22 —- Friday, November 28, 1997 — North Shore News

Manipulating | Ferry fare hikes protested 5

Eugene Kaellis

Contributing Columnist

AT its very best all today’s TV can do with important and complex issues is give them the once over lightly treat- ment. At its worst, it either ignores such issues or distorts them to the point of near unrecognizability.

A two-part CBC TV series which aired on Nov. 10 and 11 was the culmination of a series of poll questions and editorial treatment done in con- junction with the Vancouver Sun (“Changing . Faces/Facing Change”) dealing with multiculturalism, ESL and other issues at the heart of Canadian attitudes toward ethnicity, culture, immigra- tion and immé grants.

Each one could easily have been the subject of sev- eral hour-long episodes unin- terrupted by commercials. But that was not to be.

Many of the forum partic- ipants were well informed and articulate, but the most they were permitted were snippets of approximately five to 30 seconds as the host, Kevin Evans, Donahue-like, shifted the ca:aera and mike from one person to another, producing a staccato discon- tinuity supposed to generate dynamism and exci

In this case, brevity was not the soul of wit, it became the essence of confusion and superficiality.

Cogent and impressive points were made, but that was.in spite of the format.

And what about polls? In our democratic society, everyone is “entitled to an opinion,” but who has the obligation to be informed or thoughtful before rendering one? Belief, no matter how sincerely held, is not reality.

Already misleading and superficial questions posed in the Sin poll, ¢.g.:

“Whar is the preferred, source of funding for pro- moting/encouraging differ- ent cultures?” were abbreviat- ed to fit comfortably on the sercen to became, ¢.8., “Who should pay tor multi- culturalism?”

In the Sun’s questions, what are “different” cultures? All cultures differ from one another.

And, among the multiple choice answers offered, what are “cthnic groups,” since we

“Media managers cannot claim professionalism if all they do is ‘reflect’ ... ”

are all ethnic?

Is a Shakespeare festival any less ethnic than a Shridharani symposium?

MeLuhan, McLuhan. how many tines do we have to confirm your observation that the media themselves become the message?

The oft-repeated excuse that the media, including CBC and the Vancouver Sun, merely reflect public opinion is a sorry-excuse for such superficiality and distortions.

A reflection, particularly with the enormous amplifica- tion produced by media, becomes a confirmation. Media managers cannot claim professionalism if all they do is “reflect” without showing leadership by knowledge and independent judgment.

Another of Vancouver's recent media events was the People’s Summit to counter the APEC meeting.

One of its day-long sym- posia, “Open Markets, Open Media?” also suffered from its format and (unstated) premise. ;

The moderator, Jofin Cruickshank, Editor-in-Chief

of the . Vancouver Sun, formerly of the Globe and Mail, who never distinguished himself in advocating the presumed objectives of the People’s Summit, can now add his participation to a meager list of “liberal” or “progressive” credentials while the People’s Summit organizers can pretend they successfully pulled off a status coup. Who co-opted whom?

Even the language of the media symposium reflected co-option,

The People’s Summit used precisely the same craft- ed terminology — “trade lib- eralization,” and “free trade” as APEC.

The choice of speakers and guiding questions for discussion reflected the sup- position that media in Canada are “free,” not con- trolled as are those of most South Asian countries.

Wake up!

The most powertul con- trol is the illusion of no con- trol, precisely what we have in Canada, the U.S.A,, and other countries of the “free world,”

The most effective con- spiracy is precisely one that is not articulated, based on a shared ideology.

Beware! “Free media” operators are now so slick, they can suppiy computerized invoices and receipts for the material and tailoring of the Emperor’s clothes!

Bur that doesn’t make them any more believable.

The only way to avoid being sucked into the vortex of media superficiality and the only way to avoid co- option is by establishing~ divergent, truly divergent, institutions and means. People nor in The System have vet to do that.

— Eugene Kaellis is the communications dircetor for the Burnaby Multicultural Society.

Bowen Isiand residents hit WV terminal

Anna Marie D’Angelo

News Reporter dangelo@nsnews.com ABOUT 50 Bowen Island residents refused to get in line fast Friday at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal during a peaceful, but loud

This is the definitive, ligh

protest against increased ferry rates.

“We received a lot of sup- port ... We did see the finger from time to time,” said pro- tester Richard Goth, who runs a freight business on Bowen Istand.

Protesters used me, phones to make speeches. They alse handed out leaflets to ferry terminal users. A couple of protesters lay down ona ferry ramp.

Horseshoe Bay ferry ter: minal spokesman) Deborah Dykes said the protest was peaceful.

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Dykes confirmed — that extra staff were brought in and the West Vancouver Police were called to be pre- sent during the protest.

Protesters did not want to obstruct the return of school children to Bowen Island so they boarded the ferry at 3:55 p.m.

Subsequent Bowen Island and Langdale ferries were late because of the protest.

The provincial govern: ntent announced ferry hikes this month that increased a Bowen Island resident's frry commute ta work by an additional S60 a month.

“This just irritates the Bejesus out of us,” said Goth. “Suddenly, they come to vou and say it’s going to

cost vou 25% more to go .

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West) Vancouver Police Set. fim) Almas said thy police were interviewing wit- Nesses concerning an inci- deat in which a 54-year-old Rowen Island) resident is alleged to have used her vehicle in) seriking a ferry worker. Almas said the wonian was arrested and later released.

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