Our View
[My comments in blue -L.H.]
Nancy Marshall believes it is fair for Lance Dutson or any other Maine citizen to ask questions about how state funds are spent, including questions about tourism marketing. Lance like any other citizen, deserves answers. Since he initially contacted us, we have worked with Maine tourism officials to see that his voice was being heard.
Unfortunately, in our view, Lance evolved from asking questions to attacking the reputations of people who are sincerely trying to do their job. We spoke directly with Lance and contacted a few people who know him in an effort to get the dialogue back on track. Unfortunately, Lance did not want to do that, and instead chose to see this as an effort to silence him.
We have always believed what is needed here is a civil discussion in which information is exchanged and questions answered. We have tried to facilitate that. But for more than a month now, the tone and accusatory nature of Lance Dutson’s blogging has made it difficult even for public officials to respond to him without fear that their words will be twisted and exploited to embarrass them, their co-workers, and their families.
Journalism has been around for along time and there are some accepted standards, including a focus on balance and accuracy. By comparison, blogging is new. We believe bloggers like Lance need to realize that they are publishers, and their content can affect people’s lives, health, and reputations. With freedom comes responsibility.
Facts Versus Accusations on Lance Dutson’s Blog
ACCUSATION: That we were not responsive when he asked for information about Maine’s online tourism marketing effort.
FACT: Lance was complaining online about “still no response” only 24 hours after contacting us by email. In fact, we promptly forwarded his concerns to appropriate state officials, and he did receive responses within several days. We believe that this is an appropriate time for a citizen to get
responses to such inquiries.
ACCUSATION: That we made calls and sent emails to his clients and family “to get me to be quiet” and “try to clamp down on this blog”.
FACT: We have always believed Lance deserved answers to his questions, and have tried to help him get them, including forwarding his questions to appropriate state officials who did respond. After his postings took on an increasingly belligerent, angry, and accusatory tone, we decided to reach out on March 8-9 [2006] to a handful or business people who we believed knew him, including his wife, who was listed on the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce Web site as their acting director and media liaison. At no time did we ask them to try to stop him from asking questions. In fact, one email we sent said in part: “He is trying to effect change, however, is taking the wrong route…” and hurting people. We were hoping they could urge him to take a more civil and humane tone in asking his questions. We even spoke with Lance directly, urging him to take part in a meeting with state tourism officials to get answers. [Remember- this all started out as Dutson’s inaccurate accusations about pay-per-click] Unfortunately, his attacks elevated. [Whenever Dutson is confronted with a bit of truth, he responds with still louder ranting accusations – as though staging a hissy fit will divert attention from the facts. Psychologists call this "Displacement Behavior"] Despite the impression he is leaving on his blog that this is a continuing outreach effort, in fact, it ended three weeks ago.
Nancy Marshall believes it is fair for Lance Dutson or any other Maine citizen to ask questions about how state funds are spent, including questions about tourism marketing. Lance like any other citizen, deserves answers. Since he initially contacted us, we have worked with Maine tourism officials to see that his voice was being heard.
Unfortunately, in our view, Lance evolved from asking questions to attacking the reputations of people who are sincerely trying to do their job. We spoke directly with Lance and contacted a few people who know him in an effort to get the dialogue back on track. Unfortunately, Lance did not want to do that, and instead chose to see this as an effort to silence him.
We have always believed what is needed here is a civil discussion in which information is exchanged and questions answered. We have tried to facilitate that. But for more than a month now, the tone and accusatory nature of Lance Dutson’s blogging has made it difficult even for public officials to respond to him without fear that their words will be twisted and exploited to embarrass them, their co-workers, and their families.
Journalism has been around for along time and there are some accepted standards, including a focus on balance and accuracy. By comparison, blogging is new. We believe bloggers like Lance need to realize that they are publishers, and their content can affect people’s lives, health, and reputations. With freedom comes responsibility.
Facts Versus Accusations on Lance Dutson’s Blog
ACCUSATION: That we were not responsive when he asked for information about Maine’s online tourism marketing effort.
FACT: Lance was complaining online about “still no response” only 24 hours after contacting us by email. In fact, we promptly forwarded his concerns to appropriate state officials, and he did receive responses within several days. We believe that this is an appropriate time for a citizen to get
responses to such inquiries.
ACCUSATION: That we made calls and sent emails to his clients and family “to get me to be quiet” and “try to clamp down on this blog”.
