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4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, Jan. 25, 1978 © Editorial Co 7 g -- ee era === 17% NOT My IDEA - .. OHIP NEEDS THE MoNEY 1 --ChatterBox by John B. McClelland Since the days of Watergate interest in how the mass media, and journalism in particular, function, has greatly increased. Public awareness, and, I think it safe to say, public admiration reached a high point for the work done by those two Washington Post reporters who were instrumental in driving a corrupt and imperial president from the office which he so blatantly abused. . It is interesting to note that in the immediate post-Watergate, the colleges and universities across North America that offer journalism as a course of study were literally swamped with applications from eager young scribes who had visions of up-rooting presidents and exposing corruption and evil in all the public and private sectors of our modern society. The colleges and universities were over-joyed, of course, and many faculties were expanded to make room for the flood of applications. What has happened is that the demand for reporters and writers has not kept up with the supply being 'cranked out of the universities, and a lot of bright- eyed young graduates soon had to face the very harsh reality of the competitive marketplace. 'There simply were not enough jobs to go around, especially in tough economic times when mass media are becoming increasingly cost-conscious. And those who did manage to find work soon found that rather than the glamour and excitement of a Watergate, the profession of journalism is not all it is cracked up to be. The work can be tedious at times, - it can be downright boring at times, and covering certain kinds of stories and events can be most unpleasant. And of course some of the bright young graduates soon learned that the operation of the mass media is not always as honourable as it could be. By and large the operation of the mass media is self-serving, it feeds off the misery and suffering of others, it leans to sensational exploitation over solid documen- tation, and almost without exception it claims to . know what society wants to read and see, and how this should be packaged. : My own personal opinion is that the mass media are guilty from.time to time of questionable tactics and reporting. But more worrisome for me is the attitude adopted towards any kind of criticism. Let somebody suggest for one minute that the mass media should have more controls, and immediately one hears carping about censorship, and the inalien- able right of freedom of the press, as a solid cornerstone in our democratic way of doing things. Now don't get me wrong, I think the right of freedom of the press is important to our society. What I'm saying is that some members of the mass media lose sight of the fact that along with that right comes a responsibility to present the events of society with honesty, balance and, as much as possible, with respect for the rights of others. In short, there can be no double standards. If the media expect certain rights, they must be prepared to accept certain responsibilities. Sadly, this is not always the case. Having been in the newspaper business for a few years, having studied journalism, and having an ongoing fascination for the way the mass media operate, I can say that what I know about this operation and what I've observed does not always make me very proud to be part of the profession. A recent report about a team of investigative reporters for a large daily in Chicago illustrates that the profession is however, still capable of remarkable achievement and innovation. In an effort to expose the corruption of civic officials, the reporters went into the tavern business. The paper, the Sun-Times put up $5,000 for down payment on a run-down tavern. The reporters showed just how easy it is in Chicago to get the necessary approvals. For "example, for $10 an inspector ignored exposed electrical wiring, for $50 an inspector "fixed" leaky pipes, and for $100 an inspector over-looked $2000 worth of necessary duct work. Needless to say the revelations in the 25-part series resulted in some shake-ups in the civic administra- tion, especially since reporters from the paper photographed the pay-offs actually changing hands. - The venture into the world of running a tavern in Chicago also revealed to the investigative team just how many people are prepared to offer counsel on how to cheat and break the law. Accountants suggested ways to hide income for tax purposes, and the suppliers of amusement games 'showed how profits could be skimmed from the top. All in all it was rather a remarkable expose. But even more remarkable was the disclosure that the only people not offered bribes were the police, because, the operators were advised, if the police are offered a bribe once, they come back time after time looking for more. Well, what more can you say? In this case anyway, the press did its job. we rime Should Pay His Own Way . Scugog Township Mayor Lawrence Malcolm. is right when he says he is éoncerned about the attitude of Oshawa Mayor James Potticary about a trip to Europe planned for this May designed to promote industrial development in all of Durham Region. Mr. Potticary, who will be one of the delegates along with the mayors of Whitby and Pickering, the regional chairman and senior Durham staff members, o~ 'has left little doubt that his purpose for going on the trip will be to push for the interests of the City of Oshawa. One cannot really quibble with the selection of the three mayors from the large municipalities of Oshawa, Whitby and Pickering. That is, after all, where the vast majority of serviced indUsirial land in "Durham is located, and in reality it is only natural to expect that these three mayors will be seeking to locate any new industry in their respective munici- palities. : But what is troublesome is the blatant Oshawa- first stance, and the apparent lack of acknowledge- ment that Durham Region extends beyond the borders of the City of Oshawa, let alone for several miles north of the ridges. Mr. Potticary should be reminded of this fact, and he should be reminded that Scugog Township is not just a weekend recreation area for a good number of the citizens who live in his city. This Township, along with Uxbridge and Brock, is seeking limited industrial development; and they need some kind of assurance that their interests and desires will be represented when the delegation leaves for Switzer- land later this year. = 7 For better or for worse the municipalities which make up Durham Region are stuck with the arrange- ment, and making it function with any kind of measure of success is as- much a question of spirit and attitude. If Mr. Potticary is determined to go to Switzerland solely as a representative of the City of Oshawa, that's fine. But then maybe the citizens of that city should pick up the full tab. Love Thy Neighbour? What a difference a month makes. Just four short weeks ago, the president of Egypt electrified the world with a dramatic visit to Israel, and it looked like for the first time in 30 years, real progress would be made towards a lasting peace in the Middle East. Somehow, things 'started to go askew, and the goodwill generated in December between Israel and Egypt ended last week in bitterness and name calling as peace talks between the two countries broke off completely. The situation may not be as bad as it looks, for one must remember that the level of activity in the past four weeks has been feverish and rapid paced. Stalemates in the intricate and technical negotiations were bound to occur. Both sides. have been under extreme pressure and a slow-down or cooling off period was to be expected, especially after the initial euphoria. But one inescapable fact remains: neither side has softened its position on the issue that is at the very root of the problems in the Middle East; statehood for the Palestinians, and the Israeli settlements on lands captured in recent wars. Most observers agree that the Palestinians are the key to any lasting peace in the Middle East. While Israel appears to accept the concept of some kind of sovereign state for the Palestinians, it absolutely refuses to accept the Palestinian Liberation Organiz- ation as the political representatives of the Palestin- ians: ~The second Issue that has not been reconciled - concerns the Israeli settlements in Sinai. Sadat wants them out when Israel withdraws from the peninsula, and the Israeli population has overwhelmingly indic- ated that the settlements must remain. Both sides in both issues have their backs against the wall, And it Is a great pity that there has been no softening of the positions from either side on these two. crucial issues. Without a softening, the danger of a military solution remains a distinct possibility in that troubled part of the globe which gave birth to three of the world's great religions. Love Thy Neighbour has a hollow ring in the Middle East. ' © x1 »