It’s usually the Daily Times that earns our wrath when we analyze hack reporting and a lack of journalistic ethics among DelMarVa’s media outlets. Let’s face it, a decent newspaper in almost all but its reporting of Salisbury city politics just can’t help itself when it comes to attacking certain elected officials. Since the election of Jim Ireton as Salisbury’s mayor, they have even subscribed to the old adage: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. Their intense hatred of council members Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, and Tim Spies has motivated them to form an obvious political alliance with Ireton (whom they despised until his falling out with Campbell, et al) and council member Laura Mitchell. Unfortunately, another local media organization is attempting to surpass the efforts of the Daily Times when it comes to poor reporting and a lack of ethics. That organization is WMDT. There’s also a new bully in town – WMDT General Manager Kathleen McLain.
In response to the council’s refusal to bow down and adopt his latest plan for downtown revitalization, Ireton did what he always does – call a press conference. Attacking Campbell, Cohen and Spies, Ireton called on the broadcast outlets present to knock go knock on these council members’ doors and “stick a microphone in their faces”. “Demand answers!” as to why they wouldn’t support his plan. Only one outlet took up Ireton’s call to ambush elected officials at their homes – McLain’s WMDT.
Guess who was in the audience adding her support? Ms. McLain. Guess who was part of the “Revitalization Committee” that added their collective names to Ireton’s plan? Ms. McLain. Guess which TV station dispatched a reporter to the home of council president Terry Cohen (frightening her children to the point that her daughter was brought to tears)? WMDT (of which McLain is the GM). Guess whose reporter sheepishly admitted that she was ordered to attempt an ambush of Cohen at her home? McLain (WMDT reporter Jemie Lee). Guess which outlet presented a one sided view of Ireton’s dog and pony show without even disclosing that McLain was part of the group promoting Ireton’s plan? WMDT.
Here is the video of Lee’s one sided piece attacking the council majority’s decision:
