Inside: NOT HAVING IT ALL: Motherhood and a career in national television don’t mix

RARE SIGHTING:

Look quickly because this is one of the rare occasions you’ll find Prime Minister Stephen Harper talking to journalists on the Hill

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Publisher Nick Russell INSIDE Editor David McKie DEPARTMENTS Books Editor 4 First Word The imbalance at The National between work and family. Gillian Steward By David McKie Legal Advisor Peter Jacobsen 5 JournalismNet Hunting for videos and information on social network sites such as MySpace can be (Bersenas Jacobsen Chouest tricky.But there are ways to make your searching more efficient. Thomson Blackburn LLP) By Julian Sher Designer 6 Business CanWest's decision to cancel its liaison with Canadian Press won't be the end of the Bonanza Printing wire service — not by a long shot! & Copying Centre Inc. By Scott White Printer Bonanza Printing 8 Update When the Edmonton police chief was fired after a sting operation that targeted Edmonton Sun columnist Kerry Diotte, that should have been the end of the & Copying Centre Inc. controversy. Hardly. By Mike Jenkinson Editorial Board Chris Cobb, Wendy McLellan, 10 Inside Ottawa Prime Minister Stephen Harper has a "pathological hatred" of journalists Sean Moore, on Parliament Hill. Catherine Ford, By Richard Brennan Michelle MacAfee, Lindsay Crysler, John Gushue, FEATURE Rob Cribb, Rob Washburn 14 CAN WOMEN SUCCEED Not if you happen to be a mother of young children. IN NATIONAL TELEVISION? By Hélène Buzzetti Advertising Sales John Dickins 16 TAKE YOUR PICK Being a national television reporter — sadly — means making a choice between family and career. Administrative Director By Catherine Ford John Dickins (613)526-8061 Fax: (613)521-3904 E-mail: [email protected]

DEPARTMENTS MEDIA is published three times 18 Opinion The media outlets may have let the Harper government off the hook on the a year by: childcare issue. Canadian Association of By Dianne Rinehart Journalists, 1385 Woodroffe Avenue., B-224 20 Legal affairs The British House of Lords' decision may help Canadian journalists seeking Algonquin College the public interest defence in defamation cases. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2G 1V8 By David Crerar and Michael Skene Reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is 22 The fine print A new weapon in the fight against defamation suits. The Canadian courts should strictly forbidden follow the British lead and allow "responsible journalism" as a legitimate defence in libel suits. By Dean Jobb Media is a publication of the Canadian Association of Journalists. It is managed and edited 23 Computer-assisted reporting Google now offers a spreadsheet program that's worth testing out. independently from the CAJ and its By Fred Vallance-Jones contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the Association. 24 Writer’s toolbox You should always keep your listeners, viewers and readers in mind when writing stories — not your sources. Subscriptions: $14.98 By Don Gibb (GST incl.) per year, payable in advance

26 Ethics Media outlets should be sensitive to concerns over coverage in the Pickton trial, Indexed in the Canadian but they must not let that concern drive the coverage. Periodical Index. By Stephen J.A. Ward Canada Post Publications Canadian Mail Sales Product Agreement 30 The Last Word Should journalism be a profession? The answer to this question is being debated No. 182796 by some of the top thinkers in the business. ISSN 1198-2209 By Alan Bass Cover Photo CP/Fred Chartrand FIRST WORD BY DAVID MCKIE Balancing work and family The dilemma has always been the same for many women who choose to become journalists

