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HELSTON: Why I didn’t go to your government press event
As a journalist, I have the pleasure of dealing with government communications on a fairly frequent basis. You might not notice that because quite often, government officials are not quoted in my stories. Believe me, it’s not for lack of trying.
Either they didn’t call me back by deadline, they didn’t call at all, or they sent me a useless email statement that avoided every single one of my questions. I get better and more direct and courteous responses from people and organizations that don’t pay a designated entity to be available for media calls and to facilitate interviews (i.e. a communications officer.)
The only time I’m not being bounced around between communications people and staved off with emails is when a press event is happening. This week, for example, I was invited to attend a Ministry of Forests event described only as a “significant announcement related to community wildfire protection” and “something that will be of interest to your readers.”
Suddenly, I was their best friend. I got not one but two emails, and even a follow up phone call—a PHONE CALL! Do you know how hard those are to get?
I can only imagine the Ministry’s communications staff spent the day phoning all the local media to remind them of this special, not to be missed event. I’d like to say I felt special. Valued, even. But it just made me feel used.
I’m sick and tired of being phoned up to come running with my notepad and camera when the government decides to give money away. Feeding government PR to the public is not what I signed on for. My job is to ask the tough questions about subjects you don’t buy cake and balloons for.
Is it so much to ask, government relations, for you to provide me with the same attention you did this week with your big funding announcement the next time I request information or an interview? Because it’s not just me you’re snubbing. It’s this province’s residents, and they deserve better.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
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23 responses
Very well said Charlotte! Keep up the good work!
More Muckrakers! Less Corporate shills! g/j!
right on…
Go girl! awesome article and well said.
Well put Charlotte! Thanks for bringing this issue forward.
Imagine a press event for a cabinet minister and no one showed up! I would have one word to describe the situation – PANIC!
Dear Minister: Your happy announcement in Vernon yesterday received no coverage in my newspaper because I was tied up trying to get answers to the questions I submitted to you last month, and the month before that, and…
Maybe the media should not attend these events and get the politians’ attention. Nice job Charlotte.
Way to call them out! Keep at it, and thank you:)
Way to go Charlotte. Keep it up. If all journalists made them pay dearly for “not” answereing your questions or avoiding the issues, they would learn it is better to be truthful than to avoid or lie in answer to your questions. Make them pay.
Yeah… they need to hire her!
many media outlets are guilty of what I like to call press release reprinteritis. It is nice to see that you take your job seriously and take the time to develop the story, do your research and get the story. Of course different news sources will try to spin it their way, stick to your principles and call their nonsense and tell your readers what is really going on!
sadly the pundits at the beck and call of our shady government have lost not only their morals, but their job of accurate reporting. thank you!
Starta petition to all media to boycott them..Nice work..Keep it up,we need more people willing to keep it real..
Thanks for having integrity, Charlotte.The public appreciates your honest approach to journalism, something that is lacking in many media outlets.
Amen, sister!
Wow great commentary Charlotte! you are absolutely right!If you want a real story about the Ministry of Transportation (MOTI) you should look at the Agenda from the Regional District of the North Okanagan Board meeting of Feb. 4th, 2015. The Friends of Kal Lake Prov. Park made a great powerpoint presentation, and also presented a petition with close to 3,000 names opposing the MOTI proposal to remove a 30 meter wide right of way along the Cosens Bay Rd corridor in Kal Provincial Park. The friends ( FKLPP) asked the RDNO Board to write a letter of support for their position… RDNO has put off the discussion on this and not gotten back to FKLPP ( now March 21st, more than a month has gone by). RDNO is trying to invite MOTI to answer some questions on their motivation for this project( in public)and MOTI seems to be avoiding this at all cost. In this time of tight budgets why are they insisting on doing a very costly project to service so few seasonal cabin owners, they claim this has nothing to do with a development at the end of the road, this is just a safety issue for road maintenance. All their safety issues could be addressed with a Parks Use permit and keeping the right of way in the park, protected by the BC Parks. What is the real story?I wish some good reporters would dig a little on this one :-)
right on – and chronic. When politicos abuse the media, they are abusing the interests of their constituents.
Attend and report only the questions you asked and the answers you received to them. Or rather than go to the media event, continue asking the questions about the issues you are really investigating and report the questions and answers. If they give nothing report that. We do deserve better from them and I applaud your writing about your frustrations.
Keep doing what you’re doing. Great post.
Anyone who is a communications director for a politician needs to read this! Awesome work Charlotte.
Well said.And 100% on point.
Yes, I agree, you should be treated better. But, you are between a rock and a hard place as are the rest of the Journalists. As much as you would like to stay away when they beckon I would imagine that your boss wants you to attend and report. I believe the best you can do is what you did in this post and let the public know what jerks these people are on a regular basis. As far as I know you still have freedom of speech. Maybe not after Bill 51?