The Star-Bulletin’s Erika Engle got the jump on everyone with an update that on layoffs resulting from the KHNL-K5-KGMB conglomeration that names names of those getting 60-day notices.
And Kauai reporter/blogger Joan Conrow was the only reporter present and got the scoop on the first courtroom test of Hawaii’s new media shield law in a Kauai case involving independent film maker Keoni Kealoha Alvarez. Her story appears in the Hawaii Independent.
Honolulu attorney Jim Bickerton represented Alvaraz, and commented on the law’s coverage of nontraditional journalists.
Bickerton applauded Watanabe’s ruling, especially her determination that Alvarez is a journalist. He had argued that the law was intended to protect all journalists, including those working independently.
“It’s always an interesting day when a new law is affirmed by the courts for the first time,” Bickerton said after the hearing. “It’s clear that the judge did her homework and had looked at the law and its history in detail, and so Mr. Alvarez is understandably pleased that the new law has withstood its first test and is providing protection to him and other journalists.
“Hawaii is fortunate to have a shield law,” he continued. “It will give journalists the ability to dig deeper into their subject and that benefits society as a whole. It creates a chilling effect on journalists if they think they will be dragged into a lawsuit.”
Governor Linda Lingle’s web site this morning features the following announcement:
Today, Governor Lingle will address the people of Hawai`i, via a live webcast, to provide an update on the State budget, public employee union labor negotiations and binding arbitration with the Hawai`i Government Employees Association (HGEA) and United Public Workers (UPW).
This announcement leaves out key details that I happened to catch on a Hawaii Public Radio news report late yesterday afternoon.
According to HPR, Lingle’s speech will be web-only and carefully controlled. It will be closed to the media, no reporters allowed and, as a result, no questions taken. She’s sounding more like George W. Bush every day.
Meanwhile, I’m told Lingle sent out a response to the Advertiser’s stories about the state’s investment in auction-rate securities, meant as a short-term investment but now a dead weight as no market exists for them. But her statement was apparently sent only to the news media and is not among the many news releases archived on the governor’s web site.
A couple of other comments about Lingle’s official web site.
Since last night, I’ve been getting an intermittent error message when trying to visit the governor’s site. “Site Error”, it says, “exceptions.MemoryError”.
The governor’s office seems to have its own version of “MemoryError”.
The follow list of news items was displayed on the governor’s home page last night and this morning in a section titled “In the News”. Notice anything?
If your answer was that it only includes headlines favorable to the governor, you’re right. All those other pesky headlines are simply ignored.
Take a quick spin on Google and you’ll see some of those “other” headlines:
Lingle looking at more layoffs
Honolulu Star-Bulletin – Richard Borreca – ?Aug 29, 2009?Court blocks Hawaii from cutting health benefits for Micronesians
Honolulu Advertiser – Mary Vorsino – ?Sep 2, 2009?Hawaii Gov. Lingle, union spar over layoffs
Forbes – ?Aug 7, 2009?Cut in state arts spending will backfire, critics warn
Honolulu Star-Bulletin – Mary Adamski – ?Aug 30, 2009?State Layoffs Hit Molokai Hard
Molokai Dispatch – Dan Murphy – ?Aug 26, 2009?
I’m sure you get the picture.
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Ian: In regard to your observation on the Governors website and the newspaper postings – are we really surprised? This is a person that plays messages like a puppetmaster, especially during this latest go-around with the Union negotiations. I don’t expect any less in today’s web broadcast regarding union negotiations and the budget. It has now become apparent that there are questions out there for both sides regarding how the negotiations are being handled, and both sides (Randy and Linda) have decided to hole up in their respective castles (the State Capitol 5th Floor and the Kendall Building on Mililani St.) and control messages from there.
Meanwhile, real people, with real issues, who have real jobs are getting letters saying that they are being RIF’d and bumped. I am sorry, but none of it is fair in my opinion.
I’m absolutely aghast at the Honolulu Advertiser’s complete lack of judgment in willfully allowing itself to be used as an agent of the state government during a major labor dispute.
The Advertiser provided the governor with an exclusive platform for a politically charged monologue, then posted a verbatim transcript that had obviously been prepared beforehand, included no analysis or response from any union representatives or others, and provided no indication that it ever even sought any. It’s been six hours so far. They did this despite the governor’s prior stated refusal to take any questions on the content of her announcement or provide specific details. That’s not even close to responsible journalism. Or even journalism at all. Not by a long shot.
Make no mistake, this was no fireside chat or scheduled state of the state speech covering a variety of topics and issues of general interest. The timing and subject matter make it very clear that this was a direct shot across the bow and a public threat on the eve of a crucial arbitration hearing.
It’s as if the Advertiser was so enamored of the technological ABILITY to post a live video broadcast by the governor and a prepared transcript that its managers never stopped to consider whether that’s something they SHOULD do as a credible news organization.
And for purposes of this observation, I’m not even commenting on whether the governor’s position or that of the unions deserves public support.
The point is this: the Advertiser today took a dangerous step across an important line between objectively covering government as a news organization and becoming a willing vehicle of government and a specific government leader’s strong-arm tactics. Such willful acquiescence to Orwellian manipulation is truly sickening, especially when it’s courtesy of people who claim to be journalists.
Pardon me while I vomit.
Orwellian was my reaction too like that Star TreK episode with the drugged Nazi Leader on another planet