As if it's going to make a difference...
Editor stood down over 'biased' coverage
CRAIG BILDSTIEN
14 March 2006
THE editor of Mt Gambier's Border Watch newspaper, Frank Morello, has been stood down until after Saturday's state election.
The newspaper's chief of staff, Lechelle Earl, also resigned suddenly yesterday.
Mr Morello did not return calls last night, but newspaper sources said owner Allan Scott was "outraged" by anti-Liberal election coverage in the last edition.
On Friday, the paper carried a front page report - headed Libs' pine policy 'joke' - and page 5 and 7 lead stories reporting criticisms of Liberal candidate Peter Gandolfi over road funding announcements and his advertising campaign on health. All three articles were written by Earl.
The paper also carried an editorial opinion accusing Mr Gandolfi of landing "some cheap blows" and "continuing to incite ill-feeling" with his full-page newspaper ads on the Mt Gambier Hospital.
The Advertiser has learned that Labor candidate Brad Coates last week threatened to withdraw $6000 worth of advertising from the Border Watch because of concerns that the paper was "too pro-Liberal".
It is understood the paper's board of directors will meet this morning to discuss Morello's long-term future. He was appointed editor in December following the departure of Kieran Isles.
Morello's wife Sandra, also is a journalist at the Border Watch and sources who talked to the couple yesterday said they were "shattered" by what had happened.
Earl refused to comment, but friends said her decision to quit was believed to be in protest at management interference in editorial policies.
The Advertiser was told during a visit to Mt Gambier to cover the contest between Mr Gandolfi, Mr Coates and sitting MP Rory McEwen last week, that Mr Scott was the Liberals' key financier.
Mr Scott declined an invitation to comment last week and could not be contacted yesterday.