IT has recently come to our attention that a significant number of people do not understand what we, as reporters, actually do.

In its simplest form, the job involves writing down what people say and then either spinning a story around their words or adding their words into a different news item.

Not a difficult concept to grasp is it?

It seems that some people, when ringing us with a story, forget what we are and the core of what we do - we write things down.

There have been a number of people calling to complain recently because, while they assumed we were having a friendly chat, I was doing my job.

Needless to say, their candid comments made it into print and they were not happy about it.

One of these was a council officer who made remarks about the “lovely people of Rhyl” stealing public property.

He later said that it may not have been true, he’s now in trouble with his bosses and anyway, he didn’t think I’d actually print it.

Goodness me, a journalist writing a story based on what’s told to him by a council officer - whatever next?

Another incident involved a prominent member of Rhyl’s Labour group, who had met the Prime Minister and was less than impressed with him.

She told me about it, the story ran as a short in The Visitor and she got in trouble with the Party.

For some reason this is my fault. I don’t get it.

Really people, we do want you to call in, we want you to talk to us and tell us your opinions, news and views.

Just don’t be surprised when they appear in print.

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