By Tim Pinkerton - Simpsonville City Councilman

*At a recent Simpsonville Council Meeting, members received a letter from a local 16-year-old resident concerned about getting local news and views on the Sentinel, it wasn’t flattering. I had composed this piece prior to reading it but found it interesting. I am not including it and have asked to have a conversation with this young adult. Now this:

First, Thanks to Bob Gecy for allowing our local communities to openly opine in the Simpsonville Sentinel. This includes Simpsonville, Fountain Inn, Mauldin Council Members and Administrators. The Sentinel is our community’s best option for the printed word. Yes, I know it’s easy now to pop online and get a world of news, but I’ve always been a fan of the local newspaper all my life. Below is a letter to the editor I wrote to the Greenville News a few years ago. I don’t think it was ever printed. I do subscribe to the Epoch Times, though not local, and the Simpsonville Sentinel, very local. Thanks Bob and staff of the Sentinel!

To the Editor:

I’ve always enjoyed reading the local newspaper even as a young boy growing up in the 60s. Back then we received two papers a day brought by the paper boy who lived in our neighborhood. Back then and even later on in my life the morning paper came early, generally brought by someone who had to go to school or another job. I could read the news, sports etc. while enjoying breakfast and coffee. But not lately. For instance, yesterday’s Sunday edition, I picked up after 11 AM and today’s… well it hasn’t come yet at 1:30 PM. Not so unusual unfortunately and the good news is if it doesn’t come today it may show up with the Tuesday edition. Bonus! Not sure if this is the deliverer’s fault or that the News may be printed in another State.  

However, the delivery is not the only concern I have about The Greenville News. It’s the content. 

For at least the past year the News consistently bases much of its coverage on race and when it’s convenient. Now don’t get me wrong about race issues. I worked for many years for one of the world’s top engineering and construction companies maintaining a platform of diversity in the workplace. We worked with people all over the world and with all of my colleagues it was never about race. It was about ability, character and integrity regardless of color of skin, religion, sex or country. We were together in our quest for accomplishment. But when I read through the articles in the News, I feel the division being sewn. I applaud when I read about accomplishments but seen through ability, character and integrity not through or because of race. Sorry, I don’t get it.

I searched and see that the News prints about 50,000 copies a day. Who are your customers? Those who subscribe? Do you list or track them by race or religion? Probably not because you base your income on subscriptions and advertisements. More subscriptions equate to more income and more exposure to your advertisers. That’s the business model. But that model will not be including me any longer. Frankly if I wanted a subscription to the USA Today, I’d get that instead. The good news is that I subscribe to another paper, the Epoch Times. It comes but once a week but enough content to fill me all week. Plus, an online site that offers me content without constantly bombarding me with ads and/or limited monthly reads. 

I’ve been debating this move for weeks. You see I like getting the local news, at a convenient time of course, but with fair content and a subscription with local news and local reporters. And another thing, the news we read in your paper today usually happens a few days earlier. Just take a look at the sports page.  

I hate to see me go. Farewell Greenville News. 

Tim Pinkerton
202 S Almond Dr
Simpsonville, SC 29681
864-219-7488