Everyone who attended the candidates’ forum, organized and hosted by The Coquille Valley Sentinel, are aware that citizens requested an update from the city manager reporting on local governance. Previously, a column had appeared in The Sentinel entitled The City View and editor Jean Ivey advised the audience that she was hopeful of resurrecting that column and she met with city manager, Terence O’Connor, who did not attend the forum, to make the request.
O’Connor included the renewal of ‘The City View’ in his report to the city council. (See image below from manger’s report). However, when speaking publicly he stated he would be writing a media piece available to all news outlets. He further failed to mention Jean or The Sentinel until, Dian Courtright demanded he specify who the column was for.
O’Connor did provide a column which he forwarded to Jean as well as other media, presumably The World, and a local blog. The column begins with the quote below.
It has been awhile since this column appeared in the media, but now back by popular demand, this column will be appearing in at least once a month in our community news media.
Personally, I find it rather interesting that O’Connor would assume that other media were interested in his column as it was only The Sentinel that requested it. Further, when I am asked to write a column it is with the understanding that I am writing for that publication unless otherwise specified. Finally, he forwarded the column to the former Sentinel reporter who despite having no official affiliation with any known registered media sources published the column in advance of The Sentinel publication date on his blog.
It seems that the ex-reporter continues to ride on the coat tails of The Sentinel and its editor Jean Ivey. He didn’t attend the candidates’ forum either and had nothing to do with the hard work involved in putting it on. Nevertheless he reprints a Sentinel garden columnist and now he wants to hitch a ride with The City View… Ethical bloggers link to or cite their sources, not so with that character.
