Editor,
As a resident who cares deeply about our community, I was disappointed by the tone and approach of the recent article called Year in Review 2024: Contention at White Rock city council published in the Jan. 2, 2025, Peace Arch News. At a time when the world is grappling with so much chaos and division, it’s disheartening to see reporting that appears to pit one side against the other, fostering polarity rather than unity in our community.
What stood out to me was the overwhelmingly negative slant on nearly every decision made by the White Rock council. Is this what local news has come to—focusing on fear and negativity to generate controversy and sell papers? It’s troubling to think that instead of informing and bringing us together, such articles might only deepen divides within White Rock.
Our local media has a responsibility to provide balanced, thoughtful coverage that reflects the complexity of issues and decisions. By focusing solely on criticism without exploring the broader context or explanations as to why members of the council made the decisions they did, this article misses an opportunity to foster constructive dialogue.
We live in a time when creating understanding and finding common ground should be at the forefront of moving forward as a community. I hope future reporting can reflect this need and strive to inform rather than inflame.
Sincerely,
Sabrina Scholten, Surrey
