HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0678.001 1996-1998 Bill Cook
P.O. Box 6960 * Kamuela, HI 96743
Tel: 808-885-7502
February,31998 ~
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The Honorable John Ray
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Councilman Ray:
RE: HONOLULU COMMUNITY-MEDIA COUNCIL
Thank you for inviting representatives of the Honolulu Community-Media Council
to appear on the Big Island. Some members of the Hawaii Island community on
all sides of the political spectrum have voiced concern about the
professionalism, accuracy, bias, editorial opinion, lack of editorial opinion of the
Hawaii Tribune-Herald and West Hawaii Today.
I believe our local newspapers are prejudiced against economic development in
their news columns. That doesn't seem to be the case in their editorials as much
as in the coverage of controversial economic development issues.
Invariably, it seems to me, the anti-development activists get the major share of
news coverage.
Please ask the visiting members of the Honolulu Community-Media Council how
they would go about getting the Big Island news media to be more balanced in
their presentation of the news.
Please ask the Community-Media Council representatives whether a chapter of
their organization could be formed on the Big Island, and if so, how does one go
about doing it? Also, please ask the representatives how, or if, the Honolulu
Council handles complaints about the Honolulu media. Does their Council require
a complainant to furnish examples of alleged newspaper, TV, radio, magazine
misdeeds? What's the process for airing and correcting media wrong-doings?
Also, is the identity of the complaining party revealed? This, alone, could
discourage an individual or organization from seeking relief from the Council.
Sincerely,
, „
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