I'm deeply deeply concerned about the way the caribou consultation meetings are being reported on by our local media. At last Tuesday's meeting in Prince George, the room was full of vitriol, fear and anger. And as far as I can tell the media is "reporting" on this issue by just repeating people's fear and anger. This is a way of perpetuating people's fear and anger, causing more fear and anger. There has been no reporting that I've seen that has been a balance of views, voices of experts, data, or fact. It's just reporting fears, flat out misinformation and more fear. It's really quite disturbing and confusing.
The reports of job losses are super confusing, because I have yet to hear facts or data that areconnectedto these caribou agreements that will result in job losses. I understand that people are wondering about this and are worried, but it's the media's job to be curious about this and figure out if there is actual reason to worry. Investigate, don't just repeat people's fears.
The reports of backcountry closures are even more dumbfounding. The government has stated over and over and over again that there are no general backcountry closures. They stated that any closures on snowmobiling would be decided in the summer and would be done in conjunction with local snowmobiling clubs, and likely include funding for new snowmobiling developments, at least in the partnership agreement. This sounds like pretty generous consultation and inclusion in the decision making process. So instead of just parroting back to us people's fear, why not report the facts?
The mood at last Tuesday's meeting was terrifying. The media has to take some responsibility for that. You are stoking the fires. This is not responsible journalism. You are not being fair to the people of our community by reporting this way.
Finally, Stop The Spray BC put out a statement on Facebook and I think their perspective is a super important one. I implore Prince George media to think about where your reporting choices fit into this very unhelpful divide in our community. Here is part of it:
"Sadly, they (lumber corporations) have divided our people. Those of us who should be working on the same team, like hunters and conservationists, look at each other as enemies. Look at the caribou debate. This isn't the choice between caribou and jobs. If it was, where were the protests when they shut down a fully functional and feasible sawmill (Clear Lake) and shifted all production to Polar, costing 100 direct jobs and probably many more indirectly? Nobody said a word. This is the choice between caribou and a monopolized, over-capitalized industry that looks at every human as a liability that is better replaced with automation, and that is completely out of whack with our forests."
Jenn Matthews
Prince George
