Here is the thing, as the Board Chairman, there really isnt any problems, they are trying to sell a product, the report looks great.

The problem is the person who built up the report did it in a misleading way, for a buisness that is pretty much just the way it is. Now that person has been hired for a city hall job, give a salary much higher than posted. The public of PG is now concerned about how matters out of city hall will be portrayed. Will it all be a glossy story with misleading pictures or will we be getting the truth?

This story is about the credibility of the person, not the PG Airport Authority.

It was an error in judgment. It's not the worst error that's ever occurred in the history of the human race, but there should have been a disclaimer. Splash media, being in the advertising business should have known to put the disclaimer on there.

Mr Davis
Take note the the majority of us don`t take kindly to having smoke blown up our nether regions. I don`t see our new mayor building a legacy of repeat terms in office after running on a platform of fiscal responsibilty and turning around and squandering our tax dollars on hiring a spin doctor. Coulda filled a few potholes for that kinda money

I'm sure Mr. Blake was told they were real.

But Mike Doran says they're not:

"Together we created a small list of scenarios and it was then left in Splash Media Group Inc.’s hands to execute this new direction.

Most of the stories are typical, common scenarios that are often seen, either in the airport building, or associated with the airport."

and:

"Another reason why we chose the “re-creation” route is because we wanted to showcase these typical scenarios that the public could make a connection to: a teary good-bye, a joyful welcome home, a long distance relationship, etc. With a plan to then ask the public to submit their personal stories so we could showcase further, the connection that the PGAA has with our community. People can submit their stories online at: www.pgairport.ca."

** created **

** typical scenarios **

**With a plan to THEN ask the public to submit their personal stories**

The debate about stock art is a side distraction to the real issue - some of THE STORIES ARE FABRICATED - they were scenarios dreamed up and presented as real through design conventions and additional details like adding fake names, and these were presented, numerous times, as authentic stories from real people.

Repeating that the stories in question are real, over and over again, does not make it so.

Unless, of course, by "real" you mean "genuine replica."

May we caution you again in making statements; you can raise a question, but you cannot make a statement without being certain it is fact.
That is why comments have been removed, For your and our protection, and to be fair to those involved.

"Most of the stories are typical, common scenarios that are often seen, either in the airport building, or associated with the airport."

Yes, and they are also typical of those travelling by bus, by train, by car.

Highways could talk to a few people who use the new Fraser River Bridge (once it is fully open) and get their stories about the trip to work, the meeting at lunch, the trip to the airport, the trip to a meeting, the trip to buy some lumber, etc. etc.

What, if anything, does it say about the bridge. They are stories, that may be true, about someone using a facility by coincidence.

Better still, a restaurant could do the same. A clothing store could do the same.

Do the stories say anything about the quality of the bridge, the restaurant or the clothing store. Of course not!!!

All it is is association of happy thoughts with a place, thus making the implication that when you use that service or are in that place you too will have such happy thoughts. It says absolutely nothing explicit about the service. It does imply, however, that these are excellent places with excellent service.

It is one form of spin at a subliminal level.

BTW, does the picture of the elderly couple - one using a walker - on a moving walkway suggest that CYXS has a moving sidewalk?

Here is the Thunder Bay annula report for 2007.

A standard looking report from a presentation point of view. With such reports being the probable norm, it is no wonder that CYXS, with the considerable help of Splash, won an award.

But, take a closer look at the content. Notice that while YXS speaks about its committment to customers, it does not report on that explicitly. Thunder Bay does in the 2007 report.

http://www.tbairport.on.ca/reports/2007%20Annual%20Report.pdf

Issues:

Food services
extend food hours
free internet access
better viewing area

We likely have similar issues, plus lack of enclosed connection from departure lounge to the plane.

If these stories and photos were presented as fiction then there should not be an issue.

If they were being portrayed as genuine stories with corresponding photos then someone needs a lesson in ethics. It does appear that these articles contain fabricated quotes and sources, and non-existent people. The person responsible for the compilation of this report has a serious credibility issue.

IMO, credibility should be a critical attribute for someone not only representing our city but in charge of communicating accurate and factual information to its taxpayers and citizens.

