Where is the media when ‘good news’ is happening?

Editor:
    “Send us your ideas for a news story” is listed on many of the media Web sites.  We also hear that “police need to learn how to work better with the media.” Unfortunately, it appears that this is a one-way street. Police agencies have taken the approach that we need to utilize the media to its fullest. The Scarborough Police Department works hard to keep the media informed about what is going on in town. Fortunately, the activity that occurs in Scarborough is usually good news or very low keyed criminal activity and unfortunately it does not seem to fit the criteria of media coverage in the Portland area. 
    On the television today I heard the teaser “three teens in big trouble…” but nothing of the nearly 2,000 kids that were influenced to make the right choices. I have just completed a tour of Maine with a nationally recognized safety and self esteem presenter named “Retro Bill.” Over the four days that he was here, he presented to nearly 2,000 kids in grades one through six in six schools from Bangor to York. The kids and teachers were overwhelmed with his show. In the attempt to gain some positive public attention on good things happening to the children of Maine, I started notifying the media weeks prior to the event. Everything from e-mails to faxes to letters written and addressed to specific on air personalities and even a few face-to face-notifications. I was very disappointed when not one media representative – other than our local Scarborough Community Television channel – attended the show in Scarborough. In the Bangor area, where this was only the second visit by Retro Bill, we had great coverage – all of the television channels attended at least one event and had rave reviews! Members of one network even volunteered to notify other networks in the Portland area of the great show coming their way! 
    Recently, I had our annual D.A.R.E. graduation in Scarborough. More than 250 kids graduated that night and press releases were sent out to the media for this event too. Once again, no one showed up – television or newspaper. During the graduation the kids did a skit that was a spoof on the local media. We had a good time with it and the message was loud and clear – the media, especially television, really won’t come out to good events.  They want corruption, devastation and other sensational events. 
    There were more than 10,000 kids in the state of Maine that received D.A.R.E. last year, part of the over 36 million worldwide. It seems as if D.A.R.E. is a four-letter word that isn’t worth printing unless it is negative. We have officers all over the state struggling to keep the program alive so that they can help keep our future safe from drugs and violence. They need all of the help they can get and the children need all of the positive recognition possible.
The media is a part of the community and they can help make or break programs. We have seen that many years ago, the media was quick to jump on the bandwagon to note the controversy surrounding D.A.R.E. so where are they now when we are able to prove that the program works and is growing.
    I hope you can read the frustration in this letter. I have been trying for four years with several different events to get the attention warranted with just the Retro Bill programs. The amazing thing is that he has traveled across this country and has done many interviews in much larger cities. He has been escorted by military generals into remote parts of Alaska on military helicopters, but we can’t get any coverage in Portland, Maine?
    I must be fair and say that I normally have great response from our community newspapers and, again, the Bangor market area has been there every time we had a show.

Officer Joe Giacomantonio
Community Resource/D.A.R.E. Officer
Scarborough Police Department

Thanks for helping to sell ornaments

Editor:
     Each year, the Scarborough-based Libby-Mitchell American Legion Post 76 baseball team sells Scarborough-themed Christmas ornaments. This year, the illustrated bulbs honored the North Scarborough Grange, now in its 95th year.
    Next year, the bulbs will honor a former Scarborough-based aviation flight school from the 1920s with a building that got handed down to Libby-Mitchell Post for current use. Charles Lindbergh made a flight nearby in the late 1920s.
    We made about a $600 profit from the sale of the bulbs. Three hundred dollars of it was used for our annual baseball team giving to local charities.  The players gave $100 checks to the Salvation Army, Bruce Roberts Toy Fund and The Good Sheperd Food Bank.
    Thank you to Scarborough High players Kevin Chamberlain, Jim Rouse and Chris Bernard for their involvement with this project.
    All organizations receiving donations from our baseball team serve needy people in southern Maine.
    We want to thank the following businesses for acting as "sales agents" for the bulbs throughout the holiday season:
    Robin Thurston, State Farm Agency; Saco and Biddeford Savings Institution; Jeff Worthing, CPA; Rick Murphy, LINSCO Private Ledger Investments; Shirley's Hallmark Store; Konica Photo – Focused on You Shop; Jordan Floral; Brown Fox Printing; Libby-Mitchell Post 76; Norway Savings Bank; Paws Applause; Creative Awards; TD Banknorth; Len Libby Candies; Scarborough Exxon Station; Scarborough Historical Society and the Breakers Hotel.
    Thanks again to everyone. Remember – opening day of baseball is right around the corner!
 
Dan Warren
General Manager, Libby-Mitchell American Legion Post 76 baseball team