t's difficult to open a newspaper or listen to a Shifting from the pressures faced by some Vancouver based media lawyers David Crerar program these days without hearing women to the business pressures endured by and Michael Skene carry that argument forward Ireferences to the need to balance work life and media outlets, we examine the relationship in their assessment of the decision's potential family. Indeed, working life for many Canadians between Canadian Press and CanWest. The latter impact on Canadian journalism. has become busier. The extra leisure time that is ending its association with CP. There was a And speaking of defamation, Edmonton Sun some experts had predicted has yet to materialize. time, argues Scott White, when this decision columnist Kerry Diotte is suing that city's police For executives, it may be a case of working long would have been devastating, prompting panic, force. The defamation suit stems from an hours and weekends, having little time to indulge soul-searching and massive layoffs. No such incident that occurred on the evening of Nov.18, in healthy hobbies. For workers in the lower thing. CP's editor-in-chief argues that while the 2004, at a Canadian Association of Journalism- ranks, it may also mean putting in the extra pull-out will have an impact, it will not be as large sponsored event in Alberta's capital city. Diotte, hours, either to get ahead or to keep pace with the as people think. who had recently written columns in the Sun demands. Career ambition, it seems, is still "A quiet revolution has been going on at CP critical of the force, became the target of a sting dominating the centre stage, except when it over the last five years, which has meant not only operation in which the police seemed involves young women attempting to balance a transformation in the way our reporters do their determined to catch him driving home drunk child care with the exigencies of deadlines in the from a bar called Overtime. There was public world of journalism. outrage, the force's police chief was fired, and In her piece about women who have left CBC that should have been the end of the matter. But Television's The National, Hélène Buzzetti "Feminism brought it wasn't. Diotte's former colleague, Mike discovered first-hand the incompatibility between Jenkinson, updates the continuing saga. In his the program's deadlines and child-rearing. equality of opportunity, piece, Jenkinson tells us about the public and Buzzetti, an Ottawa-based Parliamentary police reaction to a story Diotte wrote about the correspondent for Le Devoir and herself a young but being female means force's questionable actions involving aboriginal mother,spoke to a number of high-profile women there is no equality of sex-trade workers. The feedback included letters at The National to find out the exact nature of the from readers who felt Diotte was biased against problem that seems to be more pronounced than child bearing." the police. it is at other networks in French and English "Wrote one reader in a response typical of the Canada. negative reaction: 'It's obvious to me that all of "… exactly why are so many female reporters your police bashing stories are simply due to the running away from The National after becoming jobs but a major ground shift in the co-operative's fact that your panties are still in a bunch over the mothers?" she wonders. "The answer is contained finances and customer base." Diotte/Overtime thing, and you are only out for in one word: schedule. About every person The business of journalism has also been the petty revenge.'" interviewed for this story, in Ottawa and focus of the courts in London and some media And finally, a word about our cover: Prime throughout the country, would only talk lawyers as of late. For the first time in a while, we Minister Stephen Harper holding court with anonymously. They left because of the crazy have decided to give a little bit of extra space to journalists on Parliament Hill. The scene is rare, hours they were asked to put in to be part of The matters of the media and the law. In his column, as strange as that may seem. It turns out that not National's team." Fine Print, Dean Jobb draws our attention to a much has changed from the spring of 2006 when In light of Buzzetti's anonymous conversations, recent decision of Britain's House of Lords in the we first drew your attention to the sad state of we asked Media editorial board member case of Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd. that relations between Harper's "new" government Catherine Ford to reflect on what the women had could have an impact in Canada when it comes to and the press gallery. to say. Ford, who is a retired columnist for the defamation suits. The British top court ruled that In his update, Parliamentary press gallery Calgary Herald, begins her piece by pointing out "responsible" journalism can be a legitimate president, Toronto Star reporter Richard that when it comes to young women attempting to defence against companies, governments, or Brennan, tells us that journalists are subjected balance home life and work, nothing has really individuals pursuing journalists for defamation. to bullying and intimidation. So we thought it changed. The ruling is not binding on Canada's courts was worth drawing your attention to this issue "Feminism brought equality of opportunity, but media lawyers here have begun citing by, once again, putting it on the cover. but being female means there is no equality of Reynolds-based defences as part of their As usual, we have on offer a wide variety of child bearing. To do both — have children and responses to defamation suits, writes Jobb. "The stories. If you have any comments about what aspire to one of the top media jobs in television process may take time but our courts should you've read,or suggestions on topics we should be — is still almost impossible. And I say 'almost' in import the responsible journalism defence. Solid covering, feel free to contact me at recognition there have always been so-called journalism on important issues of public interest [email protected]. superwomen who can, and do, have it all." deserves a legal refuge." In the meantime, happy reading.

