Opioid Crisis: Clearly Big Media Took a Vacation

The Virginia Public Access Project does offer several excellent services, but the one I use the most is their morning clips service. Generally, they’re very good (except when they ignore BD and our original reporting and commentary). However, when there is political news, they will find it and share the coverage.

That’s why today’s clips has far little to do with VPAP and more with the state of our media in Virginia. Here is the extent of this morning’s clips on yesterday’s GOP policy rollout on the opioid epidemic:

STATE ELECTIONS

TREAT OPIOID ABUSE AS A DISEASE: GOP CANDIDATES SHARE VIEWS, POLICIES ON OPIOID EPIDEMIC
By MAX LEE
Northern Virginia Daily
Republican candidates for governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor held a public discussion Tuesday about the opioid epidemic, casting opioid abuse as a disease that needs to be treated, rather than fought with criminal prosecution.

VA. REPUBLICANS LAY OUT MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION AGENDA
By ONOFRIO CASTIGLIA
Winchester Star (Subscription Required)
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie released his addiction and mental health policy agenda alongside the rest of the statewide GOP ticket here Tuesday. “It cuts across so many different areas,” said Gillespie of addiction; it’s an issue of economics and public safety. Gillespie was joined by Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Upperville, who is running for lieutenant governor, and John Adams, who is running for attorney general. The three of them will appear on the statewide ticket Nov. 7.

Kudos to The Northern Virginia Daily and The Winchester Star for their coverage, but that’s it? No Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Washington Times, Daily Press, Virginian-Pilot, Roanoke Times, etc.?

Sure, I get it. The nature of news is controversy. Or is it something a bit more cynical?

Perhaps it’s because a medical doctor, Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam, who is running for governor has NO PLAN regarding this medical issue that actually affects the Commonwealth? Perhaps it’s because the medical doctor has done nothing to offer a prescription for this problem in his nearly decade of service in the state Senate and as lieutenant governor?

If there is ever a case of seeing a story buried, I think we’re seeing it. So, well done Virginia press corps! I’m sure Northam thanks you!

This is why the media is not trusted and why sites like Bearing Drift exist.