Globe and Mail Public Editor Sylvia Stead.The Globe and Mail
Sports readers always have strong opinions about the most important story, what demands coverage and how prominent it should be. Football across the country, hockey of course, baseball across North America, U.K. cricket, women's golf, especially Brooke Henderson: The list goes on.
This week the call is for more Paralympic coverage. Last week, there was at least one story or photo every day from the day before it opened in Rio de Janeiro: story and photo of the Canadian flag-bearer David Eng and stories and photos of the opening day, including a story on the swimmers.
This week so far none, and that has readers riled. "This is disrespectful to readers and our Canadian athletes," said one. "Surprised and shocked to see that nothing in the daily Sports section of The Globe and Mail is mentioned re the Paralympics. These amazing athletes who have had to train and devote their lives to their individual sports rarely get the attention and praise they so richly deserve. How disappointing for them and for the rest of us," another said.
Sports Editor Shawna Richer had planned to run a story each day, but pulled them for other breaking news, including Monday night's decision by the NCAA to pull events out of North Carolina because of the state's anti-gay legislation.
These are tough calls that editors have to make every hour and every day.
Still, I agree with the readers' sentiment that this is an important event, not just for the pure sports of it, but for the wonderful stories of the athletes who persevere to be the best in the world. Just like the Olympics stories.
Ms. Richer says she will make every effort to get a daily story in.