VOCM apology to Innu people - Sincere? or...

The headline in the Telegram says it all - or does it?

Steele Communications apologizes on air for behavior of radio host

VOCM - it's parent company, Steele Communications, Randy Simms, and general manager Mike Murphy have all publicly apologized to Simeon Tshakapesh and the Innu people for remarks made by Openline Host Randy Simms.

Obviously an apology was deserved and the man behind the mic should be watched carefully - however was the apology sincere?

Randy Simms and Paddy Daley have oft in the past allowed or made comments on air that were false, misleading, offensive, and personally damaging - yet they continued on - no apology - no retraction. In fact - they usually justify by saying that some private citizens are not private because they call a talk show. This apparently justification for using their power behind the mic for whatever reason they choose.

The difference is they will not apologize to women, particularly to a woman they have always felt comfortable attacking - probably with the government's blessing.

Refresh your memory click HERE  or  HERE  or  HERE

I am not the only one that VOCM, Steele Communications, Newfoundland Capital Corporation, Randy and Paddy allow to be slandered - there are many more.

The difference right now is that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the multi-millionaires, and certain business interests need the Innu people to work with them. This I'm sure VOCM will assist in when they can. The government does not need me or many other citizens of this province and would prefer if we would just go away. The public attack on people such as myself assists the government in their efforts to avoid critique, tough questions, and opposition to ill-fated policy positions.

In my opinion this apology to the Innu people was necessary not sincere. The truth is always in the facts somewhere - we just have to open our eyes and look.

What's behind the VOCM Attack?

Here's the problem. VOCM boasts about the size of its listening audience - particularly their talk-shows.

If this is true then Randy Simms and VOCM allowed out and out lies to be broadcast - about a private citizen - to thousands of people.

Is this the role of a commercial radio station? Clearly it is not. So why then did VOCM allow it and to date not address it?

And yes it continues - over the air - on twitter - anywhere Paddy can get a smack in.

The difference is - he has a mic - and he controls a commercial radio program. Each and every time he comments it goes to thousands of people. What is the purpose?

The following is a sample of Paddy Daly's tirades :

At least you're not at home "crooked" like Sue - Paddy Daly states today on the airwaves.

or this today on Twitter

@hydroqueen let's get the rules straight? you are flying solo with your ramblings. call or be quiet. gutless. hypocrite.

I have not been on his or Randy's show for a long time now and did nothing to precipitate the commentary about me by callers like "Bob".

So VOCM will do this: They will allow slander and lies about a private person - and then provide that person the opportunity to call in and talk about it. As you can see by the "rules" Paddy has set above - I am being told I am to be quiet - unless I am calling him.

Again I ask - why is all this going on? It certainly is not in the interest of public discourse on issues of societal concern.

The term gutless is interesting. He has a program on a commercial broadcast station and continues to take pot-shots - harassing me to call his show.

After reading a post on my blog last weekend - Paddy tweeted the following:

@hydroqueen you poor woman.

This is also a very revealing comment. A very interesting choice of words - indeed.

There is something behind all of this and perhaps VOCM, Paddy, and Randy can let us know exactly what that is.

Until then - VOCM, Paddy and Randy do not control my blog or my twitter - so I will carry on.

Again people take note: it's me today - it may be you tomorrow.

My interest is Newfoundland and Labrador and the future generations. If that means speaking up and asking questions - then that's what I will do. If that means I challenge government on very bad resource deals, regressive legislation, or positions of potential conflict - then I will. If that causes unfair attacks and harassment - so be it. I have been doing it for 25 years - still here.

Think Twice about calling VOCM Talk Shows - Slander

 VOCM continues to ignore the slander allowed by them during Open-Line last week.

Then let's get the rules straight. You can without any concern broadcast absolute and defamatory lies about a private citizen on VOCM.

As their talk-show hosts encourage you to call their programs to voice opinion on issues of public importance - please understand that this may subject you to defamatory statements and lies.

You therefore should advise your family that by agreeing to participate in these programs you understand that you may be may harmed both personally and professionally - as VOCM will not prohibit outright lies and slander.

