cohorts begin their attacks on the media. It is easier for them to run against the media than to run against each other. The right says the media is too liberal and the left, if there is such a thing in middle class Bermuda, says the media is too "Front Street''.

The United Bermuda Party constantly complains that this newspaper is too pro the Progressive Labour Party and the PLP brands The Royal Gazette as the mouthpiece of the UBP. The UBP says the ZBM news staff is in the pocket of the PLP and the PLP says The Royal Gazette staff have an alliance with the UBP.

None of it is true, of course.

On Par-la-Ville Road we are used to criticism. We take it seriously and we try to learn. We are the first to admit that The Royal Gazette is by no means perfect and we "take our lumps''. But lately the criticism has turned personal and has turned to threats. We do not like that because we don't think threats have a place in the life of Bermuda.

Sometimes the media is attacked because politicians are made very uncomfortable by the truth. Sometimes politicians attack in response to criticism. When politicians attack the media it is always sensible to remember that Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew spent months attacking the media before President Nixon resigned in disgrace over Watergate.

There is a kind of fashion for blaming the media for the personal failings of individuals and political parties and schemes of one sort or another. That is created by the thinking that everything can be excused as long as you can find someone to blame it on. If you are arrested, blame the Police. If you fail an exam, blame the examiner. If you lose your job, blame the system.

This newspaper takes a great deal of criticism, often because of its efforts to occupy the middle ground. It would be easy to always support one side or the other and always have friends. But that cannot and must not be. Basically this newspaper just goes about reporting the news day by day. If the news is bad, the paper is accused of being negative. If the news is good, then The Royal Gazette is not behaving seriously. If we take out the sexy bits, we are stuffy. If we run underwear advertisements, we are disgusting. If we support a UBP idea then we are the mouthpiece of the establishment. If we rally behind "The Five'', we are anti-Government. If we mention the PLP in a favourable light, then we are throwing away Bermuda's future.

Editorial opinion? It is just that, an opinion. Just as individuals have opinions so the newspaper has an opinion. Sometimes you will agree and sometimes you will not. We have supported every piece of progressive legislation in Bermuda for over 20 years yet we are criticised by the "progressive'' party. When people react strongly to the opinions expressed, it is often an indication that the shoe fits.

Some of the criticism reflects the fact that The Royal Gazette is such a dominant factor in the news in Bermuda. It is read by more than 80 percent of the market and read to the listening public by the broadcast media day in and day out. The Royal Gazette suffers because the people have no alternative news source. Bermudians tend to take both The Royal Gazette and its contents very personally. They have a right to do that because The Royal Gazette is Bermuda's newspaper.