Too little activity around here, and surely it’s not because local rag has picked up its game any.  So here is a filler.

It seems that there is a growing trend (not supported by any statistics) to find hanging onto the very bottom of a Compost article, a line that basically reads:

“…did not return our calls”

or even

“… could not be contacted for comment”

To me, the ‘did not return our calls’ bit, appended to the end of a story fairly drips with affront and outrage, that the subject would presume to deny the precious Journo their story.

Here is a theory – or a question.

When confronted with the choice of a one line expression of disdain at the end of an article, compared to providing the potential to be mis-quoted, taken out of context, selectively (and creatively) edited, or repeatedly questioned in a variety of ways to achieve a predetermined answer; what do you think is the more sensible approach?

A commenter noted recently that the Wordpress theme used by Not The Cairns Post is a rip-off of Twitter. Although it’s part of the default set of themes available to WordPress users and it fits with the by-line of “a little bird once told me…” fair’s fair and we need a new look.

With great (lack of)  gusto, here it is!

I’d also like to remind visitors that Not The Cairns Post is a community blog designed to have everyone and anyone contribute articles. If you have some community news and experiences that you think will be of some interest, write up a story

Extra brownie points if it covers some local events and initiatives that don’t necessarily make it into the more mainstream media. Don’t be shy! =)

I know we don’t see eye-to-eye with the post often, but I would like to publicly offer our condolences to the Punshon family over the recent passing of Greg Punshon.

Greg was the business editor at the Cairns Post – and our well wishes also go out to the people at the Cairns Post over their sudden loss of a friend and colleague.

Best wishes to all in this difficult time for you.

I would love to contribute here more often, but the contempt in which I hold the Cairns Post means that I really can’t be bothered reading it, let alone wasting money buying it.

But every now and then something happens that you might either witness or have a bit of knowledge about, and you therefore might go online (or borrow a copy off some fool that bought one) and check to see how news was delivered to the masses.

Lets look at an example as it appears online at 1315 on 18 July (noted in case it gets corrected and Tricia arcs up about it)

Sugar load spills in Tully street

Julie Lightfoot

Saturday, July 18, 2009

© The Cairns Post

TONNES of sugar was scattered across Tully’s main street yesterday after a collision between a freight train and a semi-trailer at a rail level crossing.

The 1km-long freight train was travelling south when it collided with the rear of the truck’s trailer at the town’s main entrance.

The crash caused the truck’s rig to flip and spill its sugar cargo on to the road.

Emergency crews rushed to Butler St near the Bruce Highway at 4.50pm yesterday.

Both drivers escaped uninjured from the crash, which happened at a crossing with no lights.

It took crews nearly four hours to clean up the mess before the road reopened.

Tully Sugar Mill boss John King was unavailable for comment last night.

Innisfail Police District Insp David Tucker said the circumstances of the crash was still under police investigation.

The crossing is one of 66 singled out across the state by Queensland Rail to have boom gates installed.

In the scheme of things, the story is no world shattering event (except perhaps if you happen to be the idiot in the truck,  one of the train drivers, clean up crew, or customer waiting for his delayed freight).  But it serves as a reminder to simply not trust anything written or published by the hacks at our local rag.

The bit that got me was  “which happened at a crossing with no lights” by which I presume to refer to those of the flashing kind that protect railway level crossings.  I actually don’t see the reason to report that information at all, because all legal level crossings have various forms of protection that only require simple compliance thereof, in which to avoid  violent contact with trains.  However, the statement is stunningly inaccurate and takes nothing more time consuming than a check on Googles excellent streetview to see that the crossing does in fact have flashing lights.

In light of recent tragic events at rail crossings, the hysteria that has been whipped over these death trap level crossings (usually by the road transport industry who tries to deflect fault from their ‘professional drivers’, and of course the meeja), and the money that QR has spent on their driver education campaign, makes this relatively minor error in reporting inexcusable.

