The White House press secretary who navigated President Bill Clinton through the shoals of his impeachment voyage has some sagacious media advice for President-elect Barack Obama when he takes office Jan. 20.

“Don’t try to use the press,” says Joe Lockhart. “Understand the value of the press to informing the public.”

In other words, don’t manipulate, mislead and misguide the press -- or live to regret the consequences of suspicious, even hostile journalism that can destroy the good will new presidents enjoy with the American public.

A primary responsibility of local newspapers is to hold accountable local government and other institutions of power, money and influence.

Len Downie, the retired editor of the Washington Post, recently spoke on this subject at the Poynter Institute, and he had some steller advice for community newspapers committed to watchdog journalism:

-- Local first. Serve your community with your investigations, just as with all of your coverage. Leave broad, national projects to the major news organizations.

By William Ketter
CNHI

The scenario is disturbing. A deputy sheriff sues the Terre Haute Tribune-Star for libel because it published a sworn citizen’s complaint against him. After four years of preliminary legal wrangling, an emotional trial ensues. Without regard to time-honored judicial precedent or the expressed purpose of the First Amendment, the jurors find in favor of the deputy sheriff and award him $1.5 million in damages – one of the highest defamation judgments in Indiana history.

We arrived in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, yesterday (July 25), impressed by the bustle of a city that 13 years ago, during my first visit here, seemed far more subdued and quiet.

The biggest change: hundreds of thousands of noisy Honda motorbikes have replaced the Flying Pigeon bicycles that were ubiquitous last time. Fewer cars, vans and trucks compete for scant space. Pedestrians who venture onto the roadways do so at their peril.

Editor & Publisher, the national trade publication, is accepting submissions for its "Photos of the Year" contest for pictures published in newspapers or on Web sites.

Any CNHI newsroom that took exceptional pictures capturing the mosaic of community life -- happiness, sadness, relief, fear, death -- should consider entering the contest.

You can submit your potential prize-winning photos to:
www.editorandpublisher.nielsencontests.com.

The deadline for entries is Sept. 12.