Editorial: In reply to the Scarlet Missionaries

This is my reply to the last statements made by Sister Magwitch from the Scarlet Missionaries, regarding the Azeroth Journal and some of our staff. The quotes included in this editorial come from the letter sent by the aforementioned missionary to this newspaper, and the full text can be found in the section "Letters from our readers".

Quote: "... Minetha bullied and threatened editor Maud Doe demanding complete editorial control over the paper..."

I haven't been bullied or threatened in any way by Commander Nightingale. In fact, I haven't seen her since the day we met for the interview.

Quote: "... Said one journalist 'We can't blame Maud - Minetha's unpredictable and violent..."

All members of the Azeroth Journal staff have an identity card, signed by me. I highly recommend to distrust any person who claims to be a member of our newspaper, unless he or she proves it by showing the aforementioned document.

Quote: "... [Minetha] also demanded that a junior criminal - Tugnas Splattersplog, be given a fake job on the paper so the Guild of Criminals could monitor all journalistic output."

Don Tugnas applied for a job himself, and Commander Nightingale and me have never talked about this militant. Don Tugnas' curriculum vitae qualifies him more than enough, and besides, he's an expert in languages, which makes him a key member of our staff.

The Azeroth Journal's criteria for hiring journalists is based only in their skills, their experience, and their will to work tirelessly in the search of the truth. We do not discriminate against anyone because of their gender, race, political or religious beliefs. From our point of view, having a rich and wide variety of opinions is essential to present all sides of each subject, and thus, delivering a clearer picture of it to the citizens.

Quote: "... Minetha demanded a featured interview which critics slammed as 'sicophantic and fawning rubbish'."

It wasn't Commander Nightingale, but me, who had the idea. I sent her a letter asking for an interview, which can be found in a former issue. If you read it, you'll find a disclaimer stating that neither the Azeroth Journal, nor The People's Militia, considered the Scarlet Missionaries as criminals in any way.

I also want to state that I sent a letter to brother Camillus asking him for an interview, but never got a reply. Our journalist Mestorath Seveyis has been recently trying to contact both brother Tyberias and brother Habeus for the same purpose, without success. So from here, I'd like to send the heads of the Scarlet Missionaries, again, a request to accept our invitation for an interview.

Regarding the independence of this newspaper, I must declare that we don't accept funds from any citizen or organization, though I've received succulent offers. I'm the only owner of the Azeroth Journal, and I worked hard to gather enough money for its foundation, even asked for a credit to the Stormwind Bank, that I'm still paying back. Our budget is reduced, the salaries are low, and our staff works more for the search of the truth than for the money.

To conclude this editorial, I'll say that as head of the Azeroth Journal, I'll conduct an internal investigation regarding this matter. If we let our independence be questioned, we'd be loosing our very roots, the values that gave birth to this newspaper: the search for the truth, and the will to deliver it to all citizens of Azeroth.

May the Light shine upon us all, and upon the truth, which will prevail without any doubt.

June 17, 2006 Maud Doe, editor.