Two news stories that relate directly to Powell River made major headlines beyond our borders in the past week. It is not often something happening in our city, or that affects the region, makes it on a television news program or in newspapers outside of the area. One thing is for sure, when it does, the story is likely to be negative.
First came an announcement that United States Department of Commerce is placing a preliminary 22.16 per cent protectionist tariff on exports of Catalyst Paper Corporation newsprint products made at its Canadian mills, including Powell River. The second story making the rounds through various media outlets came from a court ruling relating to the killing of a grizzly bear by a local bowhunter in Powell River’s backcountry, and the subsequent sentence handed out.
Considering the Trump administration’s protectionist actions south of the border, which have far-reaching effects across Canada, and the BC government’s recent ban on grizzly bear trophy hunting in the province, both are newsworthy events, locally, provincially and even nationally. For those reasons, we should not be surprised Global BC sent a reporter to town to cover the Catalyst story. Or that the fine and ordered donation handed to the hunter made headlines throughout the province.
The disturbing aspect is not the coverage itself, but the fact that a small community is often only in the spotlight when something negative happens.
Yes, bad news has to be covered. It is the job of media members everywhere, including at the Peak, to cover those stories. The difference is, whether it’s the Peak or other local media, we cover the good news as well, and inform readers about interesting events and stories about residents and their accomplishments.
How often does a camera crew come to town to cover a cultural, community or sporting event? Will they come for Townsite Jazz Festival next month? How about PRISMA, Kathaumixw or Loggers Sports this summer? But if there is a bad accident, they’ll be on the next flight in.
Doom and gloom draws attention, unfortunately. Just staying in town long enough to ask how Powell River can survive the latest blow to it industrial core does not do justice to what is happening here. Tourism is up, real estate is up, culture is alive and well, and our hockey team is on a roll.
Stick around, or at least keep watching; good things happen here, too.
