City Hall Communications Issues

It is obvious by our readership of the Moose Jaw Express and the readers and shares on our web page moosejawtoday.com, that we must be considered to be an important and trustworthy provider of news.

While others publish the press releases of the City, our publications continue to dig and get to what we deem are the real stories, without an agenda.

While the city has largely failed to do business with us (a local newspaper employing people in Moose Jaw), we have determined that we will not vary from truth, honesty and integrity.

We don’t make the news, we only write it, and it is writ

In the city where we were promised clear and open communications, we do not receive that. To us, there is an obvious prejudice against our publications, where it seems the city would rather not have us here, and the 56 families that pay taxes, buy groceries and vehicles would be out of a job, but we obviously feel differently.

I pulled up the City Mantra the other day.

While the mantra is a noble gesture, the city’s actions certainly do not represent the words.

Here is the City of Moose Jaw Mantra…

“Our Mantra is:

1. We are solution focused and ask “How can we help you?”

2.We resolve issues with a sense of urgency in a positive manner.

3.We have the courage to be innovative, try new ideas and suggestions and accept feedback.

4.We create opportunities for others to succeed. 5.We do not blame or make excuses.

6.We leave negativity and egos at the door.

7.We are in this together, we are TEAM.” Personally, as much as I would support such a Mantra, it would appear to me that, this is not about communicating with citizens, it is all about controlling and managing the self-serving message.

I conclude with this chronological timeline, which is more indicative of what we deal with at city hall. A journalist notes to me:

1) I called director of planning and development yesterday around 4:35 p.m., wanting to talk about a subdivision application of land in the west end of town that was discussed at the council meeting. (Tuesday May 26th) 2) They called me this morning (Wednesday May 27th) at about 8:30 a.m. to say they were not allowed to speak to me because of an internal communications policy and I had to go through Craig Hemingway, communications manager.

3) I called Craig at around 8:45 a.m. this morning and asked to speak with the director by phone about this council report. He said he would see what he could do. 4) I did not hear back from Craig for nearly two hours, so I emailed him at 10:03 a.m. asking if I could speak with them verbally.

5) Craig emailed back at 10:31 a.m. and said they could answer my questions, but I had to submit them in writing 6) I emailed Craig at 10:33 a.m. and said I wanted to speak verbally so we could have a conversation and I could ask follow-up questions on the spot. I also said it is inconvenient to submit questions about a topic as mild as land subdivision.

7) Craig emailed back at 10:39 a.m. and said, “For proper context and accuracy’s sake we prefer to answer your questions in writing. If, after receiving the answers, you have any follow up questions you may send and we will again respond.”

8) I emailed back at 10:44 a.m. and said I did not understand his comment and asked him to provide me with examples of how my articles have not demonstrated those requirements. I also said this email tag is cumbersome and it would be faster to verbally speak with the department. I also asked if the radio station has to submit questions ahead of time like this.

9) Craig emailed back at 10:53 a.m. and agreed that the email tag is cumbersome, and that I should email my questions and he would get back to me. He also said you told him not to discuss my articles with me. (please see publisher’s email of Jan. 31/2020 below)

10) I emailed him at 10:55 a.m. saying, “OK, thanks for your time.”

11) Craig read the email a minute later.

12) I then gave up on writing the article for the day 13) On Thursday May 28, I emailed Craig at 10:08 a.m. with my questions to the department. He read the message at 10:10 a.m.

14) Craig then emailed me back at 1:23 that afternoon with the answers.

That was the last communication in this email chain.

“Hi Craig,

Some of my reporters have indicated that you have contacted them expressing your concern about the coverage of City of Moose Jaw issues. First, thank you for reading our newspaper. It is nice to know that our coverage is being noticed.

Second though, I have to ask that you please contact myself and/or Joan about issues that you take with any articles, as opposed to our employees. As you can appreciate, reporters cannot take direction from City Hall employees on how issues are covered at City Hall. Indeed, it is antithetical for a free press to take direction on articles from those they are covering. The Moose Jaw Express has an obligation to raise issues that may be uncomfortable to the subjects of stories; this is the hard reality of our job in the media. I can understand why that may be a matter of consternation for you. It is important to remember though that we are only doing our jobs. That said, the Moose Jaw Express is committed to ensuring that we report matters accurately. Thus, if there are concerns with the factual accuracy of any story, we (Joan and I) would like to know right away so that we can correct any mistakes.

Please feel free to contact us in writing if you have any concerns.”

Robert Ritchie

Publisher moosejawexpress moosejawtoday.com

I am perplexed again and can only leave this in the readers’ hands.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of publication.