Sports Nicknames

As a young journalist, I was appalled to read about the Oregonian’s decision to drop Indian nicknames from its reporting, even if they are an integral part of a story (“Indian Sports Nickname Issue Riles Fans,” March 24).

By deciding not to use Indian nicknames, editors at the Oregonian have rid the paper of its integrity--the very thing that has made the Oregonian a highly respected newspaper.

It is disheartening to see editors take it upon themselves to inject their views in stories that clearly belong to pages other than the editorial page.

In addition, by choosing to stop using the nicknames in stories, the Oregonian’s editors have managed to manipulate the news to shape the views of their readers. The newspaper basically has thrown the journalistic tenet of objectivity out the window.

If there is anything I have learned in school, it is that a journalist always reports events as they are. Yes, it would be nice if one could change the facts a little bit to make the news politically correct. But, as one reader said, doing that is nothing but “irresponsible journalism.”

MICHAEL J. ROCHA

Assistant City Editor

Daily Titan

Cal State Fullerton