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 4 JOURNALISMNET BY JULIAN SHER Searching YouTube and MySpace There are tricks to hunting for information on these popular sites

received an e-mail recently from an NBC Next, scroll down to the ninth line labeled SEARCHING MYSPACE producer who needed to find Iraq videos from DOMAIN. (highlighted in yellow above) Ihis network that had been posted on YouTube. This allows you to narrow your search to one Everyone from rock groups to lonely teenagers It's a common problem. web site or domain.Put in www.youtube.com (it is to BBC reporters have MySpace pages. There are YouTube and similar sites have muscled into important NOT to put in the "http://" more than 100 million accounts — and some of the domain of traditional web news sites. Just You will then get results of all of the YouTube them may be the people you need for a story. think of how YouTube helped spread the cell postings that use the words NBC and Iraq in their Again,MySpace has its own fairly decent search phone footage of Saddam Hussein's execution. Or descriptions. Now, this does not mean those engine but I always start with a domain search at how U.S. politicians are already using YouTube for words will appear in the video, but it is usually a Google Advanced. (The same trick applies to their presidential campaigns. good bet someone's description of their posted Facebook, Friendster and other social networking Meanwhile, social networking sites like video will be reasonably accurate. sites; just put in their web address in Google's MySpace, Facebook or Friendster are becoming domain box.) important resources for finding people for news VIDEO SEARCHES There are also specialized search engines that stories or leads. try to favour MySpace.One of these,shown below, Each of these sites has its own internal search You can also use search engines that is IceRocket at www.icerocket.com: engine, of course, but they can sometimes be specifically look for videos. These tools search for clumsy or inaccurate descriptions and sometimes for the words There is no perfect solution to these new encoded in the video file descriptions. (A few are challenges for web searching. But let's look at also trying to develop the ability to scan for the some tools and tricks you can use. words used in the video, but this is still preliminary.) DOMAIN SEARCHES One Japanese-based site has been set up expressly to search YouTube and similar video The easiest solution for all these sites is to use sites, with the neat name Qoogle. (It is at Google's powerful domain search feature in video.qooqle.jp.) Google Advanced. (See Media Magazine, Google itself, of course, has its own video Fall 1999,Vol. 6, No. 3). search term at video.google.com — and Google For other blog-type searches, you can try web Go to www.google.com/advanced_search. conveniently owns YouTube. sites such as Podzinger.com and other se arch Put in whatever keywords you want — for You often get different results using the same tools listed on my site at example: keywords in different video search engines and in www.journalismnet.com/blogs. Google Advanced, so it pays to try various NBC Iraq searches on different sites. Julian Sher, the creator and webmaster of Journalism Net (www.journalismnet.com), does Internet training in newsrooms around the world. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. This article and other columns are available online with hot links on the JournalismNet Tips page at www.journalismnet.com/tips

YouTube and similar sites have muscled into the domain of traditional web news sites.

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 5 BUSINESS BY SCOTT WHITE Pulling out won’t cripple us CanWest’s decision to withdraw from The Canadian Press cooperative will hurt — but not as much as people think

