My bunk detector redlined twice this month.
What’s a bunk detector?
Pretty much the same thing as a B.S. detector that some of my journalism profs used to talk about way back in the day.
Bunk just sounds better.
Redlined?
For those of you who drive a car with a tachometer, you’ll be familiar with the red zone — aka the danger zone — that indicates maybe you should step off the gas a wee bit or change gears.
This it how it works: When somebody says something that is completely false or infers something based on assumptions that is also completely false, my bunk detector goes off.
It went off this month for two reasons.
Reason number one: I read something by a media commentator who inferred that NPA mayoral candidate Kirk LaPointe will essentially get favourable coverage from the Courier because one of the senior staff at Glacier Media — which owns the Courier — is on the NPA’s board of directors.
That commentator was Charlie Smith at the Georgia Straight. This is what he wrote:
“[LaPointe] might tilt a little left for the CBC, go a bit harder right on CKNW Radio, and know that no matter what, he’ll be treated fairly by his former colleagues at the Vancouver Sun. Glacier Media outlets shouldn’t be a huge problem, given that one of its executives is on the NPA board of directors.”
Interesting, since when I originally read that paragraph, Smith said the Sun would treat LaPointe with “kid gloves.” Hmmm, that allegation is now missing from his copy. Guess my colleague at the Sun, Jeff Lee, got to him.
Now onto the Glacier/NPA connection: Yes, Peter Kvarnstrom, who is Glacier’s president of B.C. operations, is a member of the NPA’s board of directors. Yes, he has an office upstairs.
For what it’s worth, I can assure you he has not interfered with my coverage of civic politics. I barely see the guy and, quite frankly, I don’t want to get any exclusive NPA news from him. I’m sure he feels the same way.
When I was the first reporter to break the news that LaPointe was being courted by the NPA, that scoop did not come from Kvarnstrom or anybody in the NPA; I won’t give away trade secrets but you might be surprised how I found out.
Reason number two my bunk detector redlined this month: When news surfaced about Mayor Gregor Robertson separating from his wife, a few reporters in this town were notified several weeks before the mayor’s office issued a statement about the break-up.
I was not one of them.
Even if I were, I wouldn’t have written anything about it because the mayor’s personal matter doesn’t affect public policy or the day-to-day running of the city. Full stop.
But when I learned I was left out of the loop because Kvarnstrom was a member of the NPA board, I wasn’t too happy. I guess the thinking by the Vision camp was news of the mayor’s break-up would cause me to bolt upstairs like a dog and drop this bone of personal information at the feet of my master.
So let me say this: If I were ever told by any of the owners/managers of Glacier Media to write a favourable story about a candidate or an issue — or share information given to me in confidence — I would turn off my computer, pack up a few things and call it a day.
Also: If political types in this city or any other conspiracy theorists have a concern with my coverage of civic issues, then call me. But before you do, make sure you have evidence — you know, facts.
Otherwise, all you’re putting out there is pure, unadulterated bunk.
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