Divergence between KRQE and Alb Journal coverage over the same set of facts, should worry "the people"

My premises;

"The people" as in government of, by and for the people, depend upon "the press" for information about the spending of their considerable power and resources, in order that they can hold their politicians and public servants accountable for their public service.

KRQE is as legitimately the press as other broadcast media outlet, and

the Journal is as legitimately the press as other newspaper.

The facts; APS is remodeling a building, the old K-Mart at Louisiana and Lomas.

Depending on whether the people listen to Larry Barker and KRQE, link, or read Jon Swedien and Kent Walz' Journal, link, they will believe they are the victims of administrative incompetence or the beneficiary of their brilliance;

• A $1.6M APS blunder (KRQE' headline) or a

• New central kitchen at APS (the Journal's headline)

Journal APS reporter Jon Swedien; KRQE's Larry Barker, who got it right?

Depending on who they watch or read; the people will come away with diametrically opposite opinions of the "leadership" of the APS.

Kent Walz and the Journal of course, are into protecting the public perception of the APS and its leadership.  KRQE apparently, not so much.  The leadership of the APS was so pleased with the Journal's slant, they've posted it verbatim on the award winning APS website, link.

But let's back up a step; isn't it scary that two "trusted" sources offer such widely disparate reports on the same set of facts?

Leading to a question that we need to ask; which "press" can voters trust;

• the "credentialed press" and the politicians and public servants who credential them, or

• the non-credentialed press whose credibility is self evident and from whom, those same politicians and public servants flee?

photo Mark Bralley