Reid's office complains of unbalanced coverage
Peninsula News has received a complaint from the office of the Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid of unbalanced coverage in its March 10 issue (614).
Mr Jesse Corda, the media officer of the Labor Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid, phoned Peninsula News editor Mr Mark Snell on the morning of Tuesday, March 18.
He complained that Peninsula News had run a media release dated March 9 from Liberal candidate for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, but not a media release dated March 6 on the same topic from Dr Reid.
Mr Snell responded that, as reported on the front page of that issue, Peninsula News had not received email between Wednesday, March 5, and Saturday, March 8, and therefore had not seen the media release involved.
Mr Corda seemed to regard this as a ruse to enable Peninsula News to show political favouritism.
In the course of the conversation, Mr Corda said Dr Reid supported Peninsula News, which was reflected in his substantial recent advertising in the paper.
The front page report had invited anyone emailing Peninsula News during the period the email service was out of action to resend their email.
After the telephone conversation, Mr Corda sent the media release through.
The release announced funding for the Regional Youth Support Service in Gosford, but made no mention of the Peninsula.
When asked about this, Mr Corda responded: "Youth who are living on the Peninsula will benefit from RYSS services.
"RYSS have outreach programs on the Peninsula and refer youth to their hubs."
Mr Snell commented last week: "Whether or not his staff accept that Peninsula News has acted in good faith in difficult circumstances, we do not believe Dr Reid has been unfairly treated or treated in a way that is not in line with our advertised standards.
"Peninsula News is a local newspaper and its coverage is limited to the Peninsula.
"It does not have international, national, state or regional coverage.
"That is why we look to all articles to have specific local relevance.
"Even at this local scale, Peninsula News always has more news every issue than will fit in the print edition, as the front page documents.
"Particularly being staffed by volunteers, Peninsula News cannot be expected to know or speculate on the effects of a funding, or other, announcement on the Peninsula unless this is detailed in a media release.
"Nor should the newspaper be expected to know of the announcement in the first place."
He said all candidates were welcome to contribute to Peninsula News within its established standards and guidelines.
"I believe our readers are more than interested in the specific consequences of Federal policies and funding for the Peninsula," Mr Snell said.
"In this case, the media release concerned has not yet been published on Dr Reid's website."
Mr Snell said it would be made available from the Peninsula News website at http://penne.ws/i8Sh8W.
Dr Reid could still provide details of the proposed RYSS funding for the Peninsula for publication, if he wished.
The presence of all political candidates on the Peninsula was also of interest, Mr Snell said, and Dr Reid's visit to the Ettalong senior citizens centre was reported with a picture on page two of the same issue.
Mr Snell said, although the email service had been re-established, emails sent since February 21 had been lost in the process.
Anyone not having received an expected response should resend their email.
SOURCE:
Telephone call, 18 Mar 2025
Mark Snell, Peninsula News