Marselis Parsons Unglued

Look, when a major-party congressional candidate (in a state that only has one congressional seat) gets popped for campaign-website plagiarism the way Republican Marvelous Martha Rainville did earlier this month - that’s news! Especially when the candidate hasn’t run for political office before and in many, many ways is an unknown commodity.

I mean, did the GOP candidate really approve - as she says she did - a policy statement that was literally ripped right from the jaws of Hillary Rodham Clinton?

Unfortunately, the answer is “yes.” And unfortunately, there were more cases of stolen words on her campaign website.

Bummer.

And this Vermont political embarrassment came with an unusual one-two kind-of-punch.

The story broke, as you recall, on Sunday evening, October 1. And it broke first, not on radio or TV, but in this brave, new and lightning-fast world one enters through one’s fingertips - El Blogosphere!

A Vermont blogger - Julie Waters at "Reason and Brimstone" - landed the first punch. Well done, Citizen Waters. Nice birdie pics, too, on Fridays!

The mainstream Vermont press followed quickly on Monday.  Marvelous Martha blamed it on a campaign staffer and promptly fired the gentleman (despite his U.S. Supreme Court lineage.)

The Rainville Plagiarism story went out on the A.P. wire, and VPR, WDEV and WPTZ-TV produced their own reports for their Monday evening newscasts (also was a front-pager in Vermont’s top daily newspapers the following morning).

The second punch came when yours truly tuned into WCAX-TV News at 6 p.m. Monday evening to watch news readers Marselis Parsons and Kristin Kelly tell Vermont all about it. Wanted to see how “Vermont’s Own” would play it. In fact, we tuned in early to catch the political ads.

As everyone in Ch. 3 Land that Monday evening knows, “Vermont’s Own” definitely separated itself from the rest of the news pack on this one! WCAX did not mention one single word about Rainville’s sloppy, shallow and embarrassing plagiarism mess at 6 p.m. Nor did Ch. 3 News mention a single word during their 11 o’clock news.

O.K. I could see somebody over there argue it shouldn’t be the top story, but...no story whatsoever? Not a peep? Hello, Kirk to Enterprise!

Needless to say, we took note of that omission right here in “Freyne Land.”

Then a week ago, I contacted Ch. 3 General Manager Peter Martin, and Ch. 3 News Director Parsons by email on a different matter - i.e. to ascertain why “Vermont’s Own” had decided not to sponsor/produce a TV debate in this year’s Vermont gubernatorial race between Jim the Incumbent Republican and Scudder the Democrat Challenger.

As you may have read in "Inside Track," and in the Saturday item below this one, Peter Martin responded professionally. Unfortunately, my inquiry inspired Marsillyiss to get something off his chest. He sent the following letter to Seven Days coeditor Pamela Polston, and also sent a copy to me personally.

My first inclination was to just have a wee laugh and toss it. But then, Marselis Parsons is an important and powerful figure on the Vermont News scene. Shelburne Bay, pictured above on a windy dark Sunday, is the Ch. 3 News Director's front yard. As we see, Marsillyiss makes the call on what we get to see and what we don't. Our readers/viewers might find it insightful:

                                                                October 10, 2006

Ms. Pamela Polston
Seven Days
By fax

Dear Ms. Polston:

Peter Freyne fairly criticized us for not running the Martha Rainville aide plagiarism story last Monday October second.  It was a mistake not to run that story on that day and the responsibility is mine.

However, Freyne said in his blog that Anson Tebbetts never filed the story Monday.  That is a lie.  Freyne either assumed, or made it up. 

I rarely talk to him as I have lost my regard for his professionalism.  I have not written to you before to complain about him, but the number of errors or distortions has come to the point I felt it necessary.  This statement is a lie and impugns one of our reporters.   

Your readers should know the truth.  Anson DID write the story and filed it late in the day Monday.   I did not notice it in the lineup till after the 6pm program.   It was my fault it was not included, not Anson's.

Peter Freyne has let his obvious animus toward channel three news affect his judgment.  An apology to Anson would probably be too much to ask for, but I would certainly appreciate a correction.   

I have not written on numerous other occasions when he has made a number of errors involving us, and I don't intend to begin now. But I think the editors of Seven Days ought to monitor his work more often.

Sincerely,
Marselis Parsons
News Director

Busy guy. Thanks for taking the time, Marselis.

A “lie,” eh?  You sure about your “accuracy” on that baseless charge?

I ask because my dictionary defines a “lie” as “an intentionally false statement.”

You claim in your letter that I “lied” by reporting, er, blogging on Tuesday morning that your chief political reporter Anson Tebbetts never filed a Rainville Plagiarism story on Monday, the day the story broke. The day when the rest of the pack all carried it:

“Your readers should know the truth.  Anson DID write the story and filed it late in the day Monday.  I did not notice it in the lineup till after the 6pm program.”

Let’s assume for a moment, folks, that’s accurate. But if it is accurate, why wasn't the Tebbetts/Rainville/Plagiarism story - the top story that fell completely through the hour-long 6 o’clock News cracks - not broadcast on the 11 o’clock news that Monday night?

