John Drescher responded to Gov. Mike Easley's comments.
In an interview with an N&O reporter, the newspaper's executive editor objected to Easley's characterization of the probation problem as being that too many convicted criminals receive probation instead of prison time, Ben Niolet reports.
"Gov. Easley might be the only person in North Carolina who thinks our probation system is working well and that the state is monitoring probationers as it should," Drescher said. "The correction secretary himself has acknowledged the state needs to do a better job."
Easley also blamed an ongoing lawsuit over e-mails for the N&O and Charlotte Observer's treatment of his administration. Drescher said the paper is doing its job by publishing tough stories.
"Our job is to dig, and we're going to keep digging," he said. "We'll do that in a professional way."
Drescher said the parties in the lawsuit are in discussions.
"We believe we've made a reasonable request that all state government e-mail be considered a public record," Drescher said.
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Re: Drescher disagrees with Easley's comments
I applaud the N & O and their efforts to report the news rather than just pass along the "approved" press releases.
I live in one of the smaller towns and our newspaper is one of the "Freedom ENC" chain. Their motto is that "everything is all good!" They toe-the-line and rarely ask any questions of government or the "city fathers." Read our newspaper and you would think that these were "the best of times." The editorial board is comprised of the paper's largest advertisers, the mayor's dog and some surfer in California.
So the efforts of the N & O seem mighty spectacular.