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THE /NTELL/GENCER, Friday, September 29,1995 - 5 ADVISE/DISSENT SEND words, * Letters, the lette purposes reserves the same Reporter to chair health board By Tom Gavey Mary Thomas 'When I first applied three years ago, I did weigh the fact I'm a journalist. I was at a point where I was looking for something to do in the community/ The Intelligencer The election of Mary Thomas as chairman of the local District Health Council has raised con- cerns in some circles. Her position as a reporter with Quinte Broadcasting has led to questions about the poten- tial for conflict of interest for a journalist sitting on a public board. However, Thomas's superiors at Quinte Broadcasting say they have no concerns about the situation. When the DHC was ap- proved for Hastings and Prince Edward counties just over three years ago, Thomas was one of the first members appointed, as a consumer representative for South Hastings. When chairman Alan Mathany decided to step down this fall, Thomas was elected to the position. "When I first applied three years ago I did weigh the fact I'm a journalist. I was at a point where I was looking for some- thing to do in the community," says Thomas. She adds that because ap- pointments to the DHC are done at the provincial level it was a step removed from the lo- cal community she covers. "What I liked about the appli- cation process was I didn't have to be somebody's friend," says Thomas. Consumers and health providers join municipal repre- sentatives on the council, which is a liaison to the Ministry of Health and makes recommenda- tions on proposed health pro- grams. She adds that since her ap- pointment she no longer covers the council or Belleville General Hospital, which is often affected by the council's decisions. Orland French, president of the local branch of the Cana- dian Association of Journalists and a teaching master in the journalism program at Loyalist College, says it's a situation Thomas should have avoided. "It's the penalty you pay as a journalist to have to cut your- self off from the community. Your talents may be welcomed by the community but you also become privy to information that if you pursue your calling as a journalist you would want to pursue." French adds that if informa- tion is leaked, the organization may lose faith in the journalist. He says the case isn't un- usual and some journalists have been able to separate com- munity service and their jobs. Quinte Broadcasting's gen- eral manager Bill Morton says he was consulted before Tho- mas accepted the position. "She doesn't cover the coun- cil, other reporters do. Since she's part-time I didn't feel we should be dictating what she does with her spare time," he says. CJBQ news director John Ferguson says that when Tho- mas was appointed to the coun- cil, he and other reporters took over coverage. "We've had no problem at all. She's never breeched any confidentiality." No concerns were raised within the DHC, says executive director Steve Elson, when Tho- mas' name was put forward as chair. "Mary has been a very ac- tive member of the executive committee. She's a very princi- pled person." Thomas admits she may be under a microscope, at least early in her term. "I'm a bit like Caesar's wife. I can't just have no conflict, but I have to be seen as having no conflict." Meetings of the DHC are pub- lic and are covered by most area news organizations. Thomas says caucus matters have usu- ally dealt with appointments to the council, which wouldn't be public knowledge at any time. : o 3 Q