If you think you are immune to this - wait until you express an opinion that goes against the current political authority. Partisan zealots will stop at nothing to attack you - whatever way they can - and truth does not matter. VOCM for its part will not prevent such occurrences.

The statement below was made by caller "Bob" to open-line last week.
 

"Don't you think that the debate over the Muskrat Falls has been beaten to death? Roger Grimes never had to go through that and the only opposition he had was Sue Dyer and he gave her a job and then he gave her a pharmacy, probably for her loyalty, I think."

This statement is an absolute lie. It also states that I was given something by a politician for loyalty. This is most defamatory and damaging.


These shows say they rely on callers to make the broadcast. I would suggest if callers are going to be subject to this - eventually the calls will stop.


Do you stand up for people when they are being bullied?

Do you believe people have the right to publicly broadcast lies about an individual? Will you support such activity?

Open season on Sue? I wonder if those rules would apply to all people.

Paddy Daley & Randy Simms VOCM Broadcast Licence

Radio talk shows are part of everyday life in Newfoundland and Labrador. In some respects it's a continuity of the Gerald S. Doyle News Bulletin that combined news with personal messages. In this way people from all over could send messages to each other particularly about how somebody might have been doing in hospital or if somebody made it on a trip from one community to another.

We love to talk to each other - we love to discuss our place and the politics that affects it. We have gone through various economic challenges and chronic poor resource deals. Our province should enjoy a few million in population and significant industrial presence; yet we do not. There have been many reasons for this lack of regeneration and growth; transportation, corrupt or inept politicians, ill advised industrial/commercial ventures, and inferior or absent economic planning.

Generationally we witness very outspoken patriots who believe in Newfoundland and Labrador and are willing to stick their neck out - despite the predictable partisan political attacks. For those of you who keep your heads down and go about your business or those who take advantage of partisan connections - this post will be a nuisance. You will prefer to tune out, reject, or worse not even enter into thoughts of bettering our lot and the lot of the children and grandchildren.

There are large numbers of the population who care not only for their own immediate well being but also for community, region, and the generations who will follow. Getting them together is the challenge - not unlike other challenges we face due to geography.

Newfoundland is an island while Labrador is connected to the larger North American mainland. In our history and particularly since the "great" confederation we have not managed to connect our people through affordable and reliable transportation. For politicians - this has served well. Labradorians blame the theft of their resources on Townies or Islanders while Newfoundlanders have been taught to use Labrador as their resource well. Essentially Islanders blame Canada and Labradorians blame Islanders. Perfect for slick MHA's and MP's who are not capable of or interested in doing anything more than securing a pension after years of perks and privileges.

Time to get back to the topic - hard not to digress when talking about the less than stellar performance of our leaders.

VOCM and CBC provide talk shows - where residents can voice their opinions, concerns, and support of one policy or another or one resource development or another. The public broadcaster's  provision of this is minimal while the private sector radio station fills its programming with it.

VOCM's openline, backtalk, and nightline provide some 24 hours a week during various times of the the day for radio talk - and that should be a good thing. There was a time when it was. Today the quality of the hosts has diminished and more reflect American style partisan slight of hand.

Paddy Daly and Randy Simms are more interested in listening to, laughing at, praising and pontificating on their own ideas - with careful avoidance of annoying the powers that be. Pete Soucy more reflects the purer form of talk shows where he thoughtfully raises issues of the day, provides some sincere reflection on his own thoughts and genuinely encourages people to call.

Both Paddy and Randy are brave when they rip through those who may be vulnerable or wrong side partisan and enjoy taking pokes at people after the conversation has ended or in their absence all together. Randy's focus changes from - "here's what I think" and "you know I'm right" to interrogating inappropriately - somebody who calls with a significant social problem. You see there is no need to ask - what does your husband do - or why is he or she not working - or how do you treat your children - or what was your family like.

Both Paddy and Randy would do very well to turn the mic on and talk to each other for hours on end and then let's see if that would be commercially viable. The other desire of these hosts is to hear from politicians - particularly cabinet and leaders of the political parties. This they feel is success and a confirmation that their programs are "important". Both fall short of really challenging the government and the so called "tough questions" are tempered with laughter or softballs tossed in  between.

