The Northern Light, Front Page

TheNorthernLightOnline.com offers a sampling of our newspaper’s features. The Northern Light originates in the heart of Montana, but has cross-country appeal. The online version is designed to use the advantages of the Internet. We appreciate any comments or corrections. Email

This site will be under construction and some links may not function. Use your browser’s “BACK” button to return to the front page. Please forgive this inconvenience. Tell your friends: We’re Back!

NOTE: Security features on your computer may block our scrolling news headlines. These reports (which should appear directly above) are provided by CNSNews.com, a reputable newswire service. To see the reports, you may need to click on your browser’s security bar above to allow scripts.

This newspaper has been on the Internet longer than any other Montana newspaper!

Gazette muddies the water

Janet Green, Investigative reporter for the Montana News Association files complaint that targets the Billings Gazette

BILLINGS, Montana, Jan. 12 –The Billings Gazette, Montana’s major newspaper, today reported on a complaint against a quasi-political group of which it is a controlling member. That group, “Celebrate Billings,” was founded by the Gazette’s Publisher Michael Gulledge and others. There are 5 members: four businesses (including the Gazette) and Montana State University.

The Gazette’s article focuses on their failure to report campaign expenses, required by law, which they are accused with violating. This obfuscation is to sidestep a more serious grievance: They supported the campaign for fluoridation with big bucks, while attacking those for pure water with negative articles that didn’t divulge their interest. That’s dishonest. And similarly, though they have no obligation to print any letter to the editor, it’s disreputable to refuse, while giving the appearance that none were written.

But that’s just one campaign. According to the article and the charges, the Gazette also helped to fund campaigns for school levies, and numerous other ballot issues. For more of the details see below.

What will happen now? Commissioner Dennis Unsworth told the Gazette that a decision would be made early next week about whether there would be an official investigation. It could take 18 months or more to complete an investigation by the agency that enforces campaign-financing laws.

State law requires political expenses to be reported to the agency within five days. "Civil penalties could be levied for violations up to three times the amount of the unreported expenditure," Unsworth is quoted.

The Gazette article indicated that the other four members were unavailable for contact –or had referred them to the Gazette’s Publisher. The Gazette’s Publisher passed the buck to Gazette Controller Scott Patrick, who also serves as treasurer for “Celebrate Billings”.

Ultimately, the Gazette reply to their own reporter, was that the whole matter was unintentional. (One reporter told another?) Nevertheless, their un-divulged support was to the tune of $8000 to promote fluoride use, and more than $22,000 in support of one of the school levies. Just to mention two of the figures. This is what campaign reform should be addressing: big media can buy votes.

In an apparent attempt to hide the real issue in ambiguity and wordiness—to explain it away--the Gazette spokesman made only two points clear, that the Gazette is a major partner and the financial coordinator for the quasi-political group. What their records show and what the truth is may never be clear unless the state investigates.

Which is it? In their closing lines, the Gazette implies that the newspaper may have only the slightest impact on any vote; when at all other times they would tell advertisers that their paper would greatly influence readers.

We can thank Janet Green, investigative reporter for the Montana News Association, for exposing them. A grassroots operation in Billings was able to stop the city from using fluoride (heavy-metal toxin) in the water system, but only because individuals sacrificed to fight the Goliath Gazette, who even suppressed their letters to the editor. See links below to learn the full extent of the vote-buying power they have.

The 29-page complaint filed by Janet Green includes 24 exhibits, including correspondence between the commissioner and Gazette corporate heads.

If it weren’t to muddy the water, we might wonder why the Gazette would admit their sins publicly?

Box 58 – Ballantine- Montana 59006

More

Gazette muddies the water