By Ken Robinson

Managing Editor

(Editor’s note: This is some real “fake news”. It is not true, but could be. While the details about the history of the paper are accurate, we made up the part about Amazon)

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced today the purchase of Westside Seattle, the newspaper operated by the Robinson Family for residents west of I-5 in Seattle.

“Every community needs a paper,” Bezos said in a brief press release. “Westside Seattle exemplifies the best in community journalism through its more than 100 year history.”

Westside Seattle combines the weekly papers of Des Moines, Normandy Park, Burien/Highline, White Center/West Seattle, SeaTac and Ballard.

The Ballard News-Tribune dates to 1895 as a regularly issued periodical. West Seattle Herald was first published in 1923. Bezos continued,”I am proud to provide continued support for this vital enterprise. Like the Washington Post, which covers a larger community, Westside Seattle performs the watchdog function on local government that would not exist without it. And it also celebrates the lives of people who live there.”

Co-publishers Tim and Ken Robinson said in the press release “We are thrilled to be part of the Amazon family. Our mission to keep local journalism alive is underpinned by Amazon’s decision to bring us aboard.”

An Amazon spokesperson said readers can expect some enhanced initiatives in coverage, use of video on the Westside Seattle website and the continuation of writing by veteran journalists. There was also a mention of enhance use of social media and even a YouTube channel devoted to this area.

“Since the early part of this country’s history, the community newspaper has been the lifeblood that keeps people informed, entertained and connected. 

Amazon will incorporate the online presence of  Westside Seattle with their social media team. Where other publishers have been forced to cut trained and experienced journalists, Bezos believes in employing professionals. He also believes in the value of the stored knowledge of journalists that can lead to deeper understanding of the news. 

The only staff changes planned are additions, Associate Publisher Tim Robinson said. 

A kick from a reader

My cell phone rang a few minutes after 6 a.m. Monday. The screen showed “Unknown” so  I didn’t answer. I never do when the caller does not have the guts to identify themselves. Otherwise, I’ll talk to anyone.

No message was left. But about then minutes later, a message presumably from the same caller came in. It was long as messages of, almost three minutes.

It was a rant about the contents of a letter we carried last week, leading toward a charge of the paper become more and more liberal.

Here’s the problem I have with this: The conclusion that the paper must support  views expressed in a letter is just not correct. An opinion sent in letter is the writer’s opinion. It may or many not have anything do with what we believe. 

The charge that the paper is becoming more and more liberal has not basis in fact. We do what we have always done: we provide a forum for anyone in our community to express themselves whether we agree with them or not.

In this case, the caller said “I knew your dad and he was in the middle “ with his politics. I guess he thinks we should be the same (we are). Still, we do consider some points of view that are different from out parents because of information or ideas that came along after they chose their world view.

That is good. It shows we are thinking about issues rather than taking on someone else’s opinion. 

We love hearing from readers. I just  wish they would wait until the coffee kicks in.

Standing for the anthem

The weirdness involving pro athletes refusing to stand for the National Anthem has generated more nastygrams that just about any other news lately and now Trump has weighed in. No doubt he will attract followers with this view.

It sounds like Trump believes that if a man is going to take a paycheck from you, you should abide by his rules. 

We understand why some athletes have chosen the start of a football game to kneel. They would be hard pressed to find a bigger stage to express their anger at the way Blacks are treated in this country. 

Still, this behavior begs the question: what does their personal view have to do with football. For that matter, what does the National Anthem have to do with football?

A simple solution to the issue is to drop the National Anthem from the opening ceremony of professional sports. 

It is only a tradition and not obligatory. Let the pro athletes kneel elsewhere.