he current media landscape is a confusing, complex and tumultuous environment. TThe public's appetite for information is insatiable and the technology exists to feed it every moment of the day. But what kind of information do people want? And what technologies are their preferred choices for getting that information? Does a Blackberry necessarily make a newspaper obsolete? Do iPods mean people will eventually tune out radio or will future generations of iPods do for news and information what they've already done for music? Do a million bloggers typing a billion words bring new definitions and expectations to the traditional journalistic standards of trust, accuracy and objectivity? Like all news organizations, those of us at The Canadian Press have been pondering these and many other questions lately. CP celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. Born out of necessity in the First World War because Canadians needed information about their soldiers who were dying overseas, CP has moved steadily over the years from the telegraph PULLING OUT: CanWest Global Communications vice-president, David Asper, age to the satellite age to the Internet age. addresses the Global Business Forum in Banff, Alberta. Technology has been the driving force for a One of his business plans for CanWest is doing without the services of CP. more recent change at CP, but this one has nothing to do with the way the news co-operative be explained by the changing media landscape All of this explains the changes in the way our delivers its stories and photos. Rather, it's the that CP now serves. journalists do their jobs. Over the last five years, technology shift in the way people "consume" In 1996, Southam newspapers made up more CP's newsrooms have undergone something their news and information that has resulted in than 50 per cent of CP's membership and about known internally as the "integration project." unprecedented changes at the national wire 40 per cent of its revenue. Now, Canwest has only Initially, this meant bringing together the two service. 11 newspapers in the co-operative and revenue traditional arms of the service — Canadian A quiet revolution has been going on at CP from those papers represent just nine per cent of Press and Broadcast News. Now it includes over the last five years, which has meant not only CP's budget. adding online video to CP's newsgathering. a transformation in the way our reporters do Beyond the Canwest issue, there has been a This means that in some cases,a CP journalist their jobs but a major ground shift in the co- gradual shift in the way CP generates the finances is writing a story for online sites and operative's finances and customer base. necessary to provide comprehensive editorial newspapers, filing audio for radio stations and There has been a lot of talk within the coverage of such a large and diverse country. Ten shooting online video. Being a multimedia journalism community about CP's future ever years ago, CP relied on newspapers for two-thirds journalist is a demanding task and CP's since Canwest announced last year its intention of its revenue. Today, newspaper revenue reporters and editors deserve tremendous credit to withdraw from the co-operative after June 30. represents just one-third of CP's budget. for their willingness to take on new When Southam Inc., Canwest's corporate More and more of CP's financial success is tied newsgathering skills to meet the changes in the predecessor, made a similar announcement a to non-newspaper sources — broadcasters, media landscape. decade ago, there were legitimate fears that CP business and government clients and, of course, That changing landscape was addressed last would die.To respond to Southam demands for a online news sites. The Canadian Press is the year in a strategic review of CP's editorial scaled-down service, CP was forced to cut its largest supplier of online news in Canada. Last service conducted by senior newspaper editors, workforce by 25 per cent and drastically drop the year, CP stories were "clicked" more than 250 broadcasters and online producers. The final membership fees it charged newspapers. million times on member newspapers' sites report by this diverse group, which included Ten years later, the Canwest decision has alone. If you add commercial sites, the number Canwest representatives, started with an caused none of the same tumult.The reasons can jumps significantly. impressive opening statement:

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 6 PHOTO CREDIT: CP PHOTO/Jeff McIntosh "The Canadian Press is in the process of Planning stories from a multimedia standpoint As CP marches towards its centennial over the transforming itself from a traditional newspaper has resulted in stronger journalism for all of our next decade, there will be more challenges ahead. service — and information wholesaler — into a various services. For example, CP recently But the strong, platform-neutral editorial work by more agile, multi-platform service with a wide produced a multimedia project called Missing our reporters,editors and photographers and CP's range of traditional and new media customers. It is Lives on the 26 women Robert Pickton is accused ability to respond quickly to the rapid industry critical that CP has the ability to respond to news of killing. Profiles of the victims were transmitted changes bodes well for the venerable and wherever it happens in Canada and provide that for CP's newspaper service. BN clients received independent wire service. news and information in the various formats audio profiles of each victim, as well as a 20- required by its members and clients. minute documentary. Scott White is CP's Editor-in-Chief. We think it's crucial that the entire organization and its stakeholders embrace the notion that CP is no longer simply a third-party provider of content; rather it is a multimedia company that could bring considerably more value to its members and clients than currently realized. There is the capacity in the organization to enhance members' revenue, reduce You can help their costs and improve their products if some of the old strictures and ways of thinking are re- evaluated." Honour The transformation in our newsrooms hasn't come without challenges. But it has also been rewarding. Integrating our newsgathering has His memory allowed us to shift resources from news to add reporters in business, health, entertainment and sports. The change has also helped promote a culture of discussion within our newsrooms where journalists and supervisors speak more freely than ever. The Don McGillivray Prize for Beyond the Canwest Explanatory Journalism issue, there has been a gradual shift in the Is being established at Concordia University, way CP generates the where he taught for many years. finances necessary to He was one of the most clear-headed journalists of his generation. provide comprehensive He was a magnificent teacher. He was a pillar of the CAJ for many years. editorial coverage of such a large and Help us to encourage the kind of journalism he did so well.