VOCM talk shows used to be open - call in - and if you got through - get in the line and wait for your turn. If you wished to remain anonymous that was a given unless you identified yourself. Nowadays it's call in - leave your number and advise what issue you want to talk about. Then depending on the whim of the host and after the endless line-up of politicians - you may get a call back. Make no mistake about it - the time you get may be very short or limitless depending on the message the host is after.

Minnie, Tony, and Marjorie have an opinion. Do you know what that opinion is? Do you think you need to hear it again? Will you learn anything by listening to another call from them? Can you guess who they support and who they do not? Do you know who they love, adore, and idolize? I will not be hypocritical here - they should be entitled to call and as often as they like. the problem comes when hosts allow greater access to the program than those who are calling with new information or opinion on issues - things that impact our lives and for generations of lives that follow.

Sometimes I think VOCM could better serve their listening audience and by extension their advertisers if they prescribed the nature of the shows. Perhaps the mornings and evenings could be geared to socio/economic issues affecting our province and leave the afternoon for lost things, birthdays, anniversaries, and those who want to do an unpaid or paid political announcement. The afternoon could also accommodate sitting politicians at the provincial or federal level. Let's see how commercially viable the afternoon show would be - and what advertisers would be interested in that audience base.

Here's the thing VOCM - you have a broadcast licence and you should be careful not to abuse the privileged position you are fortunate enough to have and make a profit on. Permitting and then not correcting slanderous statements about a member of the public does not demonstrate the respect for your licence - you should have.

One of course is entitled to get a lawyer and keep suing until you stop - however that is beyond the reach of the average citizen - yet your shows rely on those same people.

I for one will instead contact the Board of Newfoundland Capital Corporation (headquartered in Nova Scotia), tweet and blog about your activities, and further address the CRTC during licence renewal.

For a station that relies so heavily on talk shows to generate revenue - it seems folly to take the easy route of generating controversy by allowing slander towards those who have participated for years on the shows.

While we can say it's a great service to provide the medium - that good is eliminated when irresponsible hosts and management do not moderate obvious egregious behavior. If that's what the company relies on for revenue - perhaps they should stop patting itself on the back for "public" service and "community" involvement.

Next up the VOCM Cares Foundation.

Iceland continues to Move Forward - our MHA`s should complete Orientation there!

Unemployment Rate Drops in Iceland

From Iceland Review

In the third quarter of 2011, 10,700 people on average were unemployed in Iceland, which is 5.9 percent of the workforce, according to Statistics Iceland. Unemployment measured 5.6 percent among men and 6.2 percent among women. 

From the third quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2011, the number of unemployed workers dropped by approximately 1,000...

Rumors abound! Run her out of Town - if you speak out you will be targetted!

Today is gearing up to be a very interesting day.

For those of you who heard Paddy Daly today on Back-Talk - did you hear his conversation with Doug Stanley, an independent pharmacy owner in Burin. Somewhere in that conversation Paddy asked Doug - do you think the problem with getting a meeting with the Minister is personal - with one of your members or somebody who represents you?

Interesting question don't you think - where did that come from. Do tell Paddy.

Earlier today a member of the CICPO asked me if a meeting was denied because I was the Executive Director of the group. Apparently he had been speaking to a representative of another group who suggested this was the case. That follows many other instances out of this group - raising the same question. Interesting point.

Further I have been subject to Ministers and the Premier herself allegedly telling members of the CICPO that - in a round-a-bout way - you should get rid of her. Even gone as far to ask me to remove my blog or make me stop blogging.

I remember another Executive Director under the same threats. I remember Rob Ritter of the NLMA being lambasted by the Premier and Minister with his professionalism under attack.

We know Premier - if you do not agree with government and you speak out - you will be targeted and they will attempt to shut you up. Just imagine this - and imagine that it is acceptable behavior in a mature democracy.

Then there's another Minister directing pharmacy owners to stay off the airways and get to the table. And yet another member who spoke out against a government policy in the past - was chastised - once again behind his back by another Minister.

