Puff Piece Propaganda Proudly Placed in Petoskey News-Review

What about objective journalism?

As one who uses Charlevoix County Transit, but is critical of management and distribution of service, I was eager to read the article by Matt Mikus of January 5, 2017 about public transportation. When I finished, my reaction was “Wow. Just. Wow.” I cannot recall a more flagrant puff piece for any government agency. Anywhere. Ever.

This article reeks of propaganda. Of spin. Of being totally one-sided. This is the type of piece usually utilized by community boosters and reserved for the opening of a new donut shop or specialty retailer. It lacks any semblance of objective journalism. My disappointment is so profound that I am left wondering about the motivation for such an article.

My experience with public transportation in Northern Michigan is limited to Charlevoix County Transit, so that is where my critique will be focused. As a disabled senior I rely on public transportation, and appreciate the service provided. However, when transportation service to medical appointments is terminated without notice, as was done with regard to travel to medical specialists in Traverse City, it presents undue hardships upon those who have come to rely on public transit to get needed medical care. Additionally, the options for shopping are very limited, and while we were provided with transportation to the major retailers in Emmet County, sadly, that too has been terminated.

With regard to those trips to Traverse City for medical care, the article states that Charlevoix County Transit manager, Jill Drury, said rides from Charlevoix County to Traverse City were phased out because of limits on staff and vehicles. I believe that to be inherently false. First, Charlevoix County Transit maintains two (2) vehicles specifically designated for medical trips. Second, the service was not phased out, but rather terminated without notice about the same time as weekend “bar hopping” service was implemented, and finally, my research indicates that the main staffing issue is not an inability to hire drivers, but an inability to retain them.

The quote attributed to Jill Drury, "The stigma is that transit is only used by people who are low-income, handicapped and seniors. That's not the case in Charlevoix County. We do a number of students with school of choice. And we have people using it to go back and forth to work, to visit loved ones, and more" seems to show an attempt to denigrate county residents who rely on public transit. Why would the adjectives, low-income, handicapped, and seniors be classified as stigma? The term has a completely negative connotation, and other than students, most riders, whether for work, personal visits, shopping, or other general trips, are indeed low-income, disabled, and/or seniors, and that is not a slight in any way, fashion or form. It is simply a statement of fact, and the reporter, Matt Mikus, should have challenged Jill Drury on the use of such a derogatory term to describe the county residents she is tasked with serving. Those county residents who public transit was intended to serve can in no way be considered “a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person,” as stigma is defined by Google.

I do not know of anyone who disapproves of more service hours, but to ignore the fact that much needed service was terminated to allow for the added hours shows a blatant neglect of those most vulnerable, and most in need of service. The position of Charlevoix County Transit is that weekend service subsidized by local bars is more crucial than service to medical care, and is illustrated by the addition of weekend evening hours at the expense of trips for medical appointments.

A quote from the article claims that Jill Drury “said her staff constantly reevaluates its ridership service, depending on resources and what riders are interested in”. I challenge that statement, as information has been repeatedly requested that would show the validity of statements such as that, but no such information was provided. Indeed, on at least one occasion Jill Drury stated that such statistics were not available. How then are the alleged transit staff evaluations conducted?

The article goes on to state that many of the riders complimented the professionalism of the service and the drivers. I wholeheartedly agree, the public transit drivers are quite professional, friendly and willing to assist riders whenever needed. That in no way negates the flaws in the priorities, delivery of service, or understanding of the needs of the community on the part of transit management.

Jill Drury listed Charlevoix County Transit as a tour agency on the official transit Facebook page. Yes. She did. And Matt Mikus states on his Facebook page that he is  proud of the article on public transit. Wow. Just. Wow.