by Guy Page
Thank you to John Walters, political reporter and author of The Vermont Political Observer, for the public shoutout that the Vermont Daily Chronicle is one of the top places for Vermonters to get important news each day.
In a recent column, Just a Reminder That the State’s Ethics Regime Serves Officials’ Interests, Not the Public’s, Walters reported that Mike Donoghue and his Vermont News First syndicated column was the first to cover all of the details of the State Ethics Commission handling of a kerfluffle between two Bennington legislators. His story appeared in VDC Friday.
A few corrections/clarifications on his post:
Yes, VDC did post the breaking story about no public action being taken by the Legislature in the Mary Morrissey/James Carroll water prank at the Statehouse. But in the interest of full disclosure, the story initially appeared, I believe, in both the Bennington Banner and the Manchester Journal. We were right behind.
(A Google search also would have shown you versions of Donoghue’s story were printed by other paying customers of Vermont News First, including the Rutland Herald and Caledonian Record.)
One of the reasons VDC and other news outlets contract with Donoghue/Vermont News First is that he digs deep and asks questions that need to be answered (much like during his long career at the Free Press.)
It is unfortunate that many current reporters are just stenographers – just spitting back out what they are told with no pushback or questions about the self-serving spin they are fed.
I believe it was former UVM Basketball Coach Tom Brennan on his popular morning radio show that dubbed Donoghue as “Bulldog.” Does the public want a Bulldog (Donoghue) or a lapdog (stenographer) providing the daily news?
Also for the record most editors (myself included) write the headlines, not Donoghue.
But VDC does agree with your overall point that the press release sent by the Director of Legislative Operations for the Vermont General Assembly in conjunction with Morrissey and Carroll leaves a lot to be desired. So many unanswered questions from the hiding public office holders. Donoghue went the extra mile to call both Morrissey and Carroll for comment. Donoghue did not rely only on the spoon-fed statement in the legislative release.