There are many more examples but this should suffice - to prove our democracy is under attack by Dunderdale and gang. Bullying is not only acceptable to them but is encouraged and used on a day to day basis.

How many people have put a PC sign on their lawn out of fear?

Paddy Cake Paddy Cake - Show me the Proof - Iceland fishery - aluminum Booming

Paddy Daly - "Iceland is Bankrupt"
Will he withdraw the statement?

Read the Story below of today's date from the Fish Update Publication

Iceland fish exports on rise

Published:  26 September, 2011

ICELAND exported fish and seafood products to the world totalling 647 million euros -  or £569 million sterling - during the first six months of this year, new figures have shown.

The figure is 3.5 per cent higher than in the same period last year and is probably down to higher fish prices on international markets.There is little doubt  that the fishing industry continues to play a key role in the Icelandic economy.

Seafood now accounts 37 per cent of the country's total exports which amounted to 1.729-billion euros - or £1.5 billion sterling. But the biggest foreign revenue earner is still high value aluminium and ferro silicon. Iceland also earns revenue for the export of ships, fishing vessels and agricultural products.

In other statistics the value of fish catches by Icelandic vessels increased by 13.7 per cent last year from 2009. The value of the catch amounted to 131-billion kroners (£698 million sterling or 621-million euros) in 2010, compared to 115-billion kroners (£613-million or 537-million euros the a year before.

This increase can largely be attributed to the country's most valuable fish stock, cod, since the value of this catch increased by a fifth and amounted to a total value of 44.6 billion kroners (£245-million or 200-million euros) last year. Cod catches were up by 10,000 tons to 160,000 tons, thanks to higher quotas.

Moreover, the value of pelagic catches other than herring, capelin and blue whiting almost doubled last year from the year before and this was largely due to the increased fishing of mackerel.  About 40 per cent  of the catch went directly from being fished into domestic processing last year.

Yes Newfoundland and Labrador there is a Sasquatch - ask Kathy

Newfoundland and Labrador politics is reaching new lows - the silence from Dunderdale is scary. Is she able to explain the finances of the province? Why is Marshall the only point man now from health and tax - to deception and misinformation?

Then Minister Marshall gets a free ride. How many times have the hosts of the VOCM triple play talk-shows been asked - "the next time Minister Marshall comes on ask him about the Dr. Wade Locke report on pharmacy"? How many times - including last week was Marshall on-air right after the question was asked - only to have the host pass him a pair of skates - and avoid the question?

Why have the leaders not been asked to spend a morning on Open-Line to address the public? That used to be a common thing - that is pre-DanTory.

Kathy Dunderdale saunters by and passes a comment about the Liberal Policy Agenda; that's not affordable. Then dutifully Tony calls in to say that the Libs never spent all the money the Tories did and let all the infrastructure crumble. Now talking to Tony is probably the best example of wasting breath one could find. The fellow is inexplicably full of blue blood and the thought of any transfusion is like an O recipient trying to digest AB. The body just simply rejects it. It matters not to Tony that the words he utters are untrue, misleading, or at best skewed - he carries on anyway. Does Tony offer anything new when he calls again and again? No! But that works - Tony has his role for the Tories.

Kathy is the recipient of an urban economy that is flush from oil revenues - primarily from deals made by the Liberals. The money rolls from Voisey's Bay and the economy of the Placentia area grows on the back of Liberal deals. Does she know how to spend it? No - she does not - but that's okay she will spend it all anyway and take it in as fast the oil will pump. There is not a care for the future or the people who will attempt to live in it.

The only thing Kathy is responsible for is the Muskrat deal inseminated by Williams. This deal is bad - simple as that. There is no justification for it on any level and the questions keep coming from people in the public who are cognizant of the damage it could cause.

The equalization folklore has grown into a Sasquatch - I remember when "we got it" - it looked something like ... and then it had two heads. The equalization situation is worse now than it ever was and we are not better off. Back to the Sasquatch - the government now says he are a "have" province. Fiction - pure fiction, as government spins so hard a crater is forming below them - and we are going to fall into it. We are a "have" province because Harper changed the formula but NOT to our benefit.

