A brief text exchange may say more about the editorial mindset at the Big Bend Sentinel than any of its headlines.
When our publisher accidentally texted Sentinel editor Rob D’Amico instead of attorney Rod Ponton about a courthouse photo the Sentinel had published — noting that Ponton had been “cut in half” in the picture — D’Amico’s response was blunt: “Ha. I noticed that and left it.”
That casual admission reflects a pattern many readers have observed in the Sentinel’s coverage. Under D’Amico’s leadership, stories often seem to favor one side — particularly when attorney Rod Ponton is involved in a case. The Sentinel’s reporting on legal matters, including proceedings involving Cibolo Creek Ranch earlier this year and a Pinto Canyon land dispute last year, has followed that trend.
The same editorial tone was evident when the Sentinel covered the ordeal involving Big Bend Times publisher David Flash, who faced more than a dozen baseless investigations and five false criminal charges — all ultimately dismissed. While NewsWest 9 led with the headline “All charges dismissed against West Texas journalist David Flash,” the Sentinel’s version read “Harassment charges against Big Bend Times publisher dropped.”
The Sentinel’s framing placed the emphasis on the accusation rather than the exoneration — a stark contrast to how other regional outlets reported the same facts.
When a newspaper cuts off not just people in photos but perspectives in print, it’s no longer editing — it’s editorializing. And in small communities like ours, that matters.
