There’s a small army of propagandists on the Campbell government payroll called Public Affairs Officers. I call them Spin Doctors.

Is it fair … is it even legal … that public employees should be hired with, I allege, the goal of shaping public opinion?

Order-in-Council #656, Sept. 2006, reveals that 185 NEW Spin Doctors were hired in one day … in addition to those already on the payroll, with more hired since then. Price these government employees out even at a median $50,000 p.a. salary and it’s a fair piece of change.

I don’t know, of course, but I do wonder if these weird campaigns about The Golden Era … the Best Place on Earth … and muscling into the 6 o’clock news with a free TV performance … are examples of their work.

I wish it would stop.

.

(Response: Thanks ..and feel free to get in on the discussions … agree or disagree ..blogging gives us that freedom! ho)

I know CKNW is going to run it in its entirety.

I hope CTV and Global run the speech as well,call it even steven and stop the practice.

If the stations have any credibility left they should play the Carole James statement.

Not that it matters much Harv

You and I both know who is going to win both bi-elections.

one party will receive 32% the other pary 54% the rest to the other parties.

cheers

(Response: I agree.. the same stations that carried Campbell DURING their news show should also carry James DURING their news show ..and then STOP the practice. Let anyone who wants to make a speech do so at any other time but NOT during what is supposed to be a NEWS show. ho)

(Response: I agree with your concerns about the media giving one politician an easier ride than any other. It does not serve a free society well .. especially in the era of such concentrated ownership. As for your comment on the Tyee .. my blog is on their list of blogs ..but havent seen anything ever included on their Hook. In fact, I wrote to Hook editor Monte Paulson expressing concern about this …but never received a reply. ho )

I am deeply sickened by the lack of teeth news orgs show anymore. Keep up the work – you’re filling a big fat void!

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Martin C
Date: 2008/10/26
Subject: Gordon Campbell’s free political advertising.
To: CTV, Global. CHEK

I am deeply disappointed with the total lack of integrity exhibited by your news organization.

You chose to air a 12 minute political campaign speech during the news. As a news organization I would expect you to uphold your ethical and professional responsibility to your audience and ASK PROBING RELEVANT QUESTIONS of the person speaking, and not just accept a one sided presentation.

You have failed your audience. I am very angry with the low levels of credibility this travesty illuminated by your organization. Isn’t there a single person in charge there who could have insisted that this ‘clip’ be treated as a news story and not something that should be run in it’s entirety DURING THE NEWS??

The only questions that remain are – how much were you paid to air this clip? If you weren’t paid for this advertisement (and make no mistake that is EXACTLY what it was – merely dressed up as an ‘emergency’), then will you will of course be offering a similar amount of time for all the other parties in BC to present their views, and dare I say it? – provide a rebuttal? Has the concept of EQUAL AIR TIME for political speeches fallen by the way side along with your integrity?

I will never ever again tune into your stations news. The CBC seems to be the last bastion for credible reporting in British Columbia.

Grow a pair.

THANK YOU for printing what I’ve felt in my heart for a long time now.

The opposition parties need to grow a pair and speak out. What the heck have they got to lose at this point? Nothing. They also stand to gain the respect of people like me who wondering why they’re asleep at the switch.

If they don’t stand up for themselves people will only lose respect for them.

Loved the bit about the CRTC. Yup, they’re bulldogs with no teeth, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the liberals and media conglomerates will sit up and scramble if a formal complaint if lodged with the CRTC every time the media panders to the liberals and doesn’t give equal access/treatment to the opposition. No government wants outstanding complaints with a federal body to be out there ready to be used against them. (basi/virk rant implied)

I’d even volunteer to help them do this. I’d wager they’d have no trouble finding some retired gov hacks or retired media people who would be willing to assist. The level of inequity in the media is mind boggling.

ps – you need to get your blog out there in search results for more people to find it. please look into it. I like this blog!

(Response: Spread the Blog!!! Let people know about it ..get folks talking ..mention it on talk shows or community newspapers. Let’s face it … the major media sure won’t promote it (LOL) and I havent even been able, for some reason, to get my articles/analysis included on The Tyee’s Hook, which runs all kinds of political analysis pieces from others. But I keep doing it ..because I care about good journalism, holding politicians’ feet to the fire … and fairness in reporting, especially on political issues. ho)