The two billion we achieved from Martin and the federal Libs is offset by the ten billion we lose under Harper. What did Kathy, Danny, and Tories do about it? Nothing - they insured that Fabian Manning would not be elected. You can tell how upset Stephen is by that.

Under the Tories we lost two valuable paper-mills, fish plants, and several federal services. Happy Valley-Goose Bay has not done any better. Where is the new base - the new commitment promised over and over and over? A new prison? Custodial control nose and tail? Joint management? So what does Kathy do? Let's start afresh with the traitor - let's start liking Harper again.

Let's face it - the new love-in of Harper had already begun under Williams prior to his departure. Why? The answer to that is simple - Williams wanted the Emera deal. The unspoken - the unexplored - the absence of the media - all contributing to the big lie being perpetrated on our people.

The fishery continues to collapse for communities, fishermen, and plant workers but is moving ahead fine for the owners of the stock (that is not the people). The greatest eco-disaster of the modern ages and yet - nothing is sought in retribution. We lose 40,000 people - not a word - just the continued drone of incompetent politicians echoing in our ears. Our rural communities devastated - families ripped apart without a second thought by Kathy and her colleagues clones. Economies barely surviving on Alberta money - while seniors lose their families and are dragged into homes outside of their home-towns. One parent raising children in a two parent household.

And then the likes of Paddy - Paddy Daly - laughing his way through "Iceland is bankrupt". The decree from on high - atop the hill on Kenmount Road. The man who repeats what you have just said to him - yet seems so unfamiliar (aka putting words in somebodies mouth). The man who is waiting to be convinced one way or another on the Muskrat Falls deal as he declares all are not doing a good job of explaining it to him. This may not be the problem he thinks - perhaps he just does not get it and perhaps that's his own fault. Tis easier for Paddy to condemn the caller as a "know-it-all" or somebody who "does not have the gift of debate" - than to simply recognize he is ignorant on the subject.

Dumbing down of our population is key to allow the power brokers most of whom we do not know or ever see. Dumbing down to take our resources and make us feel good while they do it.

Then there are the MHA'selite remainder rediscovering the depths of unethical behavior through misinformation, deceit, and spin. The Jerome Kennedy's of the lower power hungry - fighting whoever is in front of him - taking low blows - dodging in the shadows - where bullies hang out. Then there is our Premier - the unelected leader of Danny's Party. The woman who would serve her king at all costs. Jogging, jogging, jogging, into a new wardrobe for the photo-ops of Ross Reid's carefully crafted spending of the budget.

This new game is dangerous and the people will not win if we play it. The threats veiled or direct, the interference in the peoples' right to speak, the underlying deceit of the power brokers, and the direct control of the future by Danny, Dean, and Brian - will result in the making of billionaires on the backs of our people.

Social Media "darling" will VOCM balance the mix? Election Fairness?

On September 20th Paddy Daly interviewed an individual the Morning Show VOCM host called a Social Media "darling", Rhonda McMeekin. Apparently - the station is unaware or simply failed to mention the political affiliation of this person and her role in this election in the intro or extro. The Morning Show went on to play this interview as an information piece on the role social media will play in this campaign.

Rhonda McMeekin then used Minister Jerome Kennedy as an example of how to affectively use Twitter. The PC Minister was the only politician mentioned by name and was used as a positive as McMeekin explained how one could get to know the other side of Kennedy.

Clearly VOCM must balance out this interview with social media "darlings" of the other two parties and allow them their say - particularly when highlighting a particular politician.

Couple this with the playful tweets going on between McMeekin and other VOCM employees and other activities like delivering coffee etc. and you have one mess of a situation.

During an election campaign fairness in broadcast is paramount. Will this be allowed to continue?

Was this a free political message?

This is not a joke or somebody's playpen - this is an election.

Listen to the interview PRESS HERE

Rural Newfoundland and Labrador - Stop the Tories from destroying You

Listen to the exchange between myself and Paddy Daly Click Here