The Rio GrandeValley isn’t immune to campaigns seeking to discredit news media or pressure them into becoming lackeys for their plans and actions.
Members of the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District recently voted to hire an attorney to review media coverage “and to take other steps if necessary to promote fair and accurate reporting regarding the district and its operations,” according to board President Ramiro Moreno.
Moreno seems to take greatest issue with reporting by the Valley Morning Star, although he didn’t give specific examples and other board members have said past reports have been accurate. However, the board has taken similar steps against other news outlets in the past.
Some board members and others consider this move to be a waste of taxpayer dollars. Of course it is. Reviewing media coverage can easily be done by current district employees — in fact, San Benito CISD already has media services and public relations departments that should be performing such functions. Hiring expensive outside counsel rather than use the attorneys the district already has suggests a pre-existing intent to use litigation, or the threat of litigation, to force news media to keep their reporting positive.
It stands to reason that if any inaccuracies in reporting have occurred, by any news medium, they already would be known and the board wouldn’t need to hire high-priced attorneys to look for them.
No legitimate news outlet, including the Star, is simply a mouthpiece for officials. News media verify information they are given and point out discrepancies. Reactions and repercussions to officials’ decisions and actions, whether positive or negative, are reported.
Responsible officials normally appreciate this as a resource to help determine which of their policies work and which might need adjustment.
To be sure, attorneys will do what they’re hired to do, including digging through media reports, at a healthy per-hour rate. In their role of providing counsel, we trust the contracted attorneys will remind the board that the truth is its own defense against defamation claims.
Kelley Shannon, executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, said it best: “If the school board has a complaint, bring it up. But to hire a lawyer to look for problems, it doesn’t look like a good use of tax dollars.”
In addition, Texas law addresses the use or threat of legal action to stifle valid, accurate coverage — known as strategic lawsuits against public participation. The anti-SLAPP law is designed to deal with those who would use the social or financial pressure of legal action to force acquiescence — for example, government officials who believe they have access to unlimited resources at their taxpayers’ expense. The law provides a mechanism to hold the government accountable for taking legal action against citizens or the media that violates the public’s and media’s freedom to comment on the performance of government officials.
SBCISD officials would serve their district better, and save tax dollars, by simply employing policies that earn support, rather than attack those who give voice to people who might have legitimate concerns.
