11-28-16 Does Ak-Headlamp speak for all citizens?

Today, we explain why Ak-Headlamp really does speak for all Alaskans — in our opinion

Commentary.  When we old timers earned our Journalism degrees we were taught that the reputation and even the Constitutional protections afforded the 4th Estate were based on a bedrock of integrity.  How we then interpreted the word “integrity” seemed obvious.  We’ve generally believed: When writing news stories, be consistently and reliably objective.  When writing commentary, make sure the reader knows the piece merely reflects the opinion of the publication’s editorial board or columnist.  

(When we provide links to other publications, we have the confidence but not the guarantee that the linked item likely meets the above standard.)

The recent election has taught us that many of the mainstream print and electronic media owners interpret “integrity” differently.  Not having had the same upbringing as we “baby boomers” and our disciplined mentors, they obviously believe that “modern journalistic integrity”, like their opinion of Constitutional interpretation, is not absolute but needs to “evolve” with the times.  We also have evidence that some of the media chicanery may well emanate from political agendas, a direct threat to the survival of our republic — if not an act of sedition.

The problem is, that when your values are not absolute, they can become perverted, unpredictable, irrational.   Citizens reacted to media bias during the recent presidential campaign by scorning media industries in the polls and smashing their favored candidates at the voting booths.

In Alaska, citizens similarly question the journalistic integrity of some media.  Ak-Headlamp is a blog that provides citizens with timely, valuable news AND commentary on oil industry activity and issues.  

Ak-Headlamp is an obvious supporter of the many companies comprising the oil, gas and mining industry support companies — and the employers that support them as well.  In that sense, it may represents a majority of private sector Alaskan workers–so don’t write it off as “just another industry PR activity”.  

It represents all Alaskans in a broader sense, too.  This is because with over a third of the economy based on oil & gas activity, Alaskans have a stake in the prosperity of the energy industry.  Because almost 90% of state revenue comes from oil & gas, all citizens are direct beneficiaries of a sustainable oil & gas industry.

Thus, direct and indirect beneficiaries of the oil industry include:

• those receiving state-funded welfare
• non-profit corporations receiving direct oil company support and/or state, oil-funded grants
• government employees
• health system employees and patients and their service providers
• the costly education superstructure
• state assisted municipal governments and programs, and those receiving petroleum company property tax payments
• the statewide transportation and public safety networks and so much more….

So who can we best count on to provide solid information on the health of the oil & gas industry that we all depend on?  Well, we can rely on business organizations/media for a varying weekly/bi-weekly/monthly supply of solid energy information, like the state and local chambers of commerce, the Alaska Business Monthly, Alaska Journal of Commerce, Alaska Miners Association, Alaska Oil & Gas Association, Commonwealth North, Petroleum News Alaska, the Resource Development Council for Alaska, the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, the World Trade Center-Ak and private energy-focused blogs.

Of the private energy blogs, daily energy blogs are the most timely and critical harbingers of where the state economy and future of Alaskan families are headed.  Among the top of the daily blog list, we’d put the Alliance’s blog, Ak-Headlamp.

Northern Gas Pipelines — now over 15-years-old — was the first daily Alaska energy blog, maybe the first Alaska blog, period.  It specifically covers Alaskan and Northern Canadian energy matters — and related federal issues.  It also serves as an energy archive for oil and gas companies, government agencies, media and education research.  Our page is updated from 1-10 times daily.  We have provided information and support to these groups throughout the United States and Canada on a weekly basis, and continue to do so.  As our readers know, we have offered commentary, news, links, presentations, maps to our readers…and personal assistance in response to thousands of requests over the years.  

But Ak-Headlamp is focused every day on the health and prosperity of the Alaska oil, gas and mining industries in particular.  Since the state, as we have discussed, is so dependent on that  sector of natural resources, we today put special emphasis on Ak-Headlamp’s importance and urge our readers to request a free subscription.

Scroll down for today’s Ak-Headlamp blog.

Finally, we’d note that if certain mainstream media organizations don’t relearn the tried and true lessons of journalistic integrity, they may be soon overtaken by the more timely and reliable daily blogs that are growing in both stature and numbers.  

(Here we think of certain print and television media that predictably ask some environmental activists and no representative of industry to comment on energy stories.)

We also believe that mainstream media companies that retain their integrity will be best served by aggressively ‘double breasting’ their operations.  They can do this by adding a daily blog component to their daily or weekly print product.  The blog, by category, should reach out to the major, reader categories. 

We would also offer a warning to mainstream media.  “Those who have misplaced their foundations of integrity with biased presentations are likely to find their days numbered whether they expand to embrace daily blog content by category, or not.”

After all, even blogs that blur the line between commentary and news will find themselves replaced by more reliable information sources in a world so rich in information alternatives.

Why?

Because readers today are more discriminating about how they allocate limited time and attention to the plethora of media content.  They will, more and more, prioritize their precious reading time for content that is most useful and most honestly presented.    

…in our opinion.  

-dh

Today’s post: Ak-Headlamp (Subscribe Here)

Back and forth. Pat Galvin, a former state Revenue commissioner and now chief commercial officer for Anchorage-based Great Bear Petroleum, said Nov. 17 at the Resource Development Council of Alaska’s conference that above all else Alaska’s oil tax “pendulum” needs to stop swinging. We have to find a way to reach an equilibrium, not just to avoid future changes, but also to avoid the perception that there’s going to be future changes,” Galvin asserted. Galvin and Caelus Energy Vice President Pat Foley, who has worked in Alaska with other companies, both said the “give” must include a way to pay the current credits owed. Great Bear is owed “tens of millions of dollars” in credits, according to Galvin, while Caelus expects its bill to the state to hit $200 million by next spring.

Mutual respect. CEO of Kenai-based Udelhoven Oilfield System Services, Inc. Jim Udelhoven, wished Caelus and Armstrong CEOs Jim Musselman and Bill Armstrongbest wishes in a Fairbanks Daily News Miner op-ed. Udelhoven applauded the two men for their recent discoveries and championing small, independent oil and gas companies on the North Slope. After highlighting the duo’s business savvy and pro-industry positions, Udelhoven closed by hoping the pair’s stay is “long and prosperous.”

Bluecrest Energy is seeking eased loan terms because it is short on money after Gov. Bill Walker’s decision this summer to defer tax-credit payments owed to oil companies. Bluecrest has said it is owed tens of millions of dollars from the state. The lack of payment affected the company’s ability to fund an account meant to protect the state, according to the resolution.

Think of the children. In a Nov. 16 speech at the Resource Development Council’s annual conference Janet Weiss, president of BP Exploration (Alaska), celebrated the past success of the Alaska oil industry while also reviewing some of the challenges that the industry faces for the future. Addressing the future challenge will require improved efficiency, the use of appropriate technologies and a fiscal environment that keeps Alaska competitive, Weiss said. “What kind of Alaska are we going to pass to our children,” she asked. “Alaska can have a thriving and competitive oil and gas industry.” “As we face a tough situation, it is about coming together with honest debate, honest dialogue, ensuring that we are thinking about more oil going down TAPS…so that we can have this 40-plus-year additional future,” Weiss said.