People are going to be mad at me

There's a member of one elected body who chews me out when they don't like what I've written. I've just told this person I will not take a phone call and that they can send me a comment in writing. Because I know what this person is mad about, and I am not going to back down. 

What's the point of being a journalist if you're not going to have a principle? 

In this case, a locality has put a system in place that offers less information then before. I am pointing this fact out while explaining to my readers what has changed. 

Then again there's a change coming over me and I'm not sure I believe in any of this anymore. I'm not sure if I believe anything anymore except that death looms above us all. I'd rather that not be my religion, and I would like to have faith that what I do is important.

But I don't believe it anymore. There are too many powerful forces and I'm concerned I will cave. 

Authoritarianism can happen at the local level, too. I'm trying to figure out what this person could do to me if I continue to anger them. We are at a time when all elected officials must be judged by the threats that can be made from the top.