Here's what I blogged that Tuesday morning:

"Marvelous Martha's campaign plagiarism story was completely and totally ignored by Vermont Chamber of Commerce TV News, a.k.a. WCAX-TV - Channel 3. I'm not making this up. Just double checked the Ch. 3 Monday news scripts. The top Vermont political story of the day, a story showing GOP Candidate Rainville in a very bad ethical light, got absolutely no coverage Monday evening by Vermont's top TV news operation, the one I've called WGOP-TV for years!"

One can’t help but wonder how many regular viewers think it likely that Marselis, Anson and Ch. 3 News would have handled it the same way if the guilty plagiarist in the spotlight had been a Democrat, an Independent or Progressive, instead of a "Jim Douglas Republican?"

And, Marsillyiss, like your other regular viewers, the only way I know what Ch. 3 is covering on any given night is to tune in. Please tell us how anyone outside of Ch. 3 could possibly have known that Mr. Tebbetts had, as you claim, filed a little plagiarism story “late in the day,”  but that you, the anchorman/news director, completely overlooked it!

Perhaps, from here on out, you’ll post your daily assignment sheet on your website for all of us to read, eh?

I won’t hold my breath.

But I will use this opportunity to appeal to your sense of public service.  Information-wise, a whole lot of Vermont depends on Ch. 3 News. A gubernatorial debate between these two talented candidates  - Jim Douglas (R) and Scudder Parker (D) - is something "Vermont's Own" Ch. 3 viewers deserve, don't they? I mean, how many more commercials do you expect us to watch?

P.S. To make your claim credible, Marselis, that I have on “numerous occasions” made “errors” and “distortions” in my coverage of WCAX-TV News, you have to at least give a few examples. It’s called "proof."

However, if you put this absurdity together with the glaring and factually-false hatchet-job you pulled on Judge Edward Cashman last January, it's fair to say "credibility" is not your strong suit in 2006, is it?

By the way, I like Ch. 3 News and have been a faithful viewer for decades. Some very nice folks work there, too. Get your facts straight, will ya?  You're an embarassment to them.

Comments

[sandy ward]

Marselis desperately wants to understand, but most times does not know how to ask. All prodemocracy Vermonters want WCAX to broadcast a debate between Douglas and Parker and trashing Freyne to his bosses will not change that fact. We love you, marpar.

[test]

this is a test. please ignore.

[tom]

WCAX is garbage. They may lean GOP, but they are really just WWTF.

Anybody catch their gaff on the location of Michelle's body?

[Mike]

Parsons is a joke!! I lost all respect for him after the Cashman debacle. Also, he was terrible moderating the US Senate debate this year. That was about as amatuer a performance as I've seen.

[Alfred Snider aka Tuna]

I know I live in a tiny media market where good reporters come and then move out as soon as they can when I realize that Parsons is the veteran in this area. It is very sad. His delivery is weak, his story selection is bad, and then he thinks he is the Lord's gift to news in Vermont. He tosses up softballs instead of real question in an interview, he smiles smugly (bad for a reporter) and feels secure when his performance is weak.

Stu Ledbetter makes you look like an intern.

Sorry, Mr. Parsons, but that's my judgment as a communication professional after 25 years of seeing you on the air. Write a nasty letter to my employer. His name is Fogel.

[Barfus]

The channel 3 evening news is amateurish..Marcelis and, to some extent , the others stumble and bumble they're way through the copy like they've never seen it before. They have all day to write their intros and become familiar with it.....

[GiveTexasBack]

Channel 3 news sucks. Not only do they miss the boat on determining what's important, but I get the sense they're thumping the bible with all the church stories they carry. Every now and then they throw in a token Jewish story to show their diversity. Add to it their obvious slant in favor of Republicans and you have people like me who ignore them and their advertisers whenever possible.

Hey Marselis, just because you work somewhere for a long time doesn't mean you're necessarily good at that job. Vermonters are looking forward to your retirement (or transfer to Fox).

[JP]

Hi Peter - sounds like you may indeed owe Anson an apology - - why not?

You didn't lie - - but apparently you did insinuate that he didn't file a report when according to Marselis Parsons, he did.

More importantly is the total absurdity of no gubernatorial debate on WCAX. Don't care what excuses WCAX may want to parade forth. There is no excuse if CAX wants to be known as Vermont's news station.

If the gubernatorial debate is impossible, what about Peter Freyne vs. Marselis Parsons?

[goldendome]

Did anybody catch the pathetic letter to the editor in this week's Essex Reporter [October 5, 2006; page 10A]?

Political Survival Rule #9:
Never, ever have a family member write a whining letter to the editor. It is only appropriate for a candidate or a member of the immediate family to write letters expressing thanks and gratitude for support. If a point needs to be made, use a surrogate.

Lori K. Tarrant's letter written 'on behalf of my father in law', bemoans the tenor of the campaign. Yet, it has been her future inheritance that has has been spent -at $ 30+ a vote- to destroy Bernie Sanders and his long service to Vermont.

The letter is 'rich' with unbelievable quotes: "Character assassination is not ok, but voting records of the congressman that is representing our state; now that IS (sic) fair game." Or, "I am tired of witnessing this one sided partisan reporting."

