Time For Some Answers

Monday, October 26, 2009 03:45 AM

First and foremost, to suggest that in some way 0pinion250 has an agenda in the publishing of the story in relation to the annual report of the Prince George Airport, or the city’s newest employee Mike Davis, is poppy cock.

Now let’s see, what was in it for us? The Airport, Splash media and the City are all advertisers. There is always a risk of them deciding that they didn’t like what they read and they don’t book with us.

There is a risk in reporting in the media and if the threat of cancellation of advertising is used to hang the axe over your head, you have two options, bend or do what your responsibility is to the readers and that is to report all stories, good or bad. We at 0-250 don’t play favourites.

No one from 250 has or would apply for the job of Communications Manager of the City or for that matter the similar job at the airport. Nor do we have any ”friends” who we wanted to have the position.

I do know that there were several people from media who applied for the job in the first instance , if they were trying to stir the pot that is a double standard, and if they had the courage of conviction they would admit when reporting the story that they had indeed applied and failed to achieve the position.

My news director used to say, "Meisner would report on his mother if she did the deed" which was a compliment.

Now to the matter at hand;

Should the public be told how Mike Davis was hired by the City Of Prince George after the position was first advertised for 70 grand and then bumped to 95 grand plus benefits? The new, higher salary of 95 grand plus benefits would have attracted some very top notch talent from western Canada, because there are damn few people earning that kind of money in this industry. So why didn’t that happen? Mayor Dan Rogers is an old media hack, he knows full well what the industry pays.

Who all was contacted for the job, when the salary was bumped to 115 grand including benefits?

The City originally called for a PR hack with a degree in Communications, Davis does not have such a degree, why was he considered? Of course the City can get around that because they didn’t post it the second time.

Did the City contact the previous employers of Davis and if not why not?

Did the fact that the Airport won an award, in which information was misleading, have anything to do with Davis getting the job?

Does the City have any concern in the manner in which the Annual report was presented? Are they concerned about credibility?

Finally Splash media and the Prince George Airport are not the people whose feet should be held to the fire. Splash put together a good ad; if it was misleading it was up to Mike Davis at the airport and his superiors to correct it. At what point were these superiors made aware of the problem?

Receive an answer to these questions and the whole matter becomes much clearer.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s’ opinion

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Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 03:45 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: Imvictoria on October 26 2009 4:12 AM

This is whole story is about the City of Prince George senior staff management team looking to put a good spin on their actions and inactions regarding the citizens of Prince George. This fellow that they hired is someone who is like themselves a member of the Team. Why hire people who are different? People who are different are difficult and can be major headaches to the unofficial city staff team mantra. I read a lot of fear that what we will have in PG is a lot more spin from the City executive Team. Some of that might be good e.g. "beautiful yards in PG worst neighborhood!". Or "potholes get rid of old inefficient cars or perhaps it will be "police chase Granny to return to her her hearing aid". A spin doctor is about massaging events to mislead people outside of PG. It is about suppressing critical evaluation from our citizens and from members of City Council.

Posted by: muckermike on October 26 2009 5:03 AM

Mayor Dan is quickly becoming as arrogant as Gordo. He really needs a spin doctor.

Posted by: mouse on October 26 2009 5:33 AM

Don't forget the city council doesn't seem to have a say on the business decisions of the City executive Team. The mayor seems to imply he had an effect on the hiring of the team when it was the human resources that did the hiring. Why does the city management need a communications specialist? To help improve their own reputation of inadequacy?

Posted by: Stompin Tom on October 26 2009 7:10 AM

"Did the fact that the Airport won an award, in which information was misleading, have anything to do with Davis getting the job?"

Of course this was strongly considered, because in the world of spin doctoring that was a great bonus, a feather in Mr Davis's cap.

As for the the comment about Mr Rogers becoming as arrogant as Gordo, from somebody who has know him for over 20 years and shared their fair share of pops with him in his youth, you havn't seen his arrogance yet. Like anybody else, as he gets more comfortable in his job, his personality will creep out.

Posted by: caranmacil on October 26 2009 12:59 PM

I am a little confused. Which story is Mr Meisner referring to? The first one was obstensibly about a misleading publicity report from the airport manager. It seemed like an awful lot of ruckus over such a small thing. I do notice, however, on rereading it that it concludes with a comment on Mr Davis leaving his post and getting a job with the city for 90 000. Just enough of a dig to get the ball rolling as it turns out.
There is nothing ethically wrong with this of course, but I do have to wonder if the airport 'scandal' was just a lead in to going after the hiring of Mr Davis? For the record, i am not suggesting conspiracies or even hatchet jobs. I just wondered why something as, well trivial as using fake pics and such in what is obviously an advertisement would cause such a stir. Now I know.

Posted by: Bridget on October 26 2009 3:44 PM

When the tax payers dollars are concerned, all levels of government are open to scrutiny and accountability.
We are in some pretty lean times here and lots of projects in our city that requires significant funding. And the City decides we need a "Clean Air Ambassador" for $42,000 for 7 months work?
Then a communications director position that sat vacant for a year and a half is posted initially at $70,000 grand a year then bumped up to $98,000?
Our proposed new RCMP detachment is going to cost us tax payers $48 million?
Performing arts centre $50 million?
What did Smart Growth on the Ground cost our city and are the recommendations going to stay on paper like the rest of the surveys and studies that have been done?
Meisner and everyone else in this city whether they are media or tax payers have the right to ask these important questions.

Posted by: caranmacil on October 26 2009 5:49 PM

Who said they didnt have the right? Really folks, it is still ok to question peoples or organisations motives or approaches, whether you agree with the ends or not.
If the intent of the story was to call out the city on the wage offered a new employee then it worked didnt it? That doesnt mean it was really taking the high road. Unfortunately for the Mayor, he took the bait and made it more of a public issue than it was before.
It seems the first story was a vehicle for making Mr Davis look bad, so that his wage working for the city would be even more of an issue. Thats a little manipulative if you ask me. Perhaps a little hypocritical as well, since the main beef of the first story was obstensibly a misleading report from the airport.

Posted by: Stompin Tom on October 26 2009 7:20 PM

I think the main beef of the 1st story was the man responceable for a misleading report from the airport was hired and given a substancially larger salary package than advertises.

The whole story was about credability in my opinion.

Posted by: Mr. PG on October 26 2009 7:38 PM

Bridget got it exactly right. The Smart Growth on the Ground paper study was actually not that smart. The paper study was full of boilerplate and motherhood statements that will sit on the shelves for ever. The paper study did not include an implementation plan, and did not create a business plan that accurately costed their crazy ideas, including the creation of a downtown lake, which would require the demolition of the Days Inn and the demolition of the former CGC building which is soon to become a medical centre.

Posted by: Stompin Tom on October 26 2009 9:45 PM

Didnt we spend a few million dollars trying to keep downtown from becoming a lake a few winters ago?

Posted by: Mr. PG on October 26 2009 10:42 PM

You are correct Stompin Tom, but the bozos from Smart Growth on the Ground, preferred downtown to be a lake. Maybe they figured out that the panhandlers could't swim!