January
31, 2002
Small
Media Need Not Have Small Minds
My columns
are sent via email to over 200 media outlets throughout
the province using addresses taken from the media guide
that is available on the government website. Some of those
media are publishing my articles giving me hopes of syndicating
a column sometime.
Unfortunately
since Black Thursday, a handful of media who receive my
columns have rushed to defend the Campbell government and
have sent nasty notes demanding to be taken off my mailing
list.
The
note copied below is from the person listed in government's
media guide as the editor of the Chilliwack Progress
(a little paper that publishes three times a week). (Mr.
Collin's note pales compared to what was sent from the news
editor of CJAV radio in Port Alberni.)
>
From: Rick Collins [mailto:editor@theprogress.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 10:50 AM
> To: Schreck@StrategicThoughts.com
> Subject: Re: Pay cuts: 32% for welfare, 5% for MLAs,
3% for the Premier
>
> And your point of all this is?
>
> Please remove us from receiving more of your ridiculous
drivel.
-------------------
Update:
On Friday, Feb. 1st, Mr. Collins sent an email apologizing
for his rude note. It appears his apology followed emails
sent to him from people visiting this site. I thank Mr.
Collins for his apology, and I thank those who expressed
concern over his note.
-------------------
The
following is my response to Mr. Collins:
The
point 1) flushes out media outlets that are interested in
only one side of the news, and 2) responds to the news release
that was put out by government and is on the top of the
government webpage thereby mixing partisan politics with
government business.
Your
note is being posted to my website and you are being removed
from my list.
---David
Schreck
Politics
is about much more than elections. Day to day policy decisions
are influenced by public debate which is primarily carried
out through the media. When news outlets express interest
in hearing only one side of the many sides of a story, we
are all worse off.
I
appear weekly on CFAX and on CKNW. Both of those stations
enjoy large audiences and neither could be accused of showing
the least bit of hostility towards the Campbell government.
Nevertheless, they appreciate the importance of providing
some opportunity for their audience to be exposed to more
than one point of view.
-------
NB:
Following the posting and distribution of this column,
someone from CKQR in Castlegar sent the following email
(it speaks for itself, other media should not be judged
by the standard reflected in the CKQR note):
From: BKRadio News [ mailto:news@bkradio.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 7:37 PM
To: Schreck@StrategicThoughts.com
Subject: Re: Small Media Need Not Have Small Minds;
Questions for Human Resources
PLEASE REMOVE US FROM YOUR LIST...........THERE IS
ENOUGH NEGATIVISM IN THIS WORLD WITHOUT INVITING YOURS
IN AS WELL....
YOU AND THOSE TWO NDP MEMBERS CAN HOLD YOUR NEXT CELEBRATION
IN A PHONE BOOTH.... THANX
P.S. THERE IS NO DOUBT WHO HAS THE TEENY TINY SMALL
MIND.....
On Thursday
morning a like minded scribe sent the following:
>
-----Original Message-----
> From: Esquimalt News [mailto:esquimaltnews@vinewsgroup.com]
> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2002 10:39 AM
> To: Schreck@StrategicThoughts.com
> Subject: Re: Small Media Need Not Have Small Minds
>
> Thanks for sharing your personal correspondence with
me (and your entire
> mailing list). I'm sure the journalists you singled
out understand the
> difference between impassioned writing and hysterical
ranting.
> I have no interest in running any of your material.
We have plenty of
> local, big-minded voices to fill our small paper
with.
> Please stop sending me your unsolicited submissions.
>
> Jim Zeeben
> Esquimalt News
>
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