major
media outlet in the country has,
indeed, covered with
multiple articles.
I could write an entire
column about why the
“if anything import-
ant happens I’m sure I’ll
Jade
see it on social media”
McDowell
method of news con-
NEWS EDITOR
sumption is a terrible
way to stay informed on matters of
actual importance. But today, I want
to talk about the times when people
are right about something not being
covered by journalists.
According to U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics data, from 2008
to 2019 news media outlets shed
23% of their newsroom jobs, from
114,000 reporters, editors and pho-
tographers/videographers down to
88,000. Newspapers were hit hard-
est, dropping from 71,000 journalists
to 35,000.
These layoffs all happened
before the pandemic, when ad rev-
enue plummeted sharply and thou-
sands more were laid off. Most of the
remaining journalists have had their
pay cut this year, either through wage
cuts, hour reductions or monthly
furloughs. Some newspapers have
closed altogether.
(As a side note, this is why you
should trust someone who says “the
media” is profi ting off the pandemic
as much as you should trust some-
one who doesn’t know the difference
Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald, File
The fi nal paid subscription of the Hermiston Herald runs off the press at the East Oregonian in
Pendleton on April 28, 2020. The newspaper has since converted to free distribution through
mail to thousands of area residents.
between a steer and a bull to explain
ranching to you.)
Thousands of missing journal-
ism jobs mean thousands of stories
that aren’t being told. Those of us
left simply can’t be in three places at
once, and often fi nd ourselves weigh-
ing whether the public will be better
served if we pursue a story that will
take 12 hours or work or write 12
stories that each took one hour.
John Oliver, in his comedy news
show “Last Week Tonight,” did
a great segment in August 2016
explaining how newspapers are the
bedrock of the information economy.
Other places people get their news
— radio, television, social media,
blogs and late night shows, includ-
ing “Last Week Tonight” — are often
repackaging or building on news that
was fi rst discovered and reported by
newspaper journalists.
Hasan Minhaj, in his show “Patriot
Act,” this June did a segment in
which he explained how local news-
paper are “unmatched” in certain
areas, including exposing sex offend-
ers. Examples he cited included the
Boston Globe‘s uncovering of the
Catholic church’s handling of priests
who molested children, the Harris-
burg Patriot News breaking the story
of Jerry Sandusky, the Indianapolis
Star exposing Larry Nassar, and the
Miami Herald‘s work uncovering the
crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.
Much of the Hermiston Herald
and East Oregonian‘s reporting may
not have the same national signif-
COLUMN
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Breast cancer diagnosis impacts mental health
T
he fall season brings another oppor-
tunity to join together for breast can-
cer awareness.
All over Umatilla and Morrow coun-
ties, people have given their time, money
and tears to this cause. In most years,
these efforts include relays,
walks and other fundraising
efforts. While the pandemic
has limited our traditional
in-person gatherings, we still
see impressive efforts from
local business, nonprofi t and
social service organizations
Ari
to fundraise and draw aware- Wagner
ness to breast cancer.
At Greater Oregon Behavioral Health,
Inc. (GOBHI), we also consider another
aspect of breast cancer — the impact this
diagnosis has on mental health and emo-
tional well-being. The American Psycho-
logical Association reports that breast
cancer can be one of the most distressing
events a woman ever experiences, and she
may not know where to turn for help.
For example, as women begin what is
often a lengthy treatment process, they
may fi nd themselves faced with new prob-
lems and tremendous worry. There are so
many unknowns to face, like how it will
affect their personal relationships, the
impact on their families, how symptoms
manifest, how treatment will affect them
and the greatest unknown which cancer
throws into the spotlight — the unknown
of being here another day.
Here are some quotes from women
who have had a breast cancer diagnosis:
“I fell apart. I felt like my life fractured
into thousands of pieces. And I sat there
looking at it all I thought, this will never
all go back together again. I was lost.”
“When my treatment was all done, I
thought, now what? Every little cough
was attached to the fear — is it back?”
“Being faced with my death taught me
how to live.”
The illness can bring up a mix of feel-
ings — denial, anger, fear, worry, stress,
loss of control, problems with self-esteem,
sadness, depression, grief, guilt, isolation
and so much more. All of this can be over-
whelming and contribute to depression,
anxiety, panic attacks and other mental
health problems.
Feelings of anxiety and depression
are normal as women face a breast can-
cer diagnosis, but that does not mean
those feelings should be ignored. Treating
the emotional conditions associated with
breast cancer is as important as treating
the physical illnesses.
We have known for a long time that our
emotional well-being affects our physical
well-being and healing. It is not always as
easy, however, to seek help for the emo-
tional issues.
For some, they feel embarrassed to ask
for help because of the stigma associated
with mental health problems. It can also
be just too daunting to fi nd support for
emotional issues when someone is over-
whelmed, even emotionally paralyzed,
with managing all that cancer brings.
GOBHI has been working in East-
ern Oregon as part of the Eastern Oregon
Coordinated Care Organization (EOCCO)
to remove mental illnesses from the shad-
ows of shame and help more people who
can benefi t from treatment. Here are some
of the ways you can connect with help:
· Call your local mental health provider
about treatment options.
· Ask your doctor or oncologist about
support services.
· Talk to your physician or cancer nutri-
tionist about foods that support healing.
