The best of enemies

By: Joe Strupp S.F. INDEPENDENT RUNS UNUSUAL ADS REGARDING local district attorney RACE

When San Francisco district attorney candidate Bill Fazio believed he could no longer get fair coverage from the San Francisco Independent, he didn't file a lawsuit or demand corrections.
He simply bypassed the editors and took his case straight to the community newspaper's readers.
In an unusual move, the Independent ? which has run dozens of stories in recent years calling Fazio everything from a liar to an incompetent prosecutor ? published a full-page Fazio ad that basically told readers not to believe what they read in the newspaper.
"Don't be fooled by the Independent," the 6,100 dollar ad screamed in bold lettering in the paper's Dec. 7 issue. "This newspaper is a tool of the [incumbent District Attorney] Terence Hallinan campaign." The ad went on to accuse the thrice-weekly publication of failing to mention Fazio endorsements from political leaders, making unfair attacks on his record as a 20-year prosecutor, and having questionable ties to his opponent.
Ellie Schafer, Fazio's campaign manager, said the ad was a good campaign move for her client, whom she believes has received distorted coverage from the Independent. "It can only help," said Schafer, who added that she was surprised the newspaper would run the ad.
Independent Publisher Ted Fang, who is known in the city for his fierce political support of candidates and issues, said he found the Fazio ad unusual, but believes in giving all political sides a chance.
"We don't censor," said Fang.
But the story doesn't end there. Although Fang was glad to sell Fazio space to vent his anger at the Independent, the publisher also wanted to counter the candidate's charges of biased reporting. So Fang printed his own, full-page, house ad right next to Fazio's.
"Nothing more clearly demonstrates why Mr. Fazio must not be elected to public office than his letter he has written to Independent readers," the house ad stated. "In this election, the Independent is not the issue. Fazio's record, integrity, and abilities are."
San Francisco voters will go to the polls Dec. 14 to vote for district attorney.

Strupp, associate editor for E&P, is a former reporter for the San Francisco Independent.
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(copyright: Editor & Publisher December 11, 1999) [Caption]