diverse country. Cheques should be payable to Concordia University; donations and any Ten years ago, CP questions should be sent to: Linda Bell relied on newspapers Development Officer, Faculty of Arts and Science for two-thirds of its 7141 Sherbrooke St.West Room AD-322 revenue. Today, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1R6 newspaper revenue represents just one-third See what he meant to journalism and to the CAJ; visit... http://caj.ca/history/don-mcgillivray-tributes and of CP's budget. http://www.caj.ca/mediamag/awards2004/cajAwards/theAwards/McGillAward

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 7 UPDATE The controversy that won’t go away On Nov. 18, 2004, Edmonton Sun columnist Kerry Diotte got a tip. Police were attempting to catch him driving home from a Canadian Association of Journalists-sponsored event to see how much he had been drinking. The sting operation led to public outrage, a lawsuit and the firing of the Edmonton Police Service's chief of police. Now, Diotte's former colleague, Mike Jenkinson, updates us on the scandal that still has people talking

he smouldering ashes of the Overtime when he is complaining about Diotte's supposed The sad episode showed the degree to which scandal burst into flames in Edmonton bias against the cops.Vendetta? Really, now.) the Overtime scandal has harmed Diotte's Tagain this past February, despite the fact Funny thing, though — a day after the police reputation as a journalist in Alberta's capital.And there was absolutely nothing in the news about service declared it couldn't talk about the story, that's because Overtime has gone from a scandal the elaborate, failed drunk-driving sting the deputy police chief held a news conference — so serious that it cost the police chief his job, to a conducted by the Edmonton Police Service on when he wasn't slagging the Edmonton Sun for complete non-event in which the cops have Nov. 18, 2004, at the Overtime Broiler and convinced the public their actions were entirely Taproom, that tried to nail Edmonton Sun justified. columnist Kerry Diotte. (See Media, Winter 2005, They've managed to do that by ensuring none Vol. 11. No.1) of their members involved in the drunk driving In early February, Diotte got tipped off that sting were punished. aboriginal sex-trade workers were recruited to get Last June, the final police officer who faced high on drugs so they could be studied by cops in disciplinary action related to the Overtime fiasco, a training exercise. Const. Jim Smyth, was given the lightest possible Diotte ran the allegations by the officer in sanction — a written reprimand. Not for the charge of corporate communications for the botched and embarrassing sting operation, police service. The response was that the police though. No, he received a written reprimand for could say very little about it, lest the EPS using bad language on the police radio during the jeopardize the internal investigation. operation! The column was so good that the Edmonton By that point, however, the pattern had been Sun decided to make it the paper's line story.And well established.Staff Sgt.Bill Newton had already the reaction was stunning,but for all of the wrong received a written reprimand for running Diotte's reasons.A number of local radio talk show hosts, name through a police database. aided and abetted by a bevy of police officers, Insp. Bryan Boulanger was completely cleared rushed to the airwaves to declare not just that the of discreditable conduct charges. Boulanger had story was wrong, but that Diotte was so anti- issued a news release after the failed sting, saying police that he made it all up! that the police officers at the Overtime bar had Some of the public reaction was the same. The THE PROBLEM THAT WON'T GO AWAY: been targeting "intoxicated" individuals. Neither Edmonton Sun received numerous letters to the The sad episode showed the degree to which Diotte,nor Martin Ignatiuk,the then-head ofthe editor and phone calls from readers who were the Overtime scandal has harmed Diotte's police commission who also got caught up in the convinced that the story was entirely invented by reputation as a journalist in Alberta's capital. cop dragnet that night,were drunk.But that didn't a columnist who carried a vendetta against the stop the police from concluding that two high- police. Wrote one reader in a response typical of profile members of the community were drunk the negative reaction: "It's obvious to me that all misrepresenting the story — to confirm and were going to drive home. (Both took cabs of your police bashing stories are simply due to everything that had already been reported. He home after being tipped off by other media the fact that your panties are still in a bunch over even added more details to the story. members assembled at the bar for a Canadian the Diotte/Overtime thing, and you are only out In other words, Diotte had an entirely Association of Journalists mixer for journalists for petty revenge." legitimate story that was in the public interest.But and candidates running in the provincial (One of the letters came, unsurprisingly to Sun instead of the public questioning the ethics of the election.) editors, from a police officer who took part in the police in recruiting hookers and drug addicts as This was a serious scandal which made Overtime sting and is a fairly regular guinea pigs, the story became about Kerry Diotte headlines in Edmonton and across Canada. It correspondent to the Edmonton Sun, but only and his anti-police bias. eventually resulted in the police commission

