The next time you hear someone complaining about how negative the media is remember these dates: August 26 2003 and March 11 2010.
These dates are perfect examples of why the media’s critical eye is so important to the community it serves.
They also prove once and for all those who argue that highlighting problems in a community is somehow damaging or wrong are either not paying enough attention or have an ulterior motive for wanting the problem kept out of sight.
March 11 2010 was, of course, this Thursday just passed.
It was, in the words of Mayor Allan Smith, “. . . a great moment in the city’s history”.
Cr Smith was referring to the completion of Dubbo’s new tiered theatre, the Dubbo Theatre and Convention Centre, and his words are far from hyperbole.
The new theatre is indeed a jewel in the cultural and recreational crown of the city and, credit where it is due; council should be congratulated for seeing the project through to its stunning (and cost effective) completion.
Yet Dubbo would not have this or a number of other assets if it were not for what happened on August 26 2003. At least that was what Cr Smith told the media on Thursday.
“On Tuesday August 26 2003, the Daily Liberal ran an article and carried it on the front page of the paper. The headline was ‘What sort of town is this?’,” Cr Smith said.
“Big question.
“The sub-headline read ‘No museum, no art gallery, no theatre, no council headquarters, no football grandstand . . . and now a leaking library.’
“They challenged us. They gave us a task. Task complete.”
The article Cr Smith was referring to is pictured with this column.
It was highly critical of the then parlous state of infrastructure in the city, caused by both misfortune and inaction.
It was the type of article that makes regional newspaper editors proud.
It took an honest look at the state of our city and - knowing the heavy criticism it would bring from the head-in-the-sand brigade with their no news is good news philosophy - presented it warts and all to the public.
It is the type of article about which we still receive regular complaints.
“Why do you have to bring that up?” they whine.
“You’re painting us in a bad light,” they opine.
“It’s bad for Dubbo,” they chime.
It is patent rubbish - which this article and what has happened in the years since it was published emphatically prove.
This article had such an impact that seven years later the mayor of Dubbo is still carrying it around with him.
Look at the list of things we didn’t have when it was written and look at what we have now.
Museum? Check.
Art gallery? Check.
Council headquarters? Check.
Football grandstand? Check.
Tiered theatre? Big check.
That’s the result of a so-called negative article and if that’s bad for Dubbo, I’ll eat my hat!
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