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So far this year, I’ve been harassed and threatened, accused of bias and censure, received a cease-and-desist letter from an attorney, told how to refer to sources in articles, badgered for not getting op-eds posted the day I receive them, and told that I need to make op-ed writers fill out a checklist of family connections and OMP groups to which they belong.
Yesterday, I received an op-ed submission about the winery lawsuit, and after thinking about it for a day, I emailed the writer back noting that I would pass on this one because there really wasn’t much new that he hadn’t written in his previous nine op-eds I’ve posted on the Gazette.
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After I emailed him, I received this response:
“Jane – I am very disappointed to hear this as it clearly raises new questions regarding peninsula residents not being aware of who ARE the invisible forces driving Board politics.
“I think they will have a keen interest in the new focus here. I believe you just made yourself “a part of the story” attempting to censor my voice. I expect residents to have a keen interest in learning of your bias, as well. We will quickly learn how they feel about it, won’t we?
“I only ask that you take the time to reconsider this before I do what I feel is necessary next.”
Shortly after this email, I received another email from one of his family members with one word:
“Censuring.”
The Gazette is not a lucrative business. It operates primarily through donations and a small number of ads. It’s a passion project for me, but also a full-time job that helps pay the mortgage and bills.
It’s also something I’ve wanted to do ever since I published my first Old Mission newspaper when I was around eight years old. Back then, the columns were written by my dog, Jennifer, and my horse, Copper. They had a lot to say about growing up on a cherry farm in the 1960s.
Most of you probably know my story. I’ve been making a living as a writer for the past 45 years. Prior to starting the Gazette ten years ago, I was a freelance writer who wrote for hundreds of publications, from the New York Times to Ladies’ Home Journal to People Magazine.
But what I really wanted to do was write about my own community, so I started the Gazette. Now I have the privilege of covering everything happening on the OMP, and I never take that for granted. I’m one of those nerds who actually loves going to township meetings. Writing and publishing are part of who I am, and I love serving my community this way.
Publishing a local newspaper as a one-girl show is full of challenges, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to publish the Gazette in my beloved community where everyone is bickering. Not only do I have to deal with the aforementioned stresses, but I also spend hours each week policing comments on the Gazette website and social media. That’s not censuring. That’s trying to keep things civil.
It’s discouraging when I’m accused of bias or unfair reporting, or if I’m badgered about not getting stories posted in a timely manner. I’m actually pondering whether to require a small fee, say $25 or $50, to accompany op-eds, because I do spend a lot of time on those and some of those folks have never made a donation to help keep the Gazette going. The writers who understand how it all works send me $50 after the piece is published. Thank you!
The idea that I would show preferential treatment to any writer because someone thinks I “align” with them is disheartening. Op-eds are posted in the order I receive them, and up to this point, I don’t think I’ve ever NOT published any op-ed that’s come my way.
I just feel like many of the op-eds about the winery lawsuit are saying the same thing over and over again. Also, many of the op-eds contain outright false or mis-information, which means I need to interject here and there with the correct information. Maybe we need a moratorium on winery lawsuit op-eds for a little while… what do you guys think? Tell me in the comments below.
Also, it’s not my job to point out every connection and OMP group associated with the folks who send me op-eds. I leave that up to the writer, if they’d like to do so. I say that as someone who grew up here and has spent most of my 65 years on this Peninsula. I belong to lots of OMP groups, and I’m related to or friends with a good portion of the population. That’s a lot of connections, and I don’t have time to map them all out for you guys.
I do my best to keep myself out of stories unless something directly affects me, or unless I’m writing about my cat, my woodlot, or my latest house project.
I also have a lot of other stuff going on in my life. Since losing my husband of 42 years in 2022, I’ve been solely responsible for maintaining my home, yard, car, woodsplitter, woodstove, woodlot and everything else. I can’t afford to hire help, so YouTube is my best friend.
Growing up in an Old Mission farm family, I learned to be resourceful, and I actually like doing things like staining the house, tending the garden, and splitting and stacking wood. It’s therapeutic for me – especially when I’m grieving Tim or when things get tense with the Gazette and township goings-on.
