You may be wondering why we haven't had a comment from Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris about the goings-on in Ottawa in the Free Press. The answer is simple. He is no longer speaking to Black Press newspapers in his riding. This includes the Prince George Free Press, the Quesnel Cariboo Observer, the Williams Lake Tribune, and the Vanderhoof Omineca Express.
Harris did speak to me yesterday about his decision to no longer give comments to the local newspapers. He said the message was given "loud and clear" during the election campaign that Black Press newspapers were not interested in what he had to say. He said he felt the reporting was neither balanced nor fair and therefore would not be giving us any comments at this time.
I told him I didn't agree, but would re-examine the stories the four papers did during the election campaign to see what kind of coverage we did give him. I know here at the Free Press we try very hard during an election campaign to present fair and balanced reporting. Harris obviously doesn't see it that way, and was upset that I was critical of him missing a couple of all candidates forums. I told him it's not my job to promote him, or any candidate. As often is the case, editorial comment gets confused with reporting.
So what does Harris gain by not talking to Black Press newspapers? Not much other than it makes him feel better. Here in Prince George we're in a tougher situation because Harris can comment to the Citizen and get his message out. In the other communities, the papers he is boycotting are the papers of record. He isn't really punishing the paper by not commenting, he is punishing his constituents who deserve to hear what their MP has to say about the issues of the day.