FACT: We have always believed Lance deserved answers to his questions, and have tried to help him get them, including forwarding his questions to appropriate state officials who did respond. After his postings took on an increasingly belligerent, angry, and accusatory tone, we decided to reach out on March 8-9 [2006] to a handful or business people who we believed knew him, including his wife, who was listed on the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce Web site as their acting director and media liaison. At no time did we ask them to try to stop him from asking questions. In fact, one email we sent said in part: “He is trying to effect change, however, is taking the wrong route…” and hurting people. We were hoping they could urge him to take a more civil and humane tone in asking his questions. We even spoke with Lance directly, urging him to take part in a meeting with state tourism officials to get answers. [Remember- this all started out as Dutson’s inaccurate accusations about pay-per-click] Unfortunately, his attacks elevated. [Whenever Dutson is confronted with a bit of truth, he responds with still louder ranting accusations – as though staging a hissy fit will divert attention from the facts. Psychologists call this "Displacement Behavior"] Despite the impression he is leaving on his blog that this is a continuing outreach effort, in fact, it ended three weeks ago.
[As I mentioned, after having been publicly humiliated by walking out on the conference that was staged expressly for Lance Dutson, and at no small expense to the taxpayers, he sent 10 whole pages of these barely comprehensible rants.]
ACCUSATION: That xxxx left a message on Lance’s voicemail. (The audio is posted on his website and identified by Lance as xxxxx’s voice.) because she is “agitated with some pressure that is starting to come down.”
FACT: This voice and message is not xxxxx, nor is it anyone from our agency. Lance posted the audio online and identified it this way without first asking us. Unfortunately, this is an example of the kinds of conclusions he jumps to and accusations he makes without all of the facts.
ACCUSATION: That we misled Lance in suggesting subcontractor xxxx does not work for us “despite the information on (our) website”. He concluded “This makes no sense at all”.
FACT: Just as we told Lance, xxxx is not an employee of xxxxx Communications. He is a strategic partner we frequently work with because of his online skills and reputation. Such partnerships are common in our industry. We are proud of the partnership, so we list xxx on our Web site. We use him frequently, so we gave him an internal email address. Lance is trying to exploit a perfectly straightforward and transparent relationship for “effect” on his blog.
ACCUSATION: That xxxx is a “hatchet man for Mr.Lewis and his barely functioning office of tourism.”
FACT: This is an example of how Lance Dutson has veered away from questions that were initially reasonable into weeks or personal attacks and belligerence. Our agency has been promoting clients in Maine and around the world since 1991. Our work on behalf of Maine Tourism won “Best of Show” in the Maine Public Relations Council Awards competition this past December. Dann Lewis was recently recognized as one of the “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds” in tourism sales and marketing by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association. Both we and Maine Tourism officials are working hard for the best interests of Maine taxpayers and businesses. It is hurtful to see the kind of language that Lance Dutson tosses around so lightly on his blog.
ACCUSATION: That xxxx left a message on Lance’s voicemail. (The audio is posted on his website and identified by Lance as xxxxx’s voice.) because she is “agitated with some pressure that is starting to come down.”
FACT: This voice and message is not xxxxx, nor is it anyone from our agency. Lance posted the audio online and identified it this way without first asking us. Unfortunately, this is an example of the kinds of conclusions he jumps to and accusations he makes without all of the facts.
ACCUSATION: That we misled Lance in suggesting subcontractor xxxx does not work for us “despite the information on (our) website”. He concluded “This makes no sense at all”.
FACT: Just as we told Lance, xxxx is not an employee of xxxxx Communications. He is a strategic partner we frequently work with because of his online skills and reputation. Such partnerships are common in our industry. We are proud of the partnership, so we list xxx on our Web site. We use him frequently, so we gave him an internal email address. Lance is trying to exploit a perfectly straightforward and transparent relationship for “effect” on his blog.
ACCUSATION: That xxxx is a “hatchet man for Mr.Lewis and his barely functioning office of tourism.”
FACT: This is an example of how Lance Dutson has veered away from questions that were initially reasonable into weeks or personal attacks and belligerence. Our agency has been promoting clients in Maine and around the world since 1991. Our work on behalf of Maine Tourism won “Best of Show” in the Maine Public Relations Council Awards competition this past December. Dann Lewis was recently recognized as one of the “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds” in tourism sales and marketing by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association. Both we and Maine Tourism officials are working hard for the best interests of Maine taxpayers and businesses. It is hurtful to see the kind of language that Lance Dutson tosses around so lightly on his blog.
