Press Needs More Funding?

Got into an interesting disscussion here.

Discussion ended after I made the replies below, due to:

“You’re unable to view this Tweet because this account owner limits who can view their Tweets.”

I posted:

I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

Love to see newspeople asking questions.

What we get now is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

I was told something similar to: The press would be able to ask more questions if people paid for more newspaper subscriptions.

My response:

Has an agreement been made that the local press may not report on or ask questions on some stories?

I will provide a couple of examples below.

Not picking on local newspapers here. We are hearing they are the ones who need more funds from subscription and advertising sales, federal bailout cash, etc.

The stories below will not be covered by pubic radio, news radio, local TV news stations, etc. If I have this all wrong, please post in comments.

Living on an Island near Puget Sound, there seems to be great concern for salmon, orca, eagles, recreational shellfish and clean water.

Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?

Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?

Maybe the press should be better about asking questions if they are going to line up for federal bailout cash.

Example Number One

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.

Coupeville

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

Oak Harbor

Oak Harbor City Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“Washington Department of Health (DOH) cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

Daily status reports here:

Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Following the situation on our blog for several years now.

A photo tour of Penn Cove here:

Wastewater Treatment Plant – Department of Ecology Award For Outstanding Performance

Example Number Two

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

Question to newspeople everywhere:

The average person can follow these stories and ask questions, but the press is not able to unless they get more funding?

JFK speaks about the role of the press and voices of dissent in a free society: