demand that the newspaper be "more sensitive and accountable for what it prints''.

The group, calling itself "The Community of Social Conscious,'' yesterday sent the newspaper a letter announcing the boycott by fax from the Bermuda Public Services Association.

Royal Gazette General Manager Mr. Keith Jensen said the group appeared "to be carrying out a vendetta towards the newspaper in the aftermath of the election''.

Mr. Ed Ball, Jr., a spokesman for the group, said concerns came to a head during the recent election campaign, when the newspaper "was used to further the cause of a particular body at the expense of another.'' Asked to elaborate, Mr. Ball said there were far more letters to the Editor criticising the Progressive Labour Party than attacking the United Bermuda Party. "There's got to be a balance,'' he said.

Aside from the editorial page, where letters to the Editor appeared, "based on our feedback, for the most part the reporting was fairly good, until it came to selected items,'' Mr. Ball said. "For the most part, I think your reporters did a good job.'' Among the election items that Mr. Ball did not feel were properly handled were those following a speech that PLP candidate and BPSA General Secretary Mr.

Eugene Blakeney delivered at a PLP rally in Hamilton Parish on September 27.

In the event of a PLP victory, Mr. Blakeney was quoted as saying there could be "one or two'' civil servants who were too close to the Government to be impartial. "If in fact it's felt that they cannot be loyal, then obviously, our Leader, Brother Freddie, will do what he has to do,'' Mr. Blakeney said.

The story sparked an uproar and a barrage of criticism of Mr. Blakeney from UBP candidates. BPSA president Mr. Stephen Emery later called a news conference to say Mr. Blakeney's comments were misinterpreted and blown out of proportion.

"I don't think there was an attempt on behalf of The Royal Gazette to get to see the whole speech,'' and "what was actually said,'' Mr. Ball said.

A former president of the BPSA, Mr. Ball is now Mr. Blakeney's BPSA assistant.

But his association with Mr. Blakeney and the BPSA should not deflect from his criticisms of the newspaper, he said.

Mr. Ball, who called for a boycott from November 22 to 27, would not say how many others belonged to the group.

Mr. Jensen said the news coverage during the election was "fair and balanced,'' and the editorials represented the Editor's "independent views.'' Those who disagreed wrote letters to the Editor, which were published.

"The Social Conscious group could easily join in with the newspaper to agree that differing opinions can be healthy in a democracy, and to defend for all the right to express them,'' he said.

The newspaper was reviewed daily as "we strive to be the most informative, fair and authoritative news source'', he said.

Mr. Jensen said he was disappointed that the group, whose other members have not been identified, had not approached the newspaper to discuss their concerns before calling for a boycott.

Representatives of the newspaper and the group agreed yesterday to meet in the near future.

Mr. Ball said the newspaper had to be more accountable to customers and improve its quality. "We would just hope that the paper begin to realise that it lives in the '90s and everything is changing.'' He cited a photograph that accompanied an October 26 article about a dog attack on a child. Pictured beside the story was Mr. Bryant Richards, owner of the dog and uncle of the victim.

In the file photograph that was used, Mr. Richards was smiling. "When you look at that photograph, you see a smiling black man,'' Mr. Ball said.

"That's his nephew who got hurt -- he's not going to be smiling.

"I would suspect that the picture should reflect the seriousness of the story.'' The Royal Gazette "helped to foster divisiveness in the community'' with that and other "one-sided or insensitive'' stories, he said.

"No one is out to ruin the paper. We realise until there is another form of competition, there is always going to be The Royal Gazette -- the only daily.''