The 'richest' one might be: "What I find offensive are Bernie's big red signs that state: 'Experience that money just can't buy.' Why hasn't anyone stated how truly rude these are?" Obviously, this women does not own a TV and had to endure the 4,000 showing of the Rich Tarrant Ego Show.

Or, "It would take up the entire issue of this newspaper to list all the good he has done. Rich will give every penny he has earned away before the day he dies." That's rich; what happened to her trust fund?

Or, "He makes this world a better place just by being in it."

Remember Queen Gertrude to Hamlet, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

If this is what has been written during the campaign, just wait until after November 7th! Rich will be back in Florida and all Vermont will be alone with Lori and her acidic pen.

We have so much to look forward to.

[linguini]

Marselis Parsons needs to go at WCAX, i for one am tired of his constant editorializing and slanting of the news. i wonder how frustrated all the reporters get with him, is that why the turnover is high there?? How could he muff the Rainville story like he did?? If Tebbetts filed the story then is was just a muff job by Marselis and you would think the owners of CAX would call him in on the carpet..opps forgot that they support Rainville who is slip, slidding away to St. Albans to collect her military pension!! Maybe someday WCAX will be sold and Vermonters can get a true read on the news out of their TV station. Marselis, you are no Mickey Gallagher..your late, great boss..not even close!!!! No debate on the Gov. race why?? is Scudder too close to Scissorhands?? how would you report that upset??

[Kyle Barry]

the hypocrisy on this blog (and insidetrack) is remarkable and, to a large extent, disturbing. Peter Freyne is an insult to the journalism profession, and a scar on the democratic process in Vermont. As a moderate independant who follows politics very closely I am disgusted at Freyne's writing and its combination of dishonesty and incompetence. Only at a radical publication like 7Days could such a man hold down a job, and I am sure only radical leftists too dumb (or numb) to notice his disregard for the truth in favor of his bias could stomach his writing on any kind of consistent basis. What a disservice this man does to Vermont politics, and democracy in general. Sadly, many of my fellow Vermonters are also to blame, as they encourage this crazy blow-hard to keep writing. Although I guess I can't be surprised that those who elect a socialist to Congress would find the views of a moron like Peter Freyne appealing.

[judge judy]

Kyle,

From where I sit, you are a moron too.

[jay]

Kyle, a "moderate independent" wouldn't refer to Seven Days as a "radical publication"...look in the mirror & embrace the conservative extremist you are!

It is unfortunate that Parsons essentially controls all VT television news (WPTZ is NY/VT). He's out of touch with the political and social interests of the average Vermonter, and it's unfortunate that his right-leaning news program has such a monopoly.

I don't think Peter owes an apology at all. He made an assumption that a report on the Rainville plagerism story was never filled because it didn't show up on the 6 or 11 o'clock news. Obviously any producer in their right mind would lead with (or at least mention) this story if it had been filed.

WCAX has shown their agenda blatently in this case & with the Cashman story. I think I'd rather wait through the Plattsburgh stories at WPTZ from now so I can get a least a bit of honest, professional & unbiased Vermont reporting.

[g-lo]

I think it would actually be pretty brave and forward-thinking for a TV station to post a list of potential headlines on the web prior to the news and let the webfolk decide the order, content, etc. May as well give the people what they want right? Or, if the editorial process is actually important, then maybe some portion of the newshour, like 15mins or something.

[Dave]

I like it when righties - like Kyle Barry - call someone a socialist, and think that they've actually made a point... oooooooo, a SOcialist... Quick! Hide the kids!
And, Seven Days? Radical? sure yeah whatever...

[Peggy Sapphire]

"..Your primary concern with the story is that Dr. Marvin Malek was not included in the report. In our last poll, viewers were given the option to pick another candidate for Lt. Governor, and third party candidates did not register at all. That's why we focused on the top two candidates in the race. History tells us that most Vermonters vote for Democrats and Republicans, unless the third party candidate has developed a following, like Anthony Pollina. He was the former head of the activist group Rural Vermont and a contender in the race for Lt. Governor winning 25 percent of the vote in 2002. Dr. Malek is a novice political candidate..." Darren Perron
This is an excerpt from Perron's email response to my recent email message to him,(I will make each available upon request), protesting WCAX' blatantly biased political coverage and failure to equitably cover the candidacy of Marvin Malek's run as Progressive Lt. Gov candidate. If we followed Perron's reasoning, Abraham Lincoln wouldn't have received coverage either, unless perhaps he had Tarrant's millions.
Perron further offers that WCAX' own listener poll registered no interest in this candidacy. Which of course proves beyond a shadow that WCAX has in fact created an uninformed viewership by having failed to provide fair, unbiased reporting.
It is past time for VT media bias to be challenged, for the public to demand WCAX, and all VT media, to offer complete, unbiased, equitable coverage of all political candidates. Once VTers lose their access to information, we become part of the dissolution of this democracy. Democracy dies with an uninformed public, and WCAX' practice is a violator of journalistic ethics. With vigilance and public watch-dogging of this campaign and political reporting generally, we can retain our right to know and our right to exercise our unencumbered choice.