650CKOM’s David Kirton (breaking from Storm of the Century Forecast!! coverage); “Would you describe the scene as a war zone, Brent?”
Reporter Brent Bosker, in Nipawin; “Well no, I wouldn’t say that.”
Update – From the comments:
I live in Nipawin. I saw first hand the destruction of the blast and resulting fire. I knew the two men killed and the others hurt. I saw the panic in the people who had been in the buildings that were hit with the shock wave and my daughter’s friend was in the gym and her mother frantic search and then extremely happy when she found her daughter was not physically hurt.
The media no longer reports, they sensationalize. They look for the bad not the good. Our local emergency response teams, fire fighters and the hospital all did a fantastic professional job. The synchronization of services was flawless. A testament to the professionals and the small town caring as everyone knows everyone. I have not read or heard of one report about this aspect of this disaster. MSM is starting to become irrelevant, reports should be factual, emotions should be the follow up and reporters opinion should never form the basis of any report.
There is a move afoot to greatly reduce the services at the Nipawin Hospital and relocate them to the community of Melfort (punctuated by a political group supported by the Finance Minister and holding secret meeting with the Sask. Health Minister), which is not even central to the Kelsey Trail Health Region. Disasters like this do occur sadly (Nipawin has had a number over the last few years), without the service who knows what the results would of been.
I can almost hear the breathless excitement and awe in the CTV report. News from the other version of reality!
Yikes – has the storm even started yet? Talk about getting the scoop on the story!!
Just reaffirms my belief that there are way too many journalists/reporters/news readers out there. They are all trying to ‘break’ news first and will say and do the most outlandish things to be ‘first’.
You’ll have to excuse Dave Kirton. Old habits die hard.
He covers the news as if he’s still announcing stock car racing at Bridge City Speedway.
“Would you describe Saskatchewan as a godless, communist dystopia, Brent?”
“Well, yes, I would say that, you stupid talking head bimbo.”
“Now back to more dead bodies, after this bit of propaganda from the NDP.”
Barbara Frum : after the typhoon what happened?
Shocked Aussie: Ive lost my wife, killed, my family all killed and my house and everything I owned is completely destroyer.
Barbara Frum: Are you bitter?
hit the post button before I finished my comment…..sigh
so to continue….
Our media – always looking for the WORST in any situation. As Mike Duffy said on Adler today….
To many of the young journalists today don’t think before they jump on things…!
Couldn’t agree more.
Ah Shit! Not a sausage factory!
Do they have their Sou’westers on to stave off the flying meat like those Bozos do on CNN when there’s a hurricane?
I have seen no posts on Fontain’s threat to give money or the Olympics gets it. Surprizing.
The best comment I heard on radio wqas:
“This is a demand for even more money. If 10 billion dollars isbn’t enough, why would 11 billion dollars be enough?”.
my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the person killed and a speedy recovery to those injured.
Yeah, stubby – sounds like two others are in pretty serious condition. This post wasn’t intended to make light in any way of the tragedy – only to point out how, no matter what they’re handed, media tend to push hysteria and emotion over fact.
And then, there was the Mervin Brass report that included the question to a tattoo artist, interrupted from his work by the explosion – “So do you remember what it was you were going to tattoo?”.
Yes, this is the same David Kirton, who on morning radio, went on a rant about the “VILE” comments posted on this blog.
The man is a simpleton who does not hesitate to frequently spew his Socialist opinions. Thank God for the “off” button!
Media/reporting like that is reason #387 that I left Saskatchewan…
They missed the really big question: “Will the “global warming we’re about experience help or hinder rescue/investigation efforts?”
I’m very surprised that Kirton didn’t find a way to blame the explosion on Brad Wall, or to examine the effect it would have on Station 20 West.
As a former reporter, one of the things I tried to not use was hyperbole. Paint a picture for the listener, yes – but don’t go over the top. A better way by the host to address the reporter would have simply been to say ‘Brent, describe the scene for us’.
CBC website says that a second person has died.
I live in Nipawin. I saw first hand the destruction of the blast and resulting fire. I knew the two men killed and the others hurt. I saw the panic in the people who had been in the buildings that were hit with the shock wave and my daughter’s friend was in the gym and her mother frantic search and then extremely happy when she found her daughter was not physically hurt.
The media no longer reports, they sensationalize. They look for the bad not the good. Our local emergency response teams, fire fighters and the hospital all did a fantastic professional job. The synchronization of services was flawless. A testament to the professionals and the small town caring as everyone knows everyone. I have not read or heard of one report about this aspect of this disaster. MSM is starting to become irrelevant, reports should be factual, emotions should be the follow up and reporters opinion should never form the basis of any report.
