It's easy to see that for sometime now area newspapers don't bring much to the table when it comes to objective reporting and crisp perspective. In this post the "Insider" will delve into a few of the many issues that are contributing to sinking newspaper circulation in the county. While the Victor Valley Daily Press and to a lesser extent the Riverside Press-Enterprise each make a serious attempt at straight, balanced coverage, The San Bernardino Sun and its sister publication Daily Bulletin (Same news and editorial staff, I might add) completely subscribe to the what I refer to as "The Earth is Flat" philosophy. Meaning that the paper lives in its own world. You know, the "It is because we say it is!" approach to effective reporting on subjects.

The editorial staff and board of this newspaper as described by its own reporters feels that their mission in the world is to dictate and paint public perception the way they see it.  Clearly imagine a group of individuals with education and backgrounds primarily in journalism deciding what's best for everyone and how we should think. It would be hilariously funny if it wasn't so disconcerting. Like Edward Bulwer-Lytton said, "The pen is mightier that the sword." In the case of The Sun, the question is often begged, "Is the pen in deceptively wrong hands?"

A few months ago a reporter employed by The Sun  (who's name shall remain anonymous) told the "SB Insider" that "A bunch of old crows with axes to grind were not going to tell him what to write." Excuses such as "The size of the story (commonly know as column inches) was cut", "Oh that info was left on the cutting room floor by the editor", or "My editors didn't think the point was relevant" are common when stories are slanted to portray a certain point or deliver a blow to a particular politician.

Combine the aforementioned tactics with little or no background workup - commonly known as investigative reporting - and we arrive at stories designed to generate sensationalism in an attempt to sell more newspapers. After all, in this county, if it isn't negative, it doesn't sell.

How many times have you read a Sun article about a particular politico that everyone knows is disliked by the editors and the story reads something like "Politician X saved the lives of 50 school children yesterday. However , don't forget that back in 1999 Politician X  did a,b, and c - and is a dirt bag."

Another example of slanting opinion would be the coverage of the settlement between the County of San Bernardino and The Colonies Partners, L.P.

About a month before the announcement of a $102 million settlement and shortly after a blistering ruling by Judge Christopher Warner that devastated the County's case, Sun Managing Editor Frank Pine himself authored an editorial saying that based upon his vast experience in land use matters, the County should settle the case for an amount in the $115-$120 million range, if memory serves me correct.

However, after the $102 million settlement was announced, the newspaper embarked on the "We are outraged" tour and began bashing the County for settling the case. The Sun begged and pleaded for someone to file a lawsuit to block the settlement. This bizarre jekyl-and-hyde approach left more than one observer scratching their heads in bewilderment.

I'm sure we can all expect to endure more long-winded screeds over Mynesha's Circle, San Bernardino city tax usage, open government as seen the Sun's way, and any other ideas the paper can conjure up. After all, they know more than all of us combined.

One day, The Sun may figure out that it's circulation is dipping and content shrinkage so great, that targeted campaign literature to high propensity voters overwhelms and counteracts their deceptive intent. I'm sorry, but truth, not slant, is what sells and is ultimately what the people desire. Perhaps this explains the matter of shrinking circulation. Say "thank you" to the internet, cable, and satellite information providers for offering an alternative.

Interestingly enough the Sun lost two great reporters in the last month: Jeff Horwitz, and Guy McCarthy.

Hopefully, the Sun will right its wrongs and turn itself around. Those who depend on the Sun and its relative daily publications in the Inland Valley deserve no less.

[Editor's note:  The opinions and thought expressed by this report of the "SB Insider" does not necessarily refelect or represent the views of the site's editors and contributing authors.]