The Media Should Be As Accountable As Politicians

As some readers of the Stephenson Blumdoggle know, Tutty has a Facebook page and often uses that page to post links to Facebook pages of local media.  Some local media block Tutty's posts, others are accepting of Tutty's posts.  Tutty put a link to yesterday's post regarding the Freeport City Clerk on WIFR TV's (Rockford, Illinois, channel 23) Facebook page.

Much to Tutty's surprise, WIFR TV commented on Tutty's link, this is what they wrote:

WIFR TV "That particular report is about a minor crack found in the detention basin. Officials say it took 20 minutes to repair the crack with "IEPA appoved" caulk."

Tutty then responded:

Tutty Baker

‎"@WIFR TV Do you have the the actual attachments or is that what someone at Freeport City Hall told you? Sorry but Tutty does not trust local media anymore than local politicians...nothing personal...Tutty likes all you guys...Tutty really does. But if Tutty can't attribute it Tutty don't write it...Tutty only expects the same from local media. Please post the attachments to the letter from the IEPA that Tutty referenced if you have them. Thank you."

 

 

As of this writing posting Tutty has not seen the attachments.  If WIFR has the attachments then Tutty would like it proven.  Who did WIFR talk to?  The City of Freeport?  The IEPA?  Who?

 

When it comes to that which gets presented publicly the attribution needs to be there.  The same goes for Tutty.  Tutty learned a long time ago that no one cares what Tutty thinks, the public is only interested what it Tutty knows.  And without substantiation, Tutty, nor any other media source knows a damn thing.

 

Instead of just repeating what ever local officials tell them, local media, including every Rockford television station, needs to attribute their audio and video.  In today's digital world local those calling themselves local media could put up the actual documentation with little or no trouble.  

 

Go back and look at what all the local media was broadcasting and printing about Mill Race Crossing in 2005, 2006, 2007 and into 2008.  Years of propagandizing an industrial park that without any confirmed buyers or tenants and miles from the closest water and sewer supply.  Thanks local media.

 

Any one that would have looking at the facts five or six years ago instead of listening to local media would have been able to see that Mill Race Crossing was a failure in the making.  Why do you think Stephenson County officials avoided a feasibility study?

 

Tutty really hopes that when local media puts a microphone in front of some politicians mouth and allows that politician to describe a public issue...well then local media has a responsibility to educate themselves on whatever the said issue is to make sure that the "public official" is not just blowing smoke up the collective public butt.

 

Didn't someone famous once say "trust but verify?"

 

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com