Wait Until 2013 For Pick Up Says OAG

We’ve heard of the H20 Highway – and according to at least one report, that may pose a serious challenge to traditional air transportation.

Something to consider if  Windsor is going to pursue our cargo village dreams – incorporate our readily available access to both highway and waterway.

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OAG’s 10-year air cargo market forecast will be published on Dec. 1 in Air Cargo World’s print editions. In its latest cargo forecast OAG, part of UBM Aviation, says it may well be 2013 before airfreight volumes return to 2007 levels.

According to study author Marty Graham, former Northwest executive now aviation consultant, “The good news is that as the global economy begins to recover and return to normal growth levels, airfreight is likely to once again be a leading indicator of future economic activity.”

In its 10-year forecast, OAG projects a slow pick up in airfreight flows led by slow economic recoveries in both the U.S. and Europe.

U.S. GDP is projected to grow less than two percent per year in both 2010 and 2011 (after 0.4 percent and -2.4 percent GDP growth in 2008 and 2009, respectively) while Europe GDP is expected to remain essentially flat through 2010 and then grow a “pedestrian” 1.8 percent a year over the remainder of the forecast period.

OAG notes that overall airfreight traffic has decreased 15 percent in 2009 (following a soft 2008) and the industry has aggressively tried to rationalize capacity but thus far is finding profitability difficult to achieve.

With oversupply in some markets and demand weakened, the yield environment remains “very challenging” says the author.

As corporations are squeezed to reduce costs to remain profitable, OAG suggests a growing concern is a modal shift from air to ocean.

“Shippers are more willing to accept slower transit to gain the cost advantage maritime or ground shipping offers over air cargo,” explains Graham.

“Thus air cargo operators must overcome not only a slowdown in global shipment volumes, but also a modal shift caused by shippers looking for ways to reduce logistics costs,” he adds.

Why the Star didn’t cover Ward 4 Meeting

Update:  I have been informed by the Windsor Star they never received any questions from Curious Commentator suggesting perhaps there was a glitch at my end.

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If we want to change the conversation, we have to change how we have the conversation.

I can understand why some people have issues with Ken Lewenza Jr.  – trust me, I’ve had my own particularly with respect to the Windsor Utilities Commission.

But I have much respect for an individual who puts their money where their mouth and admits mistakes and provides information so that we can all make an informed decision one way or another and truly move the community forward.

By having an open and honest dialogue with each other about the issues can we effect the change that is so desperately needed and  truly change the conversation.

And I  look not only to our elected officials to do this – but our mainstream media as well - which brings me to the topic of tonight’s blog – this afternoon’s Windsor Star online chat session.

During its online chat session, the  Star finally provided an explanation as to why they did not cover Councillor Marra and Councillor Lewenza’s Ward 4 meeting – particularly with respect to the issue of the CUPE contract city council approved. 

A transcript of the online chat is attached here.

And it took a bit of coaxing on the part of readers to get the interesting responses which ranged from the Star already sufficiently covering the issues to other breaking news to blaming Ken Lewenza Jr. for not participating in an online chat to, in Mr. Beneteau’s words, “get the message out.”

Roseann Danese opened the can of worms by writing in response to a question regarding events not covered in the county:

“We can’t wrtie [sic] about it if we don’t know about it. So, send us your news…”

Never to pass up an opportunity, I posed the following question over 3 times under the name ‘Curious Commentator”, “Why didn’t the Star cover Ken Lewenza Jr.’s Ward meeting then about CUPE?”

So I waited.  And waited.  And waited some more.  I reposted the question.

Waited.  And waited even longer. 

By 12:35 p.m. they had still not  posted or answered the question.

Was my question inappropriately worded?  Was it offensive?  What gives?

But then at 12:38 p.m. someone with the online name of Gary Taylor posted a similar question:

12:38 [Comment From Gary Taylor Gary Taylor: ]

Why wasn’t the Lewenza/Maara Ward 4 meeting covered by the Star. Surely there was enough information to warrant coverage.

Every reason in the book was given as to why the Star could not cover the event – despite other media outlet’s ability to do so such as A-NEWS, CBC and AM800:

 12:39 Roseann Danese: We published three stories before the meeting, pertaining to the issue of CUPE strike minutes. We also advanced the Lewenza forum, telling people when and where it would be taking place.

12:40 Roseann Danese: We invited Ken Lewenza Jr. to participate in a live chat, but he declined.

12:42 Roseann Danese: The night of the forum, there were two major stories our night reporter had to cover: an accident that involved a 50,000 pound roll of steel that fell on top of an SUV, nearly killing the driver and the annual memorial vigil for victims of crime. Both were compelling stories.

12:46 Roseann Danese: Lewenza was asked for comment on those stories, so he had ample opportunity to address his concerns about the strike dragging out longer than it had to be.

12:53 Roseann Danese: Gary, like I said earlier, we cover events based on their news value. Considering how much coverage we had already given to this topic and the fact there were two breaking news stories, we didn’t go to Lewenza’s meeting.

[Comment From Marty Beneteau, editor Marty Beneteau, editor: ]

Hey Gary, do us a favour and ask Ken Jr. why he declined to take part in a live chat with us. Surely he could have used this forum to get his message out

Where I have an issue stems from the words of Marty Beneteau on April 11:

Today’s relaunch is the culmination of more than a year’s effort from all departments at The Star — even the press operators chipped in by extending our deadlines so we can give you the most up-to-date news.

We do this because, at a time of shifting media landscape, we can’t take our relationship with readers for granted.

And if it’s not enough, feel free to give me an earful.

Okay Mr. Beneteau, I’m going to give you an earful.

The responses ranged from essentially already covering the issues (which they really didn’t – and how did the Star know what issues were covered when they didn’t attend?)  to questioning why the councillor didn’t participate in an online chat.

How an “online” discussion with anonymous individuals posting comments supplants actual news coverage and analysis of the issues is beyond me particularly when the Star itself ridiculed the councillor.

Sure, why the councillor declined to participate in an online chat is a fair question to ask, but that in of itself is not a valid reason not to cover an important discussion that has been lacking thus far. 

And as far as having competing news stories goes – why not cover the event the next day or even the day after?

The Windsor Star has done a tremendous job in the past covering certain issues; providing analysis and moving the conversation forward.

In the words of Marty Beneteau, “We did things that newspapers can do to bring about change, positive change.”

While opinion columnists are paid to stir up controversy – without a balanced voice on the other end providing the facts,  a community can be further divided.

And one of the many positive changes this city needs is an end to the divide and conquer political tactic we have consistently seen during this term of council on nearly every single issue of importance.

Sure – Councillor Lewenza could have used an online chat room to “get his message out,” but as Don McArthur stated during the online chat:

…the print format provides a sense of permanence that lacks in the ever changing, fast flowing world of the internet.

And unfortunately, the very reason I recorded the Ward 4 meeting was demonstrated by Mr. Beneteau’s response – I suspected the Star would not cover the meeting for whatever reason.

While Roseann Danese’s responses to the question were plausible explanations (to a point), Mr. Beneteau’s response – as the “editor” of the Windsor Star had the most weight – and was frankly, the most disappointing.

It’s like a child being caught doing something wrong and the child firing back, “yeah, well your momma wears army boots.”

You kinda scratch your head and wonder what that has to do with anything.