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 8 firing police chief Fred Rayner and large amounts hinted that there might be some developments on of public outrage over the incredible abuse of settling Diotte's lawsuit, saying that there would police powers in targeting two high-profile critics be something happening "soon." So far, there has of the police service for political purposes. been no movement on that front. Despite that (or more likely, because of that), Former Edmonton Sun editor-in-chief Paul Overtime has gone the internal disciplinary hearings determined Stanway, in a column for the newspaper last year that the Overtime affair was entirely on the up- on the Law Enforcement Review Board's hearings from a scandal so and-up. It was hardly surprising, then, that the into the Overtime affair (which continue this cops involved came out of their hearings denying spring), wrote that he'd known Diotte for a long serious that it cost the they had done anything wrong. time, and characterized him as a serious Smith declared that the Overtime operation journalist with a thick skin. "But the public had "no improper purpose and no evil intent" hammering his reputation has taken over the past police chief his job, to a even though it was set up on the strength of a tip two years has exacted its toll." that Diotte was a habitual drunk driver.(It's ironic Just how much of a toll was shown in February, complete non-event in that for all the times the EPS illegally accessed when his well-sourced and corroborated column Diotte's file in the police computer, the cops never on the police drug training program was which the cops have noticed that he had never been picked up for dismissed out of hand as being just the invented drunk driving. And Diotte's colleagues at the Sun rantings of a columnist with an ax to grind. all know that he regularly takes cabs from bars The police got away with an incredible abuse of convinced the public when he has been drinking.) power in the Overtime affair. None of the officers Boulanger and Newton similarly defended involved were held accountable. And the their actions were their actions, saying they had done nothing reputation of one of Edmonton's finest journalists wrong. Diotte has sued the police for defamation has been shredded. of character,and has gone on record as saying he entirely justified. would settle out of court for a formal apology. At an editorial board meeting with the Mike Jenkinson is the former Comment editor of Edmonton Sun last October, Chief Mike Boyd the Edmonton Sun.

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MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 9 INSIDE OTTAWA BY RICHARD BRENNAN Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn’t like journalists on the Hill How else would you explain the treatment they receive?

