Why would Mayor Gregor Robertson fear Province editor Wayne Moriarty?

by Charlie Smith on September 17th, 2010 at 11:23 AM

Here's a new theory on the so-called media hit list, which was allegedly devised by Vision Vancouver to launch some sort of scorched-earth attack on critics of the mayor.

I've never seen any proof of its existence, and raised the possibility that Mayor Gregor Robertson was a victim of McCarthyism.

Now, I'm wondering if the hit list might have been created to curry favour with Wayne Moriarty, the editor-in-chief of the Province newspaper.

Many people were probably mystified to see Moriarty, a relatively unknown figure, show up as the highest-ranking member on the list in the print media.

He came fifth after three bloggers and Global TV's Marisa Thomas.

The next print journalist on the list was Jeff Lee of the Vancouver Sun, who ranked ninth.

Ever since getting elected, Vision Vancouver has been obsessed with calming down residents on the southwest side of the city.

The mayor's braintrust, chief of staff Mike Magee and pollster Bob Penner, know that a high turnout of NPA voters from that part of town could undermine the reelection chances of some Vision Vancouver councillors.

The Province is not a significant player in the wealthy areas of Kerrisdale, Shaughnessy, and Southlands compared with other newspapers. Its base is actually in the suburbs.

So why would Magee get it in his head that Moriarty is print enemy number one when the mayor's fiefdom only extends to Boundary Road? Magee's not that stupid.

Make no mistake: ranking high on a mayor's media hit list would be a badge of honour for anyone foolish enough to accept its validity without any proof.

Maybe my colleagues in the media should start asking themselves: who would want to curry favour with the editor-in-chief of the Province?

What can Moriarty do that might make someone want to put him at the top of the charts among print journalists in Vancouver?

I'm going to put on my helmet now because I can just imagine the grenades that will come my way in the comments section below.

Comments

16 Comments

Kennedy.Stewart

Sep 17, 2010 at 12:18pm

Hi Charlie,

While I am very pleased more people are writing about the Vancouver municipal scene I think we need to move on from talking about this imaginary list and get back to policy and politics.

Even if it does exist, who cares? It doesn't really affect anything and it won't really mean anything to the average voter.

What is perhaps more useful for the wider audience is to find out (or even speculate) about who is going to stand next year for the NPA or if COPE is going to run a mayor? Or perhaps if Vision is still committed to eliminating homelessness by 2015 or if its priorities have changed.

This list thing is a yawner.

Best wishes,

Kennedy

Charlie Smith

Sep 17, 2010 at 12:29pm

The list is important if its creation was part of a grander strategy to transform political discourse in Vancouver. I respectfully disagree with you, Kennedy, in dismissing its significance.

Charlie

Kennedy.Stewart

Sep 17, 2010 at 12:35pm

Point taken, but could we put the discussion on hold at least until we find out if the list actually exists?

Best wishes,

Kennedy

conrad

Sep 17, 2010 at 2:46pm

wayne moriarty should be horsewhipped.

jansumi

Sep 17, 2010 at 3:23pm

mm... something in the name perhaps??

glen p robbins

Sep 17, 2010 at 5:23pm

The print media isn't very good or credible anymore. Readership is declining. Anecdotally, I can remember back in 2001-2002 meeting at Starbee's, and number of people with newspaper, magazines reading was very evident. Now, its laptops and other business - very infrequently do I see someone reading the paper.

We regularly ask people what they read, listen to, or watch on TV. We gave up comparing it to the 'numbers' provided by mainstream (sold to advertisers). Numbers are falling off dramatically.

The recent (likely paid for) push among media - on Campbell's return - pushing his HST Referendum agenda was a excellent example (and benchmark) of the fact that the mainstream media has lost its influence on the public. The tragic irony of the young woman being gang raped - evidenced from Internet 'journalism' which the mainstream dutifully followed - reveals that public influenced has shifted to the Internet.

Frankly, I believe the role of the Editors in newspapers like the province is to determine what angle their reporters and columnists will take relative to income into the advertising treasury - and no more than that.

My own experience writing about Jeff Lee was followed by the only 'libel chill' I ever experienced -- from the late libel lawyer for Sun and Province "B"-------------

He threatened me by email - to sue - I told him to F---k Off and never heard from him again. I knew thereafter We were untouchable.

This hit list debate is a hissy fit of irrelevants - who believe they have influence when really they don't. Too much drama translates to nothing really happening.

RealityCheck

Sep 17, 2010 at 9:51pm

More concerning than the list (which I believe certainly cannot be dismissed so easily) is the Mayor's recent definite statements regarding the "disadvantages" of democracy when compared with the direct steps taken towards environmental issues by China's autocratic regime.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/for-vancou...

In Europe, Where Gregor's policies are touted by his followers as being more commonplace, the electorate is rising up against his ideas. Even the left-leaning Guardian has a word of caution:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2010/sep/16/authoritar...

The comments to the article are just as important as the substance.

Manny

Sep 18, 2010 at 8:38am

Ever notice how Gregor Robertson runs and hides like a scared chicken when it comes time to face the media unscripted? He's all about catch phrases and bike lanes that don't seem to work.

glen p robbins

Sep 18, 2010 at 9:27am

Reality Check - I agree, but who controls the comments published?
We have a hard time finding 1/10 who support HST and similar amount who support Referendum - yet if you read the news and comments you might see 2 letters/comments knocking Campbell and 1 not knocking or not so knocking. Looks like 25-33%, when it isn't even close to this (unless the moe is 5%). (It's interesting when some of the mainstream polls a loser issue for the government like HST they almost always drop the sample size and increase the margin of error). The folks on the news go looky Jesus-- Campbell's moving on up like George Jefferson - margin of error 5%).