· Talk to your physician about your
anxiety and what they recommend for
help.
· Share the health care resources,
including the 24-Hour Crisis Helpline
(1-800-866-9780), National Suicide Pre-
vention Line (1-800-273-8255), Lifeways
(541-567-2536) and Community Counsel-
ing Solutions (541-676-9161).
In addition, family members may expe-
rience signifi cant emotional stress when
a loved one receives this diagnosis. It is
important that they too fi nd the support
they need.
October may be the offi cial month for
breast cancer awareness, but each day of
the year can hold a different meaning for
the women with this diagnosis and for
their families. GOBHI joins Eastern Ore-
gon communities to support individu-
als and their families as they deal with a
breast cancer diagnosis and as we work
together to let them know — that they are
not alone.
———
Ari Wagner is the chief operating offi cer
of GOBHI and a breast cancer survivor.
CORRECTIONS
Printed on
recycled
newsprint
VOLUME 114 • NUMBER 42
Andrew Cutler | Publisher • acutler@eomediagroup.com • 541-278-2673
Jade McDowell | News Editor • jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4536
Jeanne Jewett | Multi-Media consultant • jjewett@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4531
Audra Workman | Multi-Media consultant • aworkman@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4538
To contact the Hermiston Herald for news,
advertising or subscription information:
• call 541-567-6457
• e-mail info@hermistonherald.com
• stop by our offi ces at 333 E. Main St.
• visit us online at: hermistonherald.com
The Hermiston Herald (USPS 242220, ISSN
8750-4782) is published weekly at Hermiston
Herald, 333 E. Main St., Hermiston, OR 97838,
(541) 567-6457.
icance, but over the years we have
provided a wealth of information to
this community about what is going
in in local government that has gone
way beyond what people can learn
from reading press releases on social
media.
Even if you aren’t a fan of the
Hermiston Herald or East Orego-
nian, I can promise you that if we
went away, we would not be replaced
by a news source of better qual-
ity. Some towns that have lost their
newspapers are now relying on social
media rumors and gossip among
neighbors to know what is going on
in their community. Others are being
covered by low-quality clickbait sites
written by people from out of town,
or insidious new “pay for play” sites
that are disguised as objective local
news but are actually run by political
operatives or corporate public rela-
tions fi rms, as recently reported by
The New York Times.
Usually when a newspaper posi-
tion is gone, it’s not coming back.
But I am optimistic about the work
EO Media Group is doing to rebuild
our revenue streams that took a hit in
the spring. I’m grateful to work for
a family-owned company that cares
deeply about preserving news cov-
erage in Oregon communities, rather
than one of the hedge funds that have
been buying and gutting newsrooms
to squeeze out whatever short-term
profi ts they can.
This country needs newspapers.
Don’t count us out yet.
Periodical postage paid at Hermiston, OR.
Postmaster, send address changes to
Hermiston Herald, 333 E. Main St.,
Hermiston, OR 97838.
Member of EO Media Group Copyright ©2020
It is the policy of the Hermiston Herald to correct errors as
soon as they are discovered. Incorrect information will be
corrected on Page 2A. Errors commited on the Opinion page
will be corrected on that page. Corrections also are noted in
the online versions of our stories.
Please contact the editor at editor@hermistonherald.com or
call (541) 564-4533 with issues about this policy or to report
errors.
SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Letters Policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for the
Hermiston Herald readers to express themselves on local,
state, national or world issues. Brevity is good, but longer
letters should be kept to 250 words.
No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person.
The Hermiston Herald reserves the right to edit letters for
length and for content.
This election is important
This is a very important elec-
tion which may affect the well-being
of our country for many years. With
Trump we achieved an economy with
employment and prosperity at greater
heights than previously in our indus-
try. Even during the pandemic we are
on track for possibly an even greater
economy. Trump lowered our taxes;
Biden said he would do away with the
tax cuts if he were elected.
Trump brought back manufactur-
ing jobs that were lost during the pol-
icies of previous years. He rebuilt our
military forces and restored Ameri-
ca’s dominance in trade and foreign
affairs. He has been a champion of
law and order when Democratic gov-
ernors were allowing our cities to
burn, mobs to tyrannize the inhabi-
tants, and the power of the police to
be curtailed; Portland in our own state
has been one of the worst examples of
this situation.
Trump removed many regula-
tions which were detrimental to busi-
ness and restrictive to progress. If the
Democrats were elected and enacted
the so-called “green new deal,” we
would possibly encounter the worst
living conditions the United States
has experienced since the Great
Depression.
For these and numerous other rea-
sons, in my opinion Trump is clearly
the best choice for our country.
Ron Ingle
Hermiston
Letters must be original and signed by the writer or writers.
Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include
a telephone number so they can be reached for questions.
Only the letter writer’s name and city of residence will be
published.
OBITUARY POLICY
The Hermiston Herald publishes paid obituaries. The
obituary can include small photos and, for veterans, a
fl ag symbol at no charge. Expanded death notices will be
published at no charge. These include information about
services. Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper
punctuation and style.
Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at
hermistonherald.com/obituaryform, by email to obits@
hermistonherald.com, by fax to 541-276-8314, placed via the
funeral home or in person at the Hermiston Herald or East
Oregonian offi ces. For more information, call 541-966-0818 or
1-800-522-0255, x221.