Why don’t more newspapers hire ombudsmen?

By David Cox

One of the most important responsibilities ceded to a newspaper by its community is the editorial page role as independent and unwavering observer, adviser and, sometimes, critic.

Generally speaking, I think we do a pretty good job of it. We investigate issues, weigh the facts and urge conclusions or make judgments. And, if we do our jobs well, these daily pronouncements may frequently be unpopular.

We weather the criticism and make our observations in the name of societal health and the overall best interests of our community. Thanks to our efforts to shine the light of fact …