This page was last updated on February 19, 2013.
Questions abound on Seitel seismic testing; Rachel Morgan – Shalereporter.com; Beaver County Times; February 19, 2013. The title of this front-page article in the print edition of the BCT was “SHAKING IT UP.”
Below is a detailed critique of portions of this column.
This isn’t as much a critique of the piece as it is an example of media bias. Keep in mind the subject article is presented as a news article, not opinion.
The BCT has flip-flopped on this issue but appears to have settled on Marcellus gas is bad. From time to time, however, it appears the BCT is willing to “hold its nose” regarding Marcellus gas production as long as it results in more taxes to increase government spending.
If you’re not up to speed on Shalereporter.com, Calkins Media established Shalereporter.com to feed Calkins properties like the BCT with anti-Marcellus “news” and editorial pieces. You can learn more about Shalereporter.com here.
Ms. Morgan identified the central figure in the article, Bob Schmetzer, as “South Heights Council President.” Ms. Morgan failed to note Mr. Schmetzer is also the Democrat local town chair for South Heights, vice president of the PA 12th CD Chapter of Progressive Democrats of America with links to anti-Marcellus groups, and a vocal opponent of harvesting Marcellus natural gas under any circumstances. You can find several Schmetzer letters to the editor on this topic here, here, here, here, and here. I’m not a professional journalist, but aren’t Mr. Schmetzer’s political associations and public positions on this subject something readers should be told about?
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