The Dying Art of Journalism

Journalists are reliant upon press releases, communication directors, and public relation firms to do their jobs. I’m as guilty as most. My inbox is inundated with information everyday, and I rely heavily upon these so-called “gatekeepers”  to provide me with information so I can write a story.

However, the age of media relations departments are slowly killing investigative journalism. When the story isn’t favorable for the main character the information is either locked up in “no comments” or bundled nicely in a press release for all journalists to regurgitate verbatim.

Instead of picking up the phone and calling a person directly you must go through the media contact. If you try to skirt around the PR person you find the people with the information unwilling to comment for fear of violating protocol.

This typically isn’t a problem for journalists during the day-to-day news grind, but it becomes a significant problem when a reporter decides to cover a story which doesn’t have a press release.  As a reporter there is nothing more frustrating than writing, “John Smith declined to comment.,” which really means the PR person doesn’t want Mr. Smith talking to the press. So then reporters are stuck with a half written story and news consumers are left with questions, questions like why did Jim Lynch really leave the Department of Transportation? Is Steve Bullock running for Governor? What is Governor Schweitzer doing after he is termed out? What is Senator Baucus’s plan on the super committee?

I understand why “gatekeepers” exist. They protect certain individuals and entities from news stories which may paint them in a not so favorable light. They like to control the message. They’re on damage control.

However, media contacts are also paid to help journalists filter through the loads of information and pull out the story. They do have great value to reporters.

However, media relations departments have led to lazy journalists who rely on the press release to get the story.  Many reporters don’t know how to write a story without it being fed to them. I confess I have fallen into this trap too. The spoon fed journalists greatly outnumber those willing to roll up their sleeves and look beyond the neatly packaged messaging. Finding stories is an art and a skill. It’s something journalists need to do better.

Heated Exchange at Legislative Press Conference

Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party Ted Dick spoke some choice words to Republican staffers after legislative leadership held press conferences Friday morning.

I was packing up my camera bag and overheard the following exchange between Dick and Republican legislative staffers Chris Shipp and Jessica Sena:

“You guys will feel the pain,” Dick tells the aides.

“Well, that’s a mean thing to say,” Sena to Dick.

“I can’t wait to kick the shit out of you in 2012,” Dick replies.

“Deviant Sexual Conduct”

Senate Bill 276, introduced by Senator Tom Facey (D-Missoula), removes language from Montana code which criminalizes homosexuality (Correction: homosexual sex).

Opponents of the bill assert that by removing this language it will inhibit the ability to prosecute homosexual rape, homosexual crimes against minors, and homosexual incest cases. This assertion is just not true.

I called the Lewis and Clark County Attorney’s office and asked if they had prosecuted any cases under the deviant sexual conduct section. Their office has not. When prosecuting cases of sexual intercourse without consent (homosexual or heterosexual), attorneys use a different section of Montana code 45-5-503.  When prosecuting cases of sexual crimes against minors (homosexual or heterosexual), attorneys do NOT use the deviant sexual conduct laws.  Those crimes are prosecuted under Montana code 45-5-502. Finally, in cases of incest (homosexual or heterosexual), prosecutors are using Montana code 45-5-507, NOT the deviant sexual conduct law.

So let’s get real, this bill is about whether or not Montana should criminalize consensual homosexual sex. This bill is about values. Do Montanans believe that homosexuality is or is not a crime?

Schweitzer Chimes in on the Affordable Care Act

I interviewed Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-Montana)  last week to get his perspective on how things are going this session.  I asked him what he thought about the legislature’s pending bills regarding health reform.

“Well I agree with some of the members of the legislature who have said that this health care bill that they passed in Washington DC is bloated, and it’s not going to work in the State of Montana or any other state for that matter. So I am looking for ideas that we can improve health care in Montana. I will be working with them when I hear those good ideas,” Schweitzer told me.

Then again today, I had the opportunity to interview him today about the National Governor’s Association meeting in Washington DC. At the NGA, President Obama told the Governors he wants to give the states more flexibility to implement the Affordable Care Act. Well, Schweitzer isn’t buying the headline that hit most national news outlets.

“They act as though this is going to be a cure-all solution for states who would like more flexibility, but they really haven’t changed the rules,” Schweitzer told me.

