It was a government news release with a twist: the media who attended the event were being quoted. “Hog industry’s new odor-control technology impresses media” said Saskatchewan Farm and Food Report number 97-34-166.
It included quotes from several reporters who work for CBC radio, CBC TV, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and The Western Producer.
The gist of the release was that reporters had expected pig manure to stink when they toured hog barns, but were pleasantly surprised it didn’t.
When news reporters become the news, it leaves a foul odor. The role of journalists is to report the news, not be used as propaganda for a certain issue.
Read Also
Late season rainfall creates concern about Prairie crop quality
Praying for rain is being replaced with the hope that rain can stop for harvest. Rainfall in July and early August has been much greater than normal.
This isn’t a case of press discomfort at being on the other side of the story. The issues are credibility and purpose.
This news release may have seemed innocent enough on the surface, but its timing leaves its intentions suspect.
Large hog barns and the resulting manure management have become the big issue these days in several rural areas.
While the government tour provided a chance for reporters to learn more about manure research and explain the various options available, the journalists should not be treated as experts on the subject.
Yet, one of the reporters who was introduced as having had “previous experiences on the traditional hog farm” was quoted as being impressed by a direct injection system.
“If this system was widely used, I don’t think there would be any great objection to the distribution of hog manure,” he said. Get the drift?
Because the provincial government has shown support for huge hog barn operations, this statement takes on connotations of encouraging the barns, and government. Reporters, beware of your “innocent” quotes.
