Al Diamon
Better Late Than Never
(page 1 of 2)
Clearing the waters: The Portland Press Herald has finally tried to explain the two contradictory stories about Bath Iron Works it ran side-by-side in its July 24 edition.
In one article, the Press Herald gave voice to the views of Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins that the Navy’s decision to cancel future contracts for new Zumwalt-class destroyers would lead to layoffs at the shipyard, which is one of Maine’s largest private employers. In the other story, the newspaper trumpeted the position of Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, who’s running against Collins, that reverting to building the older Arleigh Burke destroyers would provide sufficient work for BIW to maintain current employment levels.
According to an article the paper got around to publishing on July 26, this confusion stems more from a Washington political dispute than a disagreement over staffing levels at a major Maine industry.
Collins is a proponent of the Zumwalts and is doing all she can to convince naval brass to reconsider. Allen thinks the new ships are too expensive and is convinced the Burkes will meet the nation’s needs militarily and the state’s needs employment-wise.
Staff writer Matt Wickenheiser’s (author of one of the earlier confusing pieces) latest story explains all that, but doesn’t come close to helping readers decide who’s correct.
More digging needed. A lot more.
Clouding the ownership: I can only assume there’s some internal political reason why the Press Herald continues to run wire-service stories about the McClatchey Co. without identifying it as one of the newspaper’s owners. The latest instance of this ethical oversight occurred on July 25, when the Portland paper offered readers an Associated Press report on McClatchy’s declining profits, without mentioning the Press Herald’s contribution to that dismal economic picture. McClatchy owns 49.5 percent of the paper, but has no management authority.
That power rests with the Blethen family of Seattle, who are trying to sell the Press Herald and their other Maine holdings. Until they do, a little transparency would be welcome.
Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 in Permalink
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