Oh, and a 1 km long train? Don’t think so. Where did you dig that one up from Julie?

Tags: level crossing, no research, rail

Recently, a commenter posted on this website that “It’s a sad day that a newspaper thinks their own filtered comments are statistic worthy.” and it got me thinking.
Does anyone remember the disreputable “Billy Mango Affair” – where the Cairns Post simply published fictitious letters to the editor which made news for them ? What about the “Lenny Creek” letters – again published without any authentication and now regarded as Post Fiction ?

It occurs to me that the Cairns Post has finally come up with a way to try to circumvent the scrutiny of Media Watch using their own website as a tool for “creating opinion”…

Read the rest of this entry »

What I can’t believe is the bloody one sided attitude of the Cairns Post’s coverage of the Mayor.  It’s not hard to see what is going on, but everyone is going along for the ride.  Even when taking a proactive, self-funded step to stay in touch with her constituents, she gets a sly compliment at best.

The Cairns Post continues it’s attacks on the mayor, and the council.  Note Saturday’s condescending headline: “Website does the trick – Val’s a good stick,” casting aspersions on her new website – local web designer too I see, good one Val.  Most media savvy politicians have sites these days so it’s not as if it’s something new.

Then onto the editorial where the new editor slips into the ways of his predecessor with this little gem.  The Comms manager has apparently ordered some display material that, “featured one of the mayor’s favourite colours.” The mayor probably wouldn’t have a clue what operational things the manager is up to but Andrew has to have a go on behalf of the ratepayer.  We had higher hopes for you Andrew.

And finally, put the boot into council by running a point of view comment by an “old”Cairns  Events manager who’s got her nose out of joint because she’s missed out on getting on board with the new Festival Cairns which sounds a helluva lot more exciting that last years unwieldy concoction of unrelated events.  I’ll be rolling up for Geoffrey Yunupingu and the Saltwater band in a free concert after the new look parade this year.

Today's Cairns Post

Well – I must say that I have been following with interest the ongoing saga that has been labeled the  “cash for comments” scandal in Cairns.  There have been several noteworthy contributions to the public discussion – two of them being (shock!) The Cairns Post courtesy of Thomas Chamberlin and  Michael Moore’s “The Cairns Blog”

Then – with all that kudos that The Cairns Post were accruing, they go and run today’s frontpage article…  what does a Mayor Val Schier have to do to get a good headline around here?

Read the rest of this entry »

Wednesday 29 April - Headline on TCP

Is it just me, or is does the huge banner headline  in today’s TCP seem a little speculative? Sort of like there is a big global story happening out there,  and the poor old Post is desperately trying to align itself (and our location) with the doom? I mean strewth, any number of events “Might” occur, but really, it’s not actual news until it happens or is demonstrably imminent.   This word “might” is not only wishy washy, but also mighty convenient for raking up a sensational headline to preempt  an event that hasn’t happened (here) yet.  That one word, removes all trace of fact and credibility from the headline. Disappointing because the issue itself was reasonably well covered with information about strategies being employed to detect and combat this nasty.

Of course I fear the reporting of the first actual confirmed case here, more than the disease itself.

Someone passed this on - classic!

While there has been a gap between my recent posts, Today’s Cairns Post moved me to write once again.  Our dirty little tabloid has once again fallen for sensationalism before journalism.  The front page today has our Mayor Val Schier on the cover, with the headline “Cash for Comment”.

Val Schier clearly stated that she knew nothing of any commercial arrangement that was allegedly brokered by the Council’s media manager until Sno Bonneau asked a question in Council at yesterday’s meeting. She has stated that she has no idea how the arrangement came about and would never have agreed to it.  (however, this only appears at the end of the article, which is conveniently on another page!).  She immediately asked the CEO to investigate the allegation and he reported back that NO money had been paid to 4CA and no invoices have been received. (this also buried at the end of the article)

Read the rest of this entry »