There is a move afoot to greatly reduce the services at the Nipawin Hospital and relocate them to the community of Melfort (punctuated by a political group supported by the Finance Minister and holding secret meeting with the Sask. Health Minister), which is not even central to the Kelsey Trail Health Region. Disasters like this do occur sadly (Nipawin has had a number over the last few years), without the service who knows what the results would of been.
I once listened to a David Kirton interview and I can’t remember who the person was being interviewed but the guest metioned some land that had been bought on Long Island.
Kirton responded “wow…that must have been the most expensive purchase in the world!!”
That was a few years ago and the guy is still an idiot, I cringe every time he has to fill in for one of the talk show hosts.
I’m not really sure how Kirton got a job at Rawlco, he’d be much more at home at the CBC. He’s nearly as annoying as Michelle Hugli. I change the chanel whenever either are used as a sub for a regular host. Kirton’s NDP bias, and Hugli’s “natives do no wrong” attitude are a turn off. Since Sask Energy is a crown corp, I’m surprised that Lawrence Joseph hasn’t complained about the lack of consultation before they had the explosion.
SERIOUSLY… condolences to the families of the deceased and injured..our thoughts are with you.
OK, time to get on my hobby horse:
>SERIOUSLY… condolences to the families of the deceased and injured..our thoughts are with you.
I can’t agree with this statement more, but what real sticks in my craw is the fact that this did not need to happen!!!
Now before I go on, let me tell you about my back ground a bit:
I am on the Alberta Damage Prevention Counsel, The Alberta One-Call operators comittee, and on the Calgary Reigon Utility Damage Prevention Commitee.
I have been in the damage prevention field for over 17 years.
So why do I say this didn’t need to happen when I have limited knowledge of the actual incident?
Well, locates were booked and the local gas company did attend. This is great as far as it goes. I hope that every one here knows about getting locates before digging any sort of hole!!! In the USA, the 811 call before you dig system is now up and running. So no matter where you are in the US, you call 811 before you dig.
In Canada, The Edmonton Health athority has the 811 call, but has never activated it. In the near future their hold on it will expire, and it is hoped that they will be willing to let it go to a call before you dig hot line the same as the states.
Back to the hit line, year after year, hit after hit, the stats seem to stay the same. The number one reason for damaged utilities is no locates. The number two reason is not hand exposing the utility before using power equipment. In Alberta this last year there were 1000 gas lines hit. About 92% were the result of these two factors. If you get your locates and hand expose the utility before you start using power equipment over 90% of the damages will be avoided.
As an aside here, every one knows the smell of natural gas, right??? Well do you know that the gas companies add in the odorant that gives natural gas that smell? Do you know that as the gas passes through the soil that the odorant can be stripped off and you end up with natural gas that doesn’t smell at all? If after a line is hit and it migrates into a building through the soil there is a very good chance that there will be no warning untill the explosion.
In Alberta several houses have exploded and people have been killed because of hit lines.
I am sure that I will have the full story on this explosion after everything is dealt with. Just like the mini mall explosion in Toronto back in 2005. (another hit and blowing gas line.)
So, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, get your locates and respect the marks, when you go to dig a hole.
No ground disturbance is too small not to get locates.
check out my url for the Underground Focus magazine “hit parade” too bad Canada will appear next month.
Cheers and dig safe.
He’s nearly as annoying as Michelle Hugli.
Ms. Hugli comes across as a giggling schoolgirl who has just received an unexpected invitation to the prom.
Kirton falls over himself in an effort to pander to his aboriginal sidekick, Mervin Brass (who, by the way, is far more professional than either Hugli or Kirton, both of whom are simpletons.)
The only reason I listen is because of David and Mervin. They are 2 outstanding individuals. Hearing the same old right wing crap gets old. I think Michelle should replace Murray. I can’t listen to Gormley, it’s the same callers everyday and he takes way too many commercial breaks. If you ever disagree with Gormley he cuts you off. Ken in Saskatoon, Kyla in Dundurn, it’s getting old.
The only reason I listen is because of David and Mervin. They are 2 outstanding individuals. Hearing the same old right wing crap gets old. I think Michelle should replace Murray. I can’t listen to Gormley, it’s the same callers everyday and he takes way too many commercial breaks. If you ever disagree with Gormley he cuts you off. Ken in Saskatoon, Kyla in Dundurn, it’s getting old.
The only reason I listen is because of David and Mervin. They are 2 outstanding individuals. Hearing the same old right wing crap gets old. I think Michelle should replace Murray. I can’t listen to Gormley, it’s the same callers everyday and he takes way too many commercial breaks. If you ever disagree with Gormley he cuts you off. Ken in Saskatoon, Kyla in Dundurn, it’s getting old.