Nelson Thibodeaux column for Colleyville on Local News and Events LocalNewsOnly.com

January 26, 2005
In the Dictionary of Local Definitions, under slanted, see The Colleyville Courier
a column by Nelson Thibodeaux

Nelson Thibodeaux
"Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one."
A. J. Liebling
(from The Wayward Pressman)

When CBS News fabricated opinions as facts, in a deliberate effort to impact a presidential election, a new standard for bias reporting was revealed.

Striving to meet that standard, on a local basis, is the The Colleyville Courier. It is not surprising that the paper, owned by a coalition of political buddies, would attempt to portray any who may be critical of its tactics as supernatural visitors from the underworld (claims of mind control and the like over council members).

However, after being caught with their journalistic pants around their knees, one would at least hope for some originality in the next chapter of The Courier's, "the spin starts here" articles.

Case in point is the January 21, 2005 edition article, "Bond Issues: Colleyville's Future in Question."

The article provides speculations, written as facts, such as, "Thibodeaux controls the citizen's group Colleyville CAN," (that would require control over former-mayors, former council members, successful businessmen, high profile attorneys, etc). In addition, all the Colleyville Council members, who voted for the bond issues to be placed on the February 5th ballot, have done an about face because "Thibodeaux has come out in opposition."

The article fails to explain the fact that if I had so much influence over the council members, the issue of spending $13.75 million to bury TXU's power lines wouldn't be on the ballot at all!

The article quotes Councilman Mark Skinner as saying about Colleyville CAN, “That group is the most negative, anti-Colleyville group you will find. Until they are gone, it will continue.”

So now the stage is set, I am steadfastly and adamantly opposed to the taxes of homeowners increasing to bury power lines on Hwy 26. However, Councilman Mark Skinner supports increasing taxes to bury these private company's lines.

Will citizens vote to raise their taxes, by approving Proposition 6, primarily because they know I am against the issue? Will they raise their taxes because they share Councilman Skinner's approach that taxpayers should spend money to improve private property?

Or will citizens cast their vote based on real issues and not on personalities? Will pocketbooks and prudent spending of their tax monies take the day?

After the elections in May 2004, The Courier crowned me "King of Colleyville," in a sophomoric cartoon. They just don't get it, we need a bumper sticker,
"ITS ABOUT HIGH TAXES STUPID!"

However, my favorite line in the article is, "CCAN helped elect the new council members with last minute scare tactics that convinced many voters that the present bond election would lead to a 40 percent increase in taxes."

First, the "present" bond election was only under discussion prior to the May 2004 elections. An in-depth report on the bond discussions, projects considered and the tax increase based on a contemplated group of projects was covered in LNO on May 13, 2004, Click Here to see that article.

Possibly Scott Price (staff writer for The Courier), as he has in the past, relied on one of the major newspapers for his facts, for example, the Star-Telegram wrote that the 40 percent increase in taxes was "campaign fodder" for the election. On May 20, 2004, LNO reported on the evolving question of the tax increase calculations, Click Here to see that article.

On May 21, 2004, the Star-Telegram printed a correction, as seen below, confirming that the estimated tax increase by Local News Only.com was factual.

The Courier continues to write that evidence of a huge tax increase was simply "scare tactics", even after their journalistic pants where yanked down by no less than the Star-Telegram.

Borrowing a quote of Laura Schlesinger, "When you stick your head in the sand, you leave your butt showing." In this case The Courier's butt is clearly exposed in more ways than one. While there are a number of misconceptions in the article, the "scare tactic" crutch best exemplifies the point that The Courier should label these articles as "opinionated columns" and not a balanced reporting of facts.

Finally, when considering The Courier, readers are reminded that kind of slanted journalism doesn't get distributed out of thin air, it takes some money. While some of it comes from the political buddies of the ex-mayor, other is from advertisers on the pages of the newspaper. Perhaps readers that feel a more balanced newspaper would be in everyone's best interest should pass that feeling along to the Courier advertisers.

"People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news."
A. J. Liebling

Disclaimer: All columns posted on Local News Only.com (LNO) are noted as "a column by." The opinions expressed are that of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial opinion of LNO or of any advertiser. LNO does not warrant, confirm or endorse any facts that may be referenced in the column.

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