Fabrication scandals have tanked numerous careers and you’d think that people would know better……….

As someone who is in the graphic design and marketing industry, I feel the need to make one comment.

The ONLY reason there is blow-back on this piece is because the client and the designer(s) chose to use real names in it. If they had simply used the terms "us, we or I", the stories would have been generic yet still have had the emotional impact they were looking for.

By adding names (last names especially) they have given the warm stories much more factual credibility even if they are possibly completely made up.

I'm personally not a fan of using "disclaimers" in the fine print, especially in an Annual Report. It makes a person wonder what else is not factual.

On the design side it's a nice looking piece. I'm not sure who it's selling to but it's still a nice production.

Not a Big Deal.

I can’t help but notice that there appear to be a select few people’s comments that seem to be intent on fanning the flames on this issue.

With their seemingly inside knowledge of the advertising business and persons involved, it can’t help lead one to believe that they are somehow linked to this story and therefore providing extremely biased information.

I strongly encourage this forum for open discussion but I think it’s only fair for everyone participating to know if we are being fed information to advance someone’s personal agenda.

I for one would be interested to know if the comments in question come from individuals who are, or have been, connected to the advertising industry or were perhaps passed over for the City Hall job.

I could be completely wrong but at least I would have all of the information before making up my mind on this issue.

You're new here, aren't you? Nobody ever has all the information before making up their mind. That's part of the fun.

And by the way, what's your agenda Sunfire? How are YOU connected to this story? What are you trying to feed us?

MrPG,

I have been wondering the same thing, this Sunfire person definatly has an axe to grind. A little to fast to try and deflect the blame.

I am not a PR person. I did not apply for the City Job (BTW, whether Davis has been hired by the City or not, the question of the details of YXS’ PR campaign stand on their own). I do not have a PR firm.

My relationship through my working and volunteer life has been and continues to be work which ranges from hiring public relations managers, preparing requests for proposals for corporate communications plans and hiring consultants based on that, overseeing the work, and deciding as a member of a board/committee on communications decisions. I have been and continue to be a user of PR consultants and a part of decision making groups about the direction and final product to go to the public.

Putting myself into a position of a decision maker at YXS who would have seen the product in question as it neared the final draft version, I would have expressed my concerns about the hyperbole of how many thousands of stories per day there are, the picture which displays a moving walkway that we do not have, the use of last names and the one and only apparent endorsements in the 11 “stories” which implies that Elaine and Henry receive friendly service from the CYXS employees. They may very well have said that but, in my mind and world, it needs back up by a survey result that indicates that is the dominant opinion. In the USA there are laws that agree with that point of view.

In addition, I would have suggested that we ought to take the opportunity to also bring forward a few “stories” about the employees of the airport as well as those who are employees of organizations that are located at the airport and even those who represent the corporations who rent space at the airport.

Of course very few people would come in direct contact with employees of the airport from the time of their arrival at the airport to take a flight to the time they board a plane. In fact, I question the whole notion of who actually hears the “stories”. The “we” who typically hear such stories would more likely be those who work for the airlines and the car rental agencies as well as those working in the restaurant and lounge and perhaps even those who work the screening security.

Also being a member of a committee or a board to make such a decision, I realize that all, some, or none of those suggestions would have been acted on. But, there would have been discussion about them around the table. What we do not know, of course, is whether such suggestions might have been made but ended up being minority positions. Such is life working with Boards and committees.

My family and I, as are many others in PG, are frequent users of the facility which sees us paying the Airport Improvement fee a total of about 20 user-times a year. I love the new airport. I am proud to welcome visitors at the airport. However, there are some decisions which I have to scratch my head about. Why no jetways were built into the improvements is the main one. I doubt I am unique in that concern. I am sure people such as “Henry Becker” and his wife would agree with me.

Sunfire, corporations who have a continuous improvement approach to doing business, and most certainly consulting firms who advise many clients, seek customer input on a regular basis.

You might be new to this type of situation or you may not be associated with such corporations or consultants.

Spill it!! What is your “story”?