EDITORIAL – When the City’s news releases become propaganda

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

NEWS RELEASES are supposed to provide information, right? Propaganda, on the other hand, is defined as biase designed to promote a political cause or point of view.

City of Kamloops news releases often, if not usually, include highly subjective treatment of subject matter, while not quite crossing over into outright propaganda. Monday’s (Jan. 12, 2026) statement trumpeting the City’s record on capital projects crossed that line.

Usually, I edit press releases, whether from the City, police, community groups or various authorities to remove flowery or exaggerated language not relevant to the information being presented. If I’d done that with Monday’s release there would have been almost nothing left.

It did contain some kernels of information about what the City has been doing on capital projects but it was so intent on bragging about it that there was no way to sort it out in an objective way. In effect, in its entirety, it’s an opinion piece. So I published it as such, verbatim, as a “Feedback” item.

But here’s what I mean when I label it as propaganda. It doesn’t just provide information about capital projects, it brags that “these results reflect careful planning, strong oversight, and a commitment to making the most of every public dollar.”

It goes on to state, “As the City grows, maintaining a balance between cost efficiency, quality standards, and project timelines is essential to ensure infrastructure assets meet residents’ evolving needs and contribute meaningfully to the City’s mission of fostering a resilient, inclusive, and healthy environment.”

And, “By balancing fiscal responsibility with innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, the City is dedicated to building infrastructure that serves today’s residents while creating lasting value—because planning for growth starts with building it right.”

Well, sure. That’s what the City should be doing. But this feels awfully like City Hall is desperately attempting to convince taxpayers, in the context of all the dysfunction of recent years, that everything is just fine. “Look at us, what fine folks we are,” it seems to be saying. Feels like an election year, and the staffers that produced this aren’t even up for election.

Look, I know these are challenging times, and that there are still many people in City Hall truly dedicated to their community. But, please, could the hyperbole be toned down? Could we just stick to the facts?

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.