Two years ago, we got a new editor and things changed dramatically for the better. We compete at least equally in the paper's awards program. The relationship between the copy desk, the assigning desk and the reporters isn't that great. The assignment desk is weak, and often doesn't edit the copy even a little bit. It is sent over to us in such disarray that it isn't unusual for us to send it back to them for a rewrite.
Relationships are generally good.
But the attitude toward skepticism is varied, and not encouraged overall. We all do layout and slot pages. When people leave our desk, they go to bigger papers, bigger desks. We don't when to pick our battles. We are more quick than thorough.