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Will the Local News Media Provide Fair Coverage of Measure A?

A Look at Redding's
Newspaper and Television Coverage of
Measure A - The Safe Water Initiative
and Fluoridation Proponents
by
Michel Czehatowski, Chairman
Redding Citizens for Safe Drinking Water

Measure A - the Safe Water Initiative is on the November 5, 2002 ballot and the citizens of Redding will have the opportunity to decide whether untested contaminants should or should not be allowed in the City drinking water for the purpose of medically treating people.
This measure is on the ballot because the City Council voted to investigate adding "fluoride" to the City drinking water without voter approval.
Now as we get closer to the actual vote, it is important that the citizens learn as much as possible about this issue.
Redding Citizens for Safe Drinking Water have asked City Council members several times to provide an "information only" discussion for the public on the costs of fluoridation in the City of Redding. We have emphasized that this should not be a "pro" or "con" debate on fluoride but strictly about the potential costs of fluoridation and related safety issues in our community.
The City had been slow to respond but finally asked the League of Women Voters to moderate a debate. While this is not what we wanted, it is a starting point. Thank you City Manager, Mike Warren, for helping facilitate this.
Other fronts for debate were also warming up. I was contacted by television's Channel 7 and was told they were planning to air a televised debate on Measure A in conjunction with the Record Searchlight. However, one week later, Gary Gunter called me and asked how I would feel if this debate was limited to "Redding only" participants. This question came about because someone was concerned that Redding Citizens for Safe Drinking Water would bring in a highly knowledgable authority on Measure A and they didn't want that. I told Mr. Gunter that was like "knowing the world is round but hiding that fact and insisting on telling everyone that it is flat." Furthermore, I explained that bringing in someone with a lot of knowledge is the whole purpose. We want to educate people on this subject. I also stated that if we wanted to bring in someone

If they know the world is round then why do want
to keep us in the dark and tell us it's flat?

from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), (for example) to speak that we should be able to do it.
After Mr. Gunter asked me the same question a second time and I said we would like to have informed people who know the issues present information, I was told that he would get back to me.
A week later, Mike Chapman, the editorial page editor of the Record Searchlight called and asked me the same question. We had been trying for months to talk to the Record Searchlight and Mr. Chapman and I had finally pinned down the date of October 3, 2002.
It was astounding to hear the same question from another source and I told Mr. Chapman that I felt the people of Redding should have access to as much information as possible and that I felt that trying to limit the information that the readers of the Record Searchlight got was "unethical." Our conversation ended by my stating that if the only way for the Citizens for Safe Drinking Water could speak to the Record Searchlight editorial staff was for local people to come, I would do it, but his superiors needed to know my feelings about reporting and ethics.
Fortunately, there were other options brewing. Namaste Productions was planning a simulcast with KQMS and Channel 11 for a call in discussion on Measure A with both sides being able to answer questions live. However, on September 23, 2002, I was told that the representative of the opponents of Measure A, Dean Germano, refused to accept because we would have "outsiders." (Mr. Germano conveniently forgot that last June, his group brought in a State official from Sacramento to threaten the City Council that they must fluoridate. He also forgets that fluoridation was proposed by outsiders, is funded by outsiders, and the chemical comes from outside the state, all the way from Florida's fertilizer industry.)
The following day, September 24, 2002, I talked to Mike Chapman again and he told me that the Record Searchlight would not allow anyone from outside the City to be interviewed on Measure A during our October 3, 2002 meeeting.
We must ask ourselves what purpose is there in limiting information?
I then called Channel 7 and asked Gary Gunter about the status of the TV debate. He told me that it was "off" because the sides couldn't agree about "outsiders" being able to speak. He did say that they would be doing a "series" instead on Measure A. We have yet to find out if they will refuse to interview "outside" experts.
So, Redding citizens, if it is current information from the mouths of world class authorities that you desire to sort out the issues surrounding Measure A don't look to Redding's media to provide it. I believe that everyone should have as much information as possible to make an informed decision. If we need a toxicologist, biologist, or legal authority to help make our decisions, our newspaper, television, and radio stations should be seeking these people out and interviewing them instead of telling them to stay away.
If you want information on Measure A please research the links on our web page or call us. We will be glad to explain the issues to you. Also, a "Measure A" program will be airing every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00pm on Channel 11. Please watch it.

Most of all, do your homework and when you're done, join us Voting Yes on A and keeping contaminants out of our drinking water.