Letter: Watchdog group needed

I was heartened to read about Beaufortwatchdog.org, whose website I examined and whose mission I enthusiastically support. As I’m sure your own newspaper laments, there is simply no funding for the valuable work that investigative journalists used to perform. Most newspapers now must be content to report only on the after-effects of public corruption instead of exposing it. Their function as a “Fourth Estate,” to serve as a reliable, trustworthy check on those in public office, is sadly diminished.

Like many others, I entered journalism in the age of Watergate. Now in the age of “Spotlight,” the need is no less urgent for oversight and accountability, but there are no jobs for idealistic college graduates. At some point, we are going to have to come up with a solution to stem the private and public corruption that has proliferated in recent decades — especially as the media gets swallowed up by corporate interests; genuine reliable sources become scarcer; and the public grows apathetic.

That’s why I was so impressed with Beaufort Watchdog. At the very least, it is an attempt to enable local citizens to contact a clearinghouse — to speak out, register, and monitor unreasonable and unlawful actions and behavior in Beaufort County. To be heard — which is a luxury in our age of dialing options and being put on hold. It will only be as useful as the support county residents provide it. I applaud their efforts and wish them every success.

This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 9:40 PM with the headline "Letter: Watchdog group needed."