He chastised the federal government for not addressing the cost of health care. He says the biggest problem with the ACA is that it doesn’t address the costs of prescription drugs and medical equipment.

So I asked, “What is the State going to do about those costs?” Schweitzer says he is waiting for some ideas from the legislature.

Montana Senator Jason Priest (R-Red Lodge), who has really become the Republican spokesperson against the ACA, says there are several bills which address health care costs in Montana. He says Representative Janna Taylor’s HB 405 reforms medical malpractice laws in Montana. Priest also touted a  bill which gives a tax credit to those who purchase health insurance, and a bill which allows out-of-state insurance companies to provide health insurance in state.

I remind you Schweitzer has come up with a slew of ideas to address costs of prescription drugs, but thus far the feds haven’t backed his plans.

1. Generic Drug Plan (August 2010)

2.  Filling Prescriptions through the VA (April 2010)

3. Canadian Drugs (March 2010)

Democrats in the Montana Legislature say the Affordable Care Act is the answer. They have been vocal about opposing legislation which stops the ACA from being implemented in Montana. In fact they call Priest’s SB 106 “unconstitutional” and the bill even made their Terrible Ten list. They say forcing Montana’s Attorney General to file suit with Florida in declaring the ACA unconstitutional and is a “violation of the separation of powers, and a clear statement that every Montanan does not need or deserve health care.”

Montana Republicans feel that the ACA should be repealed and the feds need to give the states options instead of mandating a “one size fits all” health insurance plan. Priest says the ACA is a culmination of bad test runs in Massachusetts and Oregon.

“All of the bad ideas that have been tried were added to the health care bill on steroids,” Priest says.

I certainly can’t look into a crystal ball and tell you what will happen with federal health reform in Montana but a few things are certain: Democrats want to keep it, Republicans wants to repeal it, and the Governor wants to address health care costs and isn’t convinced the ACA is the answer.

Montana Legislature Theme Song

I was asked this question: If you could come up with a theme song for the 62nd Legislature what would it be?  Interesting question!

Since you all are much more creative than I am,  post your ideas here.

Schweitzer and Federal Health Reform

Republicans in the Montana Legislature have a laundry list of bills addressing the Affordable Care Act.

Senator Jason Priest (R-Red Lodge) is proposing SB 106 which requires Montana Attorney General to join the Florida lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the ACA. Priest also is carrying SB 228 which prohibits Montana from creating a state based health insurance exchange under the ACA.

Representative Gary MacLaren (R-Victor) is carrying a bill which would amend the State’s Constitution to give Montanans the right to choose health insurance.

I could add to this list all day long, but for the sake of brevity I will cut it off here.

With an overwhelming majority in both Houses, Republicans are voting to stop the Affordable Care Act from being implemented here in Montana. Democrats in the House and Senate, though vocal,  stand very little chance of killing the legislation. So this poses the question: What is Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-Montana) going to do with bills addressing federal health reform?

Schweitzer hasn’t said much about how he plans on handling it. Back in November he called a meeting with reps from the health care industry. He told them he was concerned with how the ACA increases the Medicaid case load.

“My job is to try and find ways to go forward so that Montana can continue to fund Medicaid and not be like 48 other states… broke,” Schweitzer says.

A few days later Schweitzer appeared on CNN’s Parker/Spitzer and said, “They passed this health care bill without challenging the expenses of the medical devices, the pharmaceutical companies, or the insurance companies. They just added new members to Medicaid and Medicare and kicked the costs down the road.”

I think it is fair to say Schweitzer is concerned about the cost of health care, and he is concerned about how the federal health care bill impacts the state budget.

So what will he do?

The majority of Democrats support the Affordable Care Act. So will Schweitzer vote party line on these bills? Or will he take the side of the Republicans and say this is just far too expensive and Montana can’t afford it?

The Shocking Seven

Since I posted “The Terrible Ten” I have had a handful of Republicans submit bills for the list of  Democratic sponsored “frivolous” bills.  Now we see claims of frivolity on both sides of the aisle. Happy reading.

SB 6 – Jim Keane (D-Butte) an act prohibiting an electronic visual presentation to a body or committee of the legislature without payment of a fee to the legislative services division.