What started in 2015 as a fun little endeavor with pictures of Haserot Beach and stories of life growing up on the OMP has turned into a battle for the very soul of the Peninsula. Gazette stories have been picked up by the Wall Street Journal and linked to from news organizations around the country. I don’t take this responsibility lightly.
I so appreciate all of your encouragement and donations that have helped to keep the Gazette going over the past ten years. And I plan on continuing to publish this little newspaper ’til the cows come home, and even when they’re tucked safely in the barn.
I just ask for a little grace so I can continue publishing the Gazette without losing my mind. Thank you.
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I was not aware that the OM Gazette had a letters to the editor feature. Newspapers that do have that feature still maintain some control over content of the letters they receive. Either I share the same biases as you Jane or you are doing fine job for the good of the community. I’m sorry the writer feels censored. Maybe he should try the Record Eagle.
Co-opting the top comment for visibility:
As President and Chairman of the Jane Boursaw Fan Club, let this serve as formal notice that the committee has unanimously adopted the following resolution:
A. The “censored” dork in this article is invited to go fly a kite.
B. We are happy to supply a curated list of Gutenberg Press vendors so they can procure the equipment needed to start their own publication.
Glory be to The Gazette!
Yes this is a tough one. The op-eds are definitely opinion and yes many times there are errors or error by omission. I do appreciate your publishing the opinion pieces and now is not the time to stop publishing about the winery issues as this is an urgent time period for us in Peninsula Township. Were you to stop then we would be at the mercy of the other wild west social media sites. Keep up the good work.
Jane, You have many supporters. You do a great job of keeping us informed. Thank you.
Winery Lawsuit fixated OpEd writers should realize none of us want to hear the same information from them repeatedly. I encourage those writers to send their editorial comments to the Record Eagle.
The bullying has no place here in the Township. The people doing that should back off immediately. They are out of line. They know who they are. Apologies are in order.
I greatly appreciate the weekly Township report by our Supervisor, Maura Sanders. It seems Maura’s reporting in your Gazette gives us more OMP information in a month or two than we get from the Record Eagle in a year.
I also greatly appreciate your coverage of events, places, the Township ‘s history and people who contributed or continue contributing to making OMP the place we care for.
Thank you for all you do for the Peninsula Township community.
I support any decision you make Jane. I’ve been marveling how you have managed to dance the line between the township and WOMP. You are doing a fantastic job. Personally, the news (and commentary) this month gave me a stomach ache and I vowed not to read some submissions for a few weeks. If you want to join me in a moratorium for a bit, I say go for it!
Agreed. It seems it’s mostly the same people hammering their same opinions. As is national politics nowadays no one will agree to disagree anymore nor will they listen thoughtfully to what others have to say. I feel it’s unproductive and harmful to our community. In any other time than our current period in time I’d say op-eds are a good way to stay informed. Sadly not anymore.
Thank you for all you do, Jane. You are an asset to our community, and do an amazing job.
I agree, Kristin. Thank you.
Kristin and Sally, Yessss! ! Keep on going Jane!
We support you 100% Jane. Your voice says more than the critics out there.
Some people have nothing to do but find fault with everything and everyone.
You do an amazing job in keeping us up to date on our Old Mission home front.
Please keep up the good work . You are appreciated by many.
I agree that an op ed with the same content over and over can be tiring but continue to appreciate hearing varied opinions. I think readers know that op eds are not fact, but opinions and we can choose not to read content at our discretion.
You are a small publication and can’t be expected to publish everything you receive. Keep doing what you are doing and your readership will indicate reader’s satisfaction.
Jane, since we purchased a lot to build a home here on OMP, the Gazette has been our “go to” source for news and opinions regarding life here on our beloved peninsula. We are so grateful for all the work you have done to keep us informed and connected. Please know that the Gazette is one of the first things we read on our newsfeed. We live in very conflicted and divided times and we are praying that grace and mercy will prevail.
Jane, please refuse to be bullied. You are important to our community,
I agree, Nancy. Thank you.
Indeed Jane, you represent the heart and soul of this community and deserve nothing but respect, absolutely nothing, but thanks and respect.
