A WEBSITE staffed by “reporters” using random aliases while accusing the acting Shire of Gingin of using his office to discredit four councillors has removed “pictures and biographical” information since Friday.
Regional Government Watch (RGW) Media published the story about the acting CEO “written by “reporter” Bec Marston, along with some defamatory claims, on August 24.
Last week according to the website’s information Bec Marston was RGW Media’s Regional Goldfields-Esperance reporter and based in Esperance.
Her RGW Media biography said she spent eight years as a saleyard agent across the southern plains before moving full-time to reporting in 2024.
“She came to RGW Media after building a strong regional following on social media for her weekly throughput and price commentary,” the website said.
“Her patch covers saleyard prices and throughput, biosecurity and traceability, road and rate pressures on saleyards and the generational pressures squeezing family-run livestock operations.’’
So at first glance it appeared an Esperance based “reporter” with limited local government reporting skills had written in great detail about the continuing dysfunction engulfing the Shire of Gingin.
While puzzling over this Yanchep News Online found the disturbing clarification in the website’s About information that the “reporters” were using random aliases and started trying to find out who was behind the website.
By earlier today the Reporters tab (pictures and biography information) was unavailable.
On Friday, August 28 RGW Media’s website included pictures and biographies of its “reporters” including Bec Marston.RGW Media starts out saying it is an independent newsroom covering the stories that shape regional communities.
“We report on local government, public spending, environmental policy and the institutions whose decisions affect everyday life,’’ the website says.
It says it covers council decisions, planning and development, regulatory accountability and the long tail of public-interest stories that often go unreported outside the capitals.
In relation to standards it says it verifies before publishing.
“We correct openly when we get something wrong.
“We protect our sources and we treat the people we write about fairly.’’
Information still available today under a Contributor protection headline RGW Media said its “reporters publish under randomised aliases”.
“We do not display real names, real biographies, real photographs, or real social-media handles on this site,’’ the website said.
“Bylines on older stories are sealed automatically after publication.
“We do not store the IP address, user agent, exact referrer URL, or any cookie for a reader of this site.
“Authors log in over a magic-link system that lives on a separate, allow-listed surface and never appears on the public site.”
At 1.55pm today the Shire of Gingin said they were aware of the website but had no comment to make.
Below is a screenshot of information from About RGW Media’s page.
Under a Contributor protection headline RGW Media says its “reporters publish under randomised aliases”.
