WOW! ABSOLUTELY BLATANT MEDIA GAMESMANSHIP

I do not know how a print media titled "Waterloo Region Record" could possibly write an article specifically about a local town within Waterloo Region, publish it in a small newspaper in another local town within Waterloo Region but NOT publish it in hard copy either here in Elmira or in Kitchener-Waterloo. It boggles the mind. The article is of course the one mentioned here recently, written by Leah Gerber and titled "Experts probe Elmira chemical-manufacturing site for groundwater contamination". Two days ago I did send an e-mail to the author/reporter Ms. Gerber asking for some clarification, rationale or explanation. To date nothing. Again this morning (not long ago) I sent a second e-mail to a long term Record reporter whom I have known for a very long time and have confidence in. I await their response. ......................................................................................................... Like everyone else I have followed various highly critical reports concerning reductions in media ownership and possible accompanying loss of jounalistic independence. Yes I have seen disappointing evidence of that and other symptoms of narrowing media ownership over the decades. I have certainly seen less investigative journalism since the heady days of the early Elmira Water Crisis in late 1989. All that said I have seen some excellent coverage in the Record regarding the health crisis and legacy of working at local rubber manufacturing plants in Kitchener-Waterloo including Kaufman, Uniroyal, B.F. Goodrich and more. I believe that Ron Deruyter authored those magnificanr articles. ................................................................................................................. We lost the Elmira Independent here in Elmira in early July 2015. Our remaining local newspaper, the Woolwich Observer, did participate very well in coverage of Uniroyal Chemical and Elmira's air, water and soil contamination from 1995 until perhaps 2004. Absolutely horrible and mostly non-existent coverage since. This is not to say that the Observer do not cover other local interest stories well because generally they do. Regarding gravel pits, Hawkridge Homes subdivision, Woolwich Bio-En and much more they do an excellent job. With Crompton/Chemtura and Lanxess they are hopeless. A major part of the reason that I started this Blog in 2010 was because of what I viewed as inadequate environmental (including Chemtura) coverage by both papers although the Independent were miles ahead of the Observer on that topic. .............................................................................................................. I await any response whatsoever from the Record. If none is forthcoming then my small remaining confidence is shattered. We are at the mercy of the professional liars out there and media scrutiny on behalf of the public may indeed be finished. I can not overstate my shock at how blatant this looks like corporate power either buying or intimidating proper media coverage. This is a line in the sand moment Waterloo Region Record. If you've been chased off publishing about Lanxess Canada and the Elmira shoddy cleanup then do the honourable thing. It hurts me to say this but you will be doing more public harm going through the motions by continuing rather than by ending the disgrace.