Actually, you do deserve more than thanks and respect, you deserve donations of support too!
I don’t know of any community the size of ours that has such a professional and highly valuable news publication. We are all extremely fortunate to have such a phenomenal community resource as the Gazette. I’ve submitted material to the Gazette, but have never felt that Jane should have an obligation to publish any of it. In fact, I don’t think she has published everything I’ve written. The Gazette is Jane’s and she has every right to publish what she sees fit. Testament to her very real and deep journalistic chops is her evenhandedness of publishing differing view on issues. Whoever wrote that note to Jane should (but probably won’t) reach deep into their moral well and apologize to her.
Keep doing what you’re doing Jane!
Totally agree!
Jane, my wife, Marcia and I are sorry you have to go through this gauntlet to do what is in essence a valuable community service. We have lived on OMP since 1979. We did not find out about the Gazette until the WOMP issues and suits. We now read (or at least review) everything you publish. Your publication is critical to the local knowledge we need to be supportive, informed OMP residents.
Please continue to believe in your purpose and importance and try to steel yourself from the inevitable backlash you are getting; it is unfortunate that it is part of the present country we are living in.
We would like to contribute; can you please send us information in order to do that.
Thanks for your passion and long term commitment to OMP and its people. Keep sailing!
https://www.oldmission.net/help-support-old-mission-gazette/
Jane, the Gazette is one of the few publications that I actually pay for! And that’s a donation at that! I love reading the Gazette with your homey stories and interesting back ground of life on OMP. I think we all know EXACTLY who is accusing you of bias and all I can say is he is a pot stirring complainer! You present both sides of every story in a fair and non judgmental way. I do think it is a good idea to keep the opinion page but as the editor you have the option of not publishing an opinion that is stating the same old thing. Keep up the good work, I look forward to reading the next issue!
Warmly, Nancy Shotwell
Jane,
Your (our) Gazette has been and continues to be an incredibly valuable resource for everyone. (WOMP AND non-winery owner residents). What a shame that the one time (out of 9 previous letters) you decide to calmly and politely pass on his article of re-hashing the same opinion already voiced, is met with a bullied and immature response. I believe many of us are sickened by his approach, and urge you to “stay the course”. You decide which course that is, and you have my support, and many other’s support as well. (I too wish for a public apology, but I’m also afraid this person isn’t capable of doing so).
Well said, Jane. I’m all for a moratorium on winery lawsuit related opinion pieces. I stopped reading them a long time ago anyway because they basically do repeat the same things over and over and over.
I am so sorry to hear about the harassment you have been subjected to.
I echo the prior comments. Thank you Jane for what you do for our community. You are doing a remarkable job with very little in resources besides your own blood, sweat, and tears.
Please hang in there!
Bill Heumann
Jane, I can see what a hard worker you are and love your passion for writing. I am so glad you put your message out there. No one really knows how much goes into a job until they have to do it. Keep doing what your doing, you have a fan base!
Thank you Jane for all that you do to keep the folks on OMP informed. It’s sad some use threats and intimidation to try and influence public policy. They don’t seem to understand that zoning is not created in a vacuum but is , and should always be, a public and transparent process involving everyone, not just those wanting change. It’s not easy, and I know this first hand. I too got death threats and police protection over my support for the health and wellbeing of our city and region during troubled times. You are supported by many and are a phone call away from those of us willing to help and support you. Be strong and don’t let a few bad eggs ruin your day. Thank you for sharing and reporting on the many issues facing us on OMP. You are doing a great job!
Jane, not sure I can say any better what’s been expressed in the previous comments. I can hear the frustration and disappointment in your voice, but please keep doing what you’re doing. All your many readers realize what a service you provide. We truly appreciate the job you do. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Jane, I place a very high value on your publication. It is quality journalism and covers a wide range of topics on the OMP. In reading the comments above it is evident that you and your publication are deeply appreciated. Keep up the good work and I support whatever decision you feel is best.
Your time and effort to publish such an excellent publication are most appreciated. I look forward to reading each copy of the Gazette – it is definitely my go to source for what is happening on OMP.