HB 515 – Sue Malek (D-Missoula) An act providing standards for breeding dogs, providing exceptions; setting a maximum number of breeding dogs allowed; establishing record keeping requirements; providing minimum care standards; and establishing a penalty.

SB 230 – Tom Facey (D-Missoula) An act prohibiting the use of external felt-soled boots or waders in the waters of this state.

HB 528 – Frank Smith (D-Poplar) revising laws relating to the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame; revising laws relating to its location; providing for road signs to recognize the site.

SB 349 – Sharon Stewart- Peregoy (D-Crow Agency) an act repealing the statute establishing english as the official and primary language  of state and local governments.

LC1547 – Betsy Hands (D-Missoula) an act requiring ski operators to reimburse skiers if a passenger ropeway is inoperable or unable to function at full capacity for 1 consecutive hour during any 4 hour period and there are no other passenger ropeways in operation allowing skiers access to ski slopes and trials designed for skiers of all abilities.

HB 578 – Michele Reinhart (D-Missoula) an act requiring that a written record be kept of legislative meetings; requiring the legislative council to propose policies regarding the written records of legislative committee meetings

Coming Tomorrow….

I recently posted “The Terrible Ten.” It was a list of bills Democrats say are unconstitutional and/or frivolous. Well stay tuned I have a list coming from the other side.

I will post tomorrow.

Until then… Cheers to the #mtleg.

Social Bills

Lately I have been hearing a lot of rhetoric about social bills. Many Democrats are saying legislators are in Helena to create jobs and shouldn’t be dealing with social issues.

I would like to point out that I have seen social bills on both sides of the aisle. Democrats and Republicans are both guilty of carrying these bills. Republicans have been rolling out bills relating to abortion, immigration and divorce. Democrats are carrying bills relating to the death penalty, physician assisted suicide, and deviant sexual conduct.  These bills are not just coming from one side.

As a reporter covering many of these bills, I ask this question to my readers: what role do you think government should play in regulating social issues?

Chime in!

 

 

“The Terrible 10″

Democratic leadership issued a press release with what they are calling “The Terrible Ten.” It is a list of 10 bills which leadership considers to be “frivolous” and “unconstitutional.”

I just cut and pasted the list from the press release here:
HB 392—James Knox (R-Billings) wants to redefine the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution by requiring certain individuals born in our nation to apply for citizenship. One legislator’s attempt to make himself a U.S. Supreme Court justice, HB 392 could rewrite nearly 150 years of judicial precedent and discriminate against Native Americans and children of immigrants.

HB 382—Derek Skees’ (R-Whitefish) 1861 flashback would let a handful of legislators nullify any federal law passed since the signing of the Constitution.  Slavery, child labor, and universal voting rights could all be up for debate again.

HB 283—Liz Bangerter (R-Helena) would allow sex discrimination in insurance coverage–discrimination the Montana Constitution explicitly forbids.

SB 106—Jason Priest (R-Red Lodge) overreaches legislative responsibility when he attempts to force duly elected statewide officials to do his bidding by joining the national lawsuit against Healthcare Reform.  SB 106 is not just a clear violation of the separation of powers, but a clear statement that every Montanan does not need or deserve health care.

SB 114—Greg Hinkle (R-Trout Creek) would like to give each county sheriff authority over national security investigations.  SB 114 would leave anti-terrorism efforts up to dozens of uncoordinated sheriffs, a favorite of extremist groups across the country.

HB 284—Tom Burnett (R-Bozeman) wants to criminalize state employees for complying with federal law.

SB 161—Verdell Jackson (R-Kalispell) wants to invalidate laws prohibiting insurance company abuses.  In addition, he too would like to criminalize state employees.

HB 321—Krayton Kerns (R-Laurel) would end the Endangered Species Act in Montana, putting critical wildlife and habitats at risk.  He would like to wipe out the law, along with rare species.

HB 397—James Knox (R-Billings) wants to give funds to unaccredited learning institutions, instead of fulfilling the state’s constitutional obligation to provide every child with a quality education.

SB 125—Art Wittich (R-Bozeman) would prohibit Montana from complying with federal health care reform, violating the Supremacy and Commerce Clauses of the U.S. Constitution.

What are your thoughts?