Local Media Shills for Mining Industry?

By: Jim Moss

Think about everything you have read or heard from local media sources pertaining to the ongoing debate in the Resolution Copper Co. land swap saga.  Has the prospect of another ‘copper boom’ inspired some local media to bury their journalistic hats and don the mining helmets of Resolution Copper Co.?

Examine the lead story in the October 14, 2009 issue of the Copper Country News (CCN)  — remember the handsome photo of Navajo President, Joe Shirley, featured prominently above the fold, on the front page?  The headline declared, ” Hopis Evict Environmentalists; Navajo President Approves”.  Why did CCN print this ‘Navajo news release’ and attach such great importance to it for its Globe-Miami-SanCarlos audience?

Propaganda in  favor of mining interests?  Could it be that the CCN portrayal of environmentalists as extreme obstructionists who kill economic development for no good reason, and who therefore care little about poverty on Indian Reservations — is trying to shape public opinion in favor of Resolution Copper Co.?  What exactly IS the connection between the Black Mesa Coal Mining controversy in Northern AZ, to Globe-Miami?  Is the Copper Country News trying to depict the Navajo President as the ideal, Native American pro-mining role model for the San Carlos Apache Tribe?  And, is CCN’s (not so subtle) message to the San Carlos Apaches — ‘just quit obstructing, drop your bogus cultural claims, & get out of the way of Resolution Copper Co. development’?  Is there an attempt by some in the local media to delegitimize environmental and Native American concerns?

Perhaps a more relevant news story for the Copper Country News to feature prominently on their front page pertains to the recent agreement between a Phelps Dodge subsidiary, Cyprus Tohono Corporation, and the EPA to pay $6 Million for an investigation into groundwater contamination.  According to Robert Anglen of the Arizona Republic, this investigation is part of an on-going clean-up operation to determine if uranium contamination exists at this copper mining site on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation.  Read more at www.watchdog.azcentral.com.

This story is actually about copper and a mining company that Globe-Miami is well acquainted with.  Suppose nobody around here wants to read about negative environmental impacts — especially on an Indian Reservation — caused by copper mining?  Oh, No!  How could a story such as this possibly advance the interests of Resolution Copper Co.?  Just keep to the local politically correct script — you know, the one that trumpets, “Boomtown’s Coming!  Everbody can win if we kick out the environmentalists & other obstructionists!”

So, is it not fair to ask — Who in the local media shills for the mining industry?

Author’s Note:  As a local business owner, I am in favor of responsible economic development, including responsible mining.  But, the media has a sacred responsibility to ask tough question of ALL sides, report factually, and refrain from editorializing — except on the Opinion Page.