Is the McNeil government incompetent, or just the PR people?
On Wednesday morning, along with all the other media in Nova Scotia, I got a government news release about the decision to axe the MyPlay system, designed to aide gambling addicts in controlling their habit.
Soon thereafter, I got news releases from both opposition parties criticizing the move, boith of which contained more solid info (with references to source material) than the original release.
My attempts to get information missing from the release for a story has driven me to the point homicidal urges toward government PR flacks and their bosses.
When the PR gal who sent the release could not supply the amount of cost savings purported in the release when I called, I was required to send an email to her, which I did.
The solo guy at Gambling Awareness NS - which bills itself as an arms-length, NGO dealing with gambling harm - was totally useless and referred me to a different govt PR flack. I wonder how short these arms-length arms really are?
When the gaming PR worker responded to my emailed query, she included two sets of facts which were completely contradictory.
When advised about it and asked for clarity, she said she would get back to me.
After the close of business, I got a voicemail saying she would have someone contact me.
This morning, I got an email referring me to another department. No contact name, title or number.
If the intent of this exercise was to infuriate me (and possibly others), it was a grand success.
If the intent was to generate a positive outlook about the McNeil government, it was an abject failure.
Twenty-seven hours after the first news release, I have nothing to base a story on excepting this rant on communications incompetence
