Lately I have been getting quite a few questions that generally go like, “What’s going on with you (your publications) and city hall?”
The simple answer I found was in comments from a PEN America study:
Does democracy work without local news?
“The need for reliable local reporting is increasing, while in many places across the country once-vibrant local outlets have become "ghost newspapers."
Local news makes a huge difference, as local journalism declines, “government officials conduct themselves with less integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness,” and corporate malfeasance goes unchecked. According to the study, with the loss of local news, citizens are less likely to vote, less politically informed, and less likely to run for office. In essence, democracy loses its foundation.
"Local publications are the lifeblood of a strong democracy providing readers with coverage they can't get anywhere else.”
Basically, we need good reporting, which is something that cannot be refuted with our publications. I guess you could call that our “narrative” as we have been accused of having one.
Lately we have found through FOI (Freedom of Information) that the city manager has been spreading inaccurate information about myself the publisher, and our publications in an internal email, which apparently does not build good relationships [within their communication network] and in fact, does the opposite.
Excerpts from an April 10th email from city manager Mr. Puffalt to all councillors:
“We held our weekly press briefing on Thursday and were berated by the Moose Jaw Express.
“We took it off-line as they were very argumentative and at one point completely self-serving suggesting that we should put more advertising in their paper to let the seniors know what is happening.”
So here’s the thing, we have never asked them to put more ads in our paper ever; the comments were from another unaffiliated media source and one would have to conclude, either the city manager is ignorant of other news sources in Moose Jaw or has an intentional personal vendetta against these publications.
He as a city manager has never picked up the phone to call me or has never stopped by our office. I met him only once in a three-minute stand-up meeting regarding Mosaic Place. Does this show real leadership? The same applies to almost every councillor and the mayor, it seems it’s head-in-the-sand management.
The issues from City Hall seem to always come from their legal team, even when I offered an AMA (ask me anything) to him (city manager), the mayor and council and anyone else they would like to attend. They declined. Bottom line: We just write the news and have no axe to grind.
That said, we have always said, ‘we are the media that can’t be bought; we prefer to keep our honesty and integrity in place, rather than look for a little jingle in the jeans.’
We have also been attacked on where we stand on issues.
So here, hear it from me, so you know it’s right. My positions on things:
Canadian Tire - In favour of them coming; it would be good for Moose Jaw. My issues are the way the deal was handled; you don’t hold something with no money down.
Carpere - In favour of them being here; again, it’s good for the community. My issues are the same. I bet the deal could have been saved if you had experienced people dealing with this situation. My thinking is that if someone wants to buy and someone wants to sell, then there has to be a way to make this work.
Pea Plant (CPI) - Bad people, bad deal and I suspect in the excitement to get a deal, details were overlooked, again, because of perhaps a lack of experience.
SaskPower - Good win, especially when this was headed out the door. Only question I have is why they pay less per acre than what the city was asking of Carpere.
XL Beef Plant - Good win again; however, the adjacent land at $2,000 per acre? Ouch, we lose on that one. We really deserve an explanation on this one.
Carter Currie: Derelict Property, 1511 Hastings St - Agree with Coun. Chris Warren who said, “It’s disappointing this has played out in public, especially since city hall deals with hundreds of bylaw issues every year and almost none of them reach council’s table. This issue has created problems in the community, especially due to the media.”
However, if heed would have been paid to my email of November 2019 to the mayor, all councillors and the city manager, I suspect this might not have played out how it did.
This was my email of November 2019:
“Hey Folks,
I really don't see this as an article or letter to the editor we want to run, but I have been to the house in question and believe his complaints are valid. It has been empty for the past 15-plus years according to another neighbour and looks pretty moldy on the inside to me.
“I think there is validity in his claim and think he is owed an explanation or response, or perhaps I am missing something.
“It is not our job to be dealing with these issues.
“Please at least do him the courtesy of a response.”
Bottom Line: Our office is always open for comment and discussion, and whether you live in Iron Bridge or under a bridge, you have the same rights and the publications we operate are here for the citizens, to entertain, inform and engage.
Cheers,
Rob Ritchie, Publisher
