Holding Local Media Accountable.
Media Watch is an ongoing initiative to examine the accuracy, transparency, and framing of local media coverage in Prince Edward County. As legacy news outlets increasingly shape public opinion around major issues—housing, infrastructure, environment, and governance—we believe residents deserve clear-eyed analysis of what’s said, what’s omitted, and whose interests are being served. Here, you’ll find links to article critiques, editorial breakdowns, and fact-checks—offered in the spirit of civic journalism and democratic accountability.
CountyFirst recently received a media inquiry from a national news outlet regarding our coverage and editorial approach.
In keeping with our policy of openness and fairness, we address such inquiries publicly so readers can review our position directly, in full context. CountyFirst provides factual, document-based reporting on municipal and community issues across Ontario. Read more.
Why Professors Running a Newspaper Got Subsidies While Patients Wait for Care.
The federal government continues to spend heavily on subsidies for for-profit media companies, even as Canadians endure some of the longest healthcare wait times in the developed world. The contrast is striking, and a recent local example brings the issue home. Read more.
Simplistic view of “use it or lose it”
The Wellington Times article “Building Blocks”, Sept 17, 2025)The article praises Shire Hall’s “new leadership” and their supposedly more rational, transparent approach to waterworks and growth management. Here are some flaws and gaps in the assumptions the piece makes. Read more.
How Accurate Was Rick Currie’s Letter to The Wellington Times on Prince Edward County’s Finances? A Fact‑Check.
A recent letter to the editor in the print edition of the Wellington Times by Rick Currie raised serious concerns about the financial trajectory of Prince Edward County. He criticized the doubling of the budget, spiking project costs, recurring tax increases, and a lack of transparency in housing development. Our fact‑check examines four core claims: [Read more]
Inaccuracies or misleading statements
Reviewing recent content from the Picton Gazette reveals several instances where factual claims or reporting practices warrant scrutiny. Below, we highlight key examples of inaccuracies or misleading statements in the paper’s news and opinion sections, along with corrections from credible sources. Each case underscores the importance of careful fact-checking and transparency in local journalism.
Mischaracterizing a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO)
In a June 25, 2025 editorial on the proposed Minister’s Zoning Order for Picton Terminals, the Gazette described an MZO as establishing “a Special Economic Zone right on Picton Bay, where the Terminals can do what it likes”. This phrasing is misleading. While an MZO does override local zoning and expedite development approvals, it does not grant carte blanche immunity from all regulations. In fact, Global News notes that ministerial zoning orders still must comply with many laws and merely bypass certain planning requirements and consultations, not create a lawless free-for-all. By likening an MZO to a “Special Economic Zone,” the Gazette exaggerated its effect. A more accurate description would clarify that an MZO overrides municipal zoning bylaws but does not exempt projects from other provincial or federal rules. This example shows how imprecise language in an opinion piece can convey a false impression. Correcting such overstatements is vital to keep public understanding grounded in fact.
Omission of Eviction Notice Requirements
A news story on August 6, 2025, “Ahead of the MZO,” detailed how tenants near Picton Terminals received an N13 eviction notice on July 31, with a demand to vacate by October 25 for a planned “port development” on the site. The article rightly raised questions about possible retaliation, but it failed to mention a critical legal detail: Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act requires at least 120 days’ notice for evictions due to demolition or conversion, via Form N13. The October 25 deadline – less than 90 days away – would not meet this requirement, meaning the notice as reported was likely not valid without proper lead time or tenant compensation. By omitting the 120-day rule, the Gazette’s report did not fully reflect verifiable tenant protection laws. For accuracy, the story should have noted that landlords must give four months’ notice and compensation for a demolition eviction, and that the tenants’ plan to appeal the N13 would be bolstered by this discrepancy. Including this context would provide readers a clearer, fact-based picture of the situation and the tenants’ rights.
Editorial Messaging Techniques: “Water Worries”
Narrative Framing: The “Water Worries” editorial opens with a vivid anecdote: the author recounts a 2020 sunset boat tour on Picton Bay, noticing an oily “ballast trail” on the water from a cargo ship. This storytelling approach immediately frames Picton’s water source as tainted by outside pollution (e.g. “water straight from Hamilton harbour” in the ballast) and grabs readers’ attention. By starting with a real-life scene and the skipper’s visceral reaction [Read more]
Village A: 458 new houses on a 5-acre park in the works at Base31
Strategic Subtext and Editorial Framing. Presenting the Project as a Done Deal (Despite No Servicing Plan or Draft Approval). The Gazette article refers to Base31 as PEC Community Partners’ “first major housing development” — implying inevitability and a pre-approved mandate. Describes detailed road names, street connections, parks, and architectural vision, giving the impression of finality — even though: There is no approved servicing plan and no development permit at this stage. [Read more]
Sponsored by AI—After Warning You About It?
In its latest newsletter dated August 7, 2025, the Picton Gazette features a paid AI sponsorship promoting income-generation tips using artificial intelligence—just days after publishing opinion pieces warning readers about the risks of AI-generated news and a vicious attack on County First. This contradiction raises important questions about editorial integrity and transparency in local journalism. [Read more]
Editorial: In Response to the Picton Gazette’s “County Fake”
The July 16 editorial published by the Picton Gazette—ironically titled “County Fake”—accuses County First and the Prince Edward County Residents Association (PECRA) of being anonymous, unaccountable, and misleading in our analysis of local media funding and bias in our article: Audit of Media Coverage in PEC. We believe these accusations demand a clear and public response. We stand by our conclusions: The media coverage of the Picton Gazette consistently aligns with those in power and development. Take a look at our detailed report. We challenge the Gazette to present us with evidence to the contrary. [Read more]
The Mirror and the Messenger: AI, Truth, and the Trust We Choose
From the carving of symbols into Mesopotamian clay tablets to the Gutenberg press to the rise of the modern blog, each communications revolution has birthed unease alongside possibility. The emergence of artificial intelligence in the literary and journalistic spheres is no exception. [Read more]
What Happened to Mayor Steve Ferguson Shows Why People don’t Speak up.
Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson recently responded publicly to an online attack directed at him in the Globe and Mail comments section. In a June 19 response to a column by Tony Keller, a County resident compared Mayor Ferguson to dictators Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. The comment—posted under a real name—was both deeply inappropriate and profoundly personal. But if we want more respectful public debate, we have to create space where people feel safe contributing to it. That doesn’t start by demanding names. It starts by fostering a culture where voices are judged by the merit of their ideas—not by whether they’ve signed on the dotted line, as the Gazette implies it would like everyone to do. [Read more]
Op-Ed: Ethics Without Accountability? The Picton Gazette’s Promises Fall Short
On July 21, 2025, The Picton Gazette released a prominently featured “Code of Ethics,” outlining its commitment to transparency, fairness, and accountability. The document—adapted from the Canadian Newspaper Association—reads like a model of principled journalism. It pledges to acknowledge mistakes, invite reply from those criticized, and maintain editorial independence from commercial interests. [Read More]
Transparency Promised, But Not Delivered: Picton Gazette’s Missing Corrections Undermine Its Code of Ethics
In its “Code of Ethics” statement, the Picton Gazette publicly recommitted itself to a series of laudable journalistic principles—chief among them, a pledge to “promptly correct factual errors” and to ensure “accountability and transparency” in its reporting. But a closer look at the Gazette’s digital presence reveals a troubling gap between its editorial ideals and operational reality. [Read more]