Information Suppression – The Press is Weak

From the Cliff Mass Weather Blog – September 10, 2023

“Conveniently” the Seattle Times does not allow comments on Mr. Horsey’s cartoons because prior comments have been critical. This is often true of other climate articles.

The Seattle Times Pushes Climate Anxiety

Alternative media is good about providing an active comment section.

Several comments have been posted with the blog above:

“i can confirm via my kids that most of their peers are gripped by the same anxiety. They are pushing this in schools to the point where kids are terrified and convinced their futures are gone.”

Away From The Opinion Page

The mainstream press provides news coverage that favors government agencies, departments and policies.

The press release style of news reporting means that 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.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

Love to see the mainstream press get out and interview people on various sides of any issue.

Nice example here –

0:41 in the video below:

If ethanol made a lot of sense we wouldn’t have to subsidize it or mandate its consumption:

I want to know what various people are thinking on various issues.

Sept 11th, 2001 Fire Investigation Protocols

Below is a video showing Erik Lawyer, a professional firefighter. Has any mainstream newsperson interviewed this man? If not, why not?

Erik Lawyer – Professional Firefighter

President Biden

The President walks out of a Medal of Honor ceremony:

Will any newsperson interview the President on this?

No press secretary. No public relations spokesperson. No freedom of information act requests. We are talking about a news interview with President Biden. He is running a reelection campaign. It is perfectly appropriate for him to show up and answer questions. Think of an NFL game. Coaches and quarterbacks face the press after every game and answer questions, win or lose.

Would President Biden be up for answering unscripted questions on TV in front of a live audience? Would President Biden be OK with a news media person who is critical of the federal government asking the questions?

Small Town Papers – Two Examples

In the news:

Example number one:

August 11, 2023 Whidbey News-Times

Whidbey sewer plants win state awards

“The Oak Harbor Clean Water Facility was recognized as outstanding by the Department of Ecology.”

“The Coupeville treatment plant received the outstanding performance award for the 13th consecutive year, and the Holmes Harbor plant was awarded for the 17th year in a row. The Penn Cove wastewater treatment plant was also a recipient this year.”

Beach adjacent to Award Winning Sewage Treatment Plant:

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

Love to see newspeople ask:

When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?

Zero questions from small or large newspapers. Zero questions from TV newspeople.

In the news:

Example number two:

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.

Any questions from newspeople?

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

Zero questions from small or large newspapers. Zero questions from TV newspeople.

The small papers will say they need more support from subscribers and advertising dollars or cash from the federal government to stay alive. All this because COVID or the internet or lack of newspaper sales, or a free and independent press that needs taxpayer support.

People who take no public funds, private donations or advertising dollars are free to ask questions at any time. Why not the press? Call for unpaid volunteers and you’d get better news coverage than what we have now.

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

No sense in subscribing to newspapers that do not ask public policy-related questions.

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