Jane, keep publishing and doing stuff. I think alot of the new people around here, especially the more well off ones tend to dislike how honest you are. The harsh reality is that recently the richer among the peninsula are feeling emboldened, your article about a certain drain that upset some people enough to have them to pay an attorney to threaten you with a SLAPP suit. I think you should keep it up.
Secondly, yes the lawsuit stuff is getting old, it’s the same stuff everytime, so and so does not like this so and so whines about it. You have the same characters in the comment section crying wolf about how it’s either the end of the Peninsula as we know it or the Township is the emerging 4th Reich that will soon surveil people 24/7 and round up people they don’t like. I think it would be nice if there was a nice looong break.
I agree with all of the positive comments of support for you, Jane. I really don’t know how you keep up with all that you do; not only publishing the Gazette (huge!), but being an eye witness reporter to many, many meetings; taking beautiful, fun, interesting photos of our OMP and sharing historical facts and stories. You are a marvel, Jane. I guess when you put yourself out there in the public eye, you are bound to get criticism, but I think in this case it was uncalled for. You are even-handed in your reporting and you have every right to set your own rules and guidelines. Keep up the good work; but I DO support you taking breaks here and there! And if the winery reporting is taking too much of a toll, I urge you to call a moratorium, unless there’s a BIG story that YOU feel is worth sharing. Thank you so much for your commitment to this community. We will get through this conflict. We will heal. And part of that healing will be because of you. Let’s all contribute to the Gazette, an amazing asset to the OMP!
I agree with Sally’s comments 100%. Good journalism like yours is critical for the community and your work is a beacon of light. You are paying a personal price of the sort all courageous journalists seem to be paying these days, and I admire you and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The Gazette is exactly the type of community newspaper that we need. It is web-based, all the articles are kept in perpetuity, and Jane covers a variety of community activities, organizations, and events for all areas of interest for the Peninsula. Keep up the good work, Jane!
And yes, I would be happy if I never read another op-ed on the winery lawsuit.
Stay strong, Jane! The truth will set you free, and, besides, you have 5 generations of cheerleaders in your court!
Thanks, Cuz. I think about our ancestors so much every day! They are indeed cheering us on and working on our behalf.
Jane, I have continually been impressed by your willingness to air the opinions of Peninsula residents while maintaining a genuinely unbiased status yourself. This is truly been an invaluable service to your community and I can only guess how difficult it has been to walk that line. It is a line more professional journalists should strive to follow. Thank you for the service you have given to the community.
That said, I also recognize your right, as the editor and publisher, to choose the content that you publish. That is true for any publisher. I know that it is also true for, for example, our Traverse City Record Eagle. I know for a fact that they are very selective on what they will publish. You want to give voice to the community, but you also want it to be interesting and informative. At some point redundancy gets tiresome and as the publisher, you have a perfect right to making that decision for your publication.
This is not censure-ship. This individual has every right, and opportunity, to find another avenue for expressing him or her self. Maybe this is a reflection that people are getting tired of hearing the same old mantra, over and over and over again. Thank you for sparing the rest of us from that.
Thanks so much, everyone. I’m a lucky girl to have you all cheering me on and being my de facto editorial board!
Jane,
I am sorry this is happening on our own little piece of land. I enjoy the Gazette and your non bias reporting. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But 9 opinions saying the same thing is just hot air.
Keep up the good work.
Keep doin’ what’cher doin’ , Ms Jane !
Jane –
As reflected in the above comments, we appreciate what you are doing. Your work is resulting in stronger community connections. I agree that it is appropriate to exercise judgment about what to publish, especially in regard to repetitve contributors. It’s time for us to support you in both spirit and donations!
Wow! While I understand that some people keep repeating things, please do not stop printing the comments about the lawsuit. I live in Colorado and the Gazette is my only way of getting info about the lawsuit AND any other news of life on the peninsula. I particularly like reading Maura Saunders recapping of the governmental side of things beyond the lawsuit. Thanx for all you do.
Jane, these positive comments are a tribute to the fine work you’re doing. On behalf of those you don’t hear from, here’s a Christmas “THANK YOU”!! Many blessings 🙏
Jane, it’s heartwarming to see all the positive feedback. As someone who loves Old Mission Peninsula and is far away for part of the year, I treasure Old Mission Gazette and your painstaking work in publishly it. The OMG is one media publication I always look forward to reading–for its invaluable role in keeping us updated on local news, varied contributions on issues like the winery lawsuit, homey reminiscences and beautiful photography. Keep up the good work! Your positive impact is clear in what these letters bring out.
Jane:
Thanks for sharing the challenges. The idea of censorship from this individual is disappointing and incorrect. This is your venue / paper and you have the right to choose its content; which you do extremely well to the benefit of the community.
Needless to say you have done an outstanding job in keeping it balanced and useful. Please keep doing the great work you do.
M. Mason
Dear Jane,
We are new to the OMP but dearly love it. It has been disheartening to became aware of the deep divisions as a result of the lawsuit. But when we became aware of the Gazette and started reading and learning about the issues and the problems facing us as well as the the wealth of wonderful and positive people and events, it totally changed our viewpoint. Jane, you are doing a tremendous job and service for us. If Grace and support are what you need, and I can well image you do, I pray for that for you. I wholeheartedly second the loving responses and Joe they help you realize how much you and the work you do mean to the people of this lovely bit of land.
I first came up to OMP in 1967 while working nights at the Gardner Denver factory in Reed City to pay my tuition at Ferris Institute in order to SCUBA dive old mission harbor. I have enjoyed the Gazette and wish to thank you for providing it.My wife and I moved here permanently in 2020 .Keep up the good work.
Jane, you simply rock and I thank you for all the thoughtfulness you put into your work. In today’s world, every one of us has a megaphone to run a nonstop OpEd site of our views: it’s called social media and it’s free and everyone can post their feelings about anything, anytime, with (sadly) almost no restrictions whatsoever; that’s worth a reminder. Frankly, I’d rather read your curated stories anytime over another long winded OpEd from people who should just “take it out back for a fisticuffs” anyway since that seems to be the intest, and not spoil the beauty of OMG with their vitriol. I fully support any decision you make, but I for one, wouldn’t miss them and I think most folks won’t either. I’m really sorry for the misguided criticism you’ve received on this.
Jane:
You are providing a vital public, community, and common civic (and journalistic) good–and you deserve nothing but praise for it!
After reading though over 3 pages of “opinions” , perhaps you should just nix the opinion page altogether. It’s the same people over and over spouting over the same issue, over and over. This does not provide any positive contributions to the community. Writing about interesting people and places on the peninnsula makes a lot more sense to me.
I don’t think you need to accept or publish guest op eds. People commenting their opinions on your Facebook page are enough. It’s your paper. Do what you want. They don’t like it, they can start their own papers.
For the op-ed submissions: make people put their money where their mouth is. Likewise, anything worth doing is worth doing for money. Some of the opinions here are worth reading, and they clearly drive traffic. Whether that traffic can be appropriately monetized is what you have to determine for yourself. If I was you, proofreading the lengthy screeds and dealing with the kvetching of some of these blowhards would be about as enjoyable as getting a root canal. That kind of suffering demands a commensurate fee. I say raise your proposed opinion fee (especially for the WOMP litigation issue) to at least $100, if not more. That would at least compensate you for the time to review and proof their submission. If someone feels their opinion is worth that much, they will pay. It would probably cut down on the low quality submissions, saving you and your readers valuable time.
Moreover, every publication has editorial standards. If the writer can’t meet them, they can write something better, or start their own publication. The gazette is not, and should not become, facebook or a bulletin board where everyone can post whatever they please. This is not censorship. Accusations of censorship and bias are inevitable, but if you know you have a logical non-viewpoint based reason for your decisions, you’ve done your job and shouldn’t be troubled by the accusation.
Thanks, Brandon. And thanks to everyone who’s weighed in on the op-ed discussion. I appreciate all of the comments and suggestions. I think I will have some sort of fee for the WOMP lawsuit op-eds, while still retaining the right to not publish any I feel aren’t appropriate or are repeating previous op-eds. Most of them are somewhat lengthy, and they do take some time to proof and edit.