Local News Media Ignores Progressive Coalition Event

On Tuesday, September 20 some 40 organizations set up information tables at the Wealthy Theatre for the first annual Grassroots Action Fair. One Hundred and Fifty people came together to talk about all the great progressive work being done in the Greater Grand Rapids area. Several campaigns were highlighted, such as on protecting the Great Lakes, funding for public education, increasing the minimum wage, reproductive rights, protecting public access TV and numerous community campaigns being conducted by the Michigan Organizing Project. Despite such a diverse representation and great turnout, none of the mainstream news agencies reported on this event. None of them showed up despite the fact that the week before 2 of the local TV news stations heard 2 hours of criticism about the lack of local reporting, particularly on positive community work.

We are encouraging people to contact the 3 TV stations and the Grand Rapids Press and ask them why they did not cover this important event. Below are contact information and a listing of what the 3 TV stations ran on the late newscasts.

WXMI 17 – 10pm
Tropical Storm Rita
West Nile
Warehouse Fire
School closing due to pipe break
School Bus trip returns late
Body found
Sexual Assault
Break-in
area bridge inspections
GRPS budget
Selling babies
Post Labor Day Bill
Supermodels on drugs
WOOD TV 8 – 11pm
Tropical Storm Rita
Gas Prices
area shooting
Body found
Sexual Assault
Hurricane
Post Labor Day Bill
School Bus trip returns late
WZZM 13 – 11pm
Tropical Storm Rita
Boy hit by SUV
Parochial School finances
Marshall Fields becomes Macy’s
Too much road kill
Interest rates go up `
State House Budget
Post Labor Day Bill
GR Symphony fund raising
Gas gouging
Ban on teen phone use while driving
Road work

Contact:

WOOD TV 8
News Director: Patti McGettigan
Phone #: 771-9366
E-mail: patti.mcgettigan@woodtv.com

WXMI FOX 17
News Director: Tim Dye
Phone #: (616) 364-1717
E-mail: tdye@wxmi.com

WZZM 13
News Director: Tim Geraghty
Phone #: (616) 785-1313
E-mail: tgeraght@wzzm.gannett.com

Grand Rapids Press
Editor: Mike Lloyd
Phone #: (616) 222-5455