tfp16

"THE FINE PRINT"

The musings of Michael Schrader

                  MEDIA SPOTLIGHT BREEDS CONTEMPT
(Written in December 1994; previously unpublished. Posted in toto with Preface and Epilogue 28 July 2001)

PREFACE -- After the merger of Flat River, Esther, Elvins, and Rivermines into the consolidated city of Park Hills in 1993, St. Francois County had eight incorporated municipalities: Farmington, Leadington, Park Hills, Desloge, Bonne Terre, Leadwood, Iron Mountain Lake, and Bismarck. Of these cities, all but Bismarck, Iron Mountain Lake, and Leadwood are located along a fifteen-mile stretch of U.S. 67, and three, Desloge, Park Hills, and Leadington, are adjacent to each other.
      When Park Hills was created, the cities of Desloge and Leadington, which shared a water supply with the other four, were assured that their decision not to join the new city would not result in retribution. Within a year, the four consolidated cities were threatening to raise water rates to the other two as “payback” for not joining the consolidation.
      The media coverage of St. Francois County centered on Farmington, the county seat and largest city, and the economic, financial, and legal hub of the county, and Park Hills, because it came to be as the result of the cooperation of four very different, and often very fractious communities. The other cites in the county were either portrayed negatively or not at all. As the Press-Leader was the prime culprit, it goes without saying that they would not publish a column criticizing them for it.

         Lately, much of the media attention in St. Francois County has been focused on Farmington and Farmington North (oops, I mean Park Hills). As the county's two largest cities it is justified that they would receive the bulk of the attention. However, it is the bias of the media towards these cities that feeds the resentment of the rest of the county.
       For the past several years, as reported by the media, Farmington can do no wrong. Everything that Farmington does is praised. While Farmington is deserving of some praise, it is also deserving of some criticism, too. No one, including myself, is perfect. We all have our faults. Despite the fact that Farmington's faults are not reported, they do exist, and need to be acknowledged.
         Until recently, this adulation was reserved exclusively for Farmington. Not any more. Now the media has another love: Park Hills (thus the moniker Farmington North). While Farmington North should be commended for what it has accomplished, it, like its sister to the south, should not be above reproach by the local media. Unfortunately, Farmington North has become the media's sweetheart.
       Don't get me wrong; I don't dislike Farmington North. I just don't think that every decision its city council (or its school board) makes is worthy of praise.    I do not think it should be praised when a school violates the Constitution rights of its students by conducting a drug sweep. I do not think it is commendable when punitive measures are taken against neighboring cities. I do not think it is commendable when a community gives a no-bid contract to an out-of-town company. I do not think it is commendable when a city council passes an ordinance without reading it.
       The most annoying thing about the media love affair with Farmington and Farmington North is the emphasis on negativity when reporting news from the county's other communities. The Bonne Terre City Council has been portrayed as narrow-minded and vindictive. Desloge and Leadington have been portrayed as stupid, spoiled, and short-sighted. Bismarck, Leadwood, and Iron Mountain Lake are considered non-entities and are ignored.
        The combined population of the Farmingtons is not even one-half of the total population of the county, yet they receive more than half of the media coverage. If impressions of an area were based exclusively on media reports, then the conclusion that could easily be drawn is that everything that is right in this county can be found in Farmington and Farmington North. The rest of the county? Well, the rest are lucky to be able to say they have the Farmingtons to show them what is right and how it should be done.
         Why, then, is it so shocking to some that Farmington and Farmington North are viewed as contemptible by some outside these two cities? After all, a person can only tolerate someone else's bragging for so long before loathing the braggart. We are reaching the point that the respect the Farmingtons have earned has been replaced by resentment.
         I once had a co-worker who was always telling stories about how great he was. He was so great that he did everything, knew everybody. At first, he was admired for his accomplishments. After hearing these great tales day in and day out, this co-worker became an object of scorn: "If he is so great, why is he working here?"
       After a few more months of his constant boasting, this coworker turned from an object of resentment to an object of ridicule. What new tall tale would he come up with next?
       Farmingtons, be warned: the line separating respect, resentment, and ridicule is a fine one. Unfortunately, once it is crossed, there is no turning back.

EPILOGUE -- The negativity strengthened the resolve of both Leadington and Desloge to persevere as independent cities.   In the seven years since its inception, Park Hills still has yet to achieve its potential. Bismarck, Iron Mountain Lake, and Leadwood are still ignored, while Farmington has furthered its dominance as the cultural and economic hub of the county. As for the media bias, I cannot say whether it has improved or not, as I moved to Arkansas shortly after this column was written.