HARPER SIGHTING: It has been a rare sight these days when Stephen Harper talks to reporters after question period. The Prime Minister has taken to sneaking out the back door instead of going up the steps to his office at the west end of Centre Block.

t had been a good morning for Prime Two RCMP officers had other plans. that he is Prime Minister he has a chance to get Minister Stephen Harper. They put their shoulders to the door of the even. I gymnasium and refused to let the media out. It It didn't take him and his close advisers long It was national flag day and the students at was a game of push and pull that went on for to come up with the so called "list" where the Ottawa's Lester B. Pearson Catholic high school several minutes. By now Harper was long gone. PMO decides who gets to ask Harper questions. had been a splendid crowd, waving their tiny This is what passes for press relations in the It was put to the various bureau chiefs that the Canadian flags with enthusiasm, while paying nation's capital.For whatever reason Harper has a new government was going to "control you rapt attention to Harper's speech, which of course pathological hatred of the Parliamentary Press guys." addressed Canada's role in Afghanistan. Gallery, and of course the staff in the Prime As you might imagine, it didn't sit well with When it was over the Prime Minister paid his Minister's Office (PMO) take their lead from him, some of the media companies, the Canadian respects to the teachers in the hallway and was which results in poor or non-existent relations Press, The Globe and Mail, CBC television and The whisked away by security and his zealous handlers. with the Gallery members. Toronto Star, who agreed with their respective With noon quickly approaching, the television While there may be many reasons, real or Ottawa bureau chiefs that they should rightly crews, radio and newspaper reporters and imagined, the consensus is that Harper doesn't boycott the list and have done so for a year or so. photographers were keen to file their video, think he was treated with the proper amount of There may be signs of a thaw in relations but it's photos and stories. respect when he was opposition leader and now far too early to tell.

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 10 PHOTO CREDIT: CP PHOTO/Tom Hansen Anyway, some reporters covering the Hill have also learned that if they do stories the government doesn't like or go ahead and write stories the PMO This is what passes for has tried to block there is price to pay. At least one Gallery member continues to be press relations in the persona non grata for having the temerity to write nation's capital. For a story about a legislative assistant in the PMO who was disbarred — albeit many years ago — whatever reason Harper for bilking clients and was subsequently jailed. has a pathological The clear message: don't mess with the Harper gang. hatred of the The fact is the penalty is not that severe since Parliamentary Press Harper, whose style is more presidential than prime ministerial, rarely makes himself available Gallery, and of course to the media, particularly the great unwashed in the staff in the Prime the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Harper's disdain for the media was driven Ministers' Office (PMO) home during his three-day trip to France in April take their lead from to mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. him, which results in During his three-day trip, not once did he meet poor or non-existent with the Canadian media contingent that was travelling with him. Parliamentary media relations with the Gallery veterans had a hard time recalling the last time a members. The consensus Prime Minister travelled abroad on a foreign trip in such a bubble. is that Harper doesn't Instead, the trip was a carefully staged series of think he was treated with photo-ops: Harper attending Easter Sunday church Sunday with wife Laureen and his two the proper amount of children; touring a World War I cemetery hand in respect when he was hand with his daughter; sharing a stage with the Queen at the commemoration service. opposition leader and But it all played like a silent movie — visuals now that he is Prime but few sound bites, at least none outside of his carefully scripted speeches. Minister he has a There was lots to chat about — the prospect of chance to get even. a spring election, Canada's latest casualties in Afghanistan, even a dad's pride in having his two children join him on a pilgrimage to a place where Canadian history was made. the back door after question period instead of At the G8, prime ministers going back to Brian going up the steps to his office at the west end of Mulroney's days always had a lengthy press Centre Block. conference at the end of the summit. Under On top of all this the PMO announces at the former prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul very last minute Harper's schedule, hoping Martin, there were some years featuring daily Gallery members will decide not to follow him pressers by the Canadian PM, not to mention when he goes out of town. It's all part of the cat- extensive daily briefings by somebody senior. and-mouse game. In St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir And not since being sworn in as Prime Putin held press conferences every night, while Minister has Harper held a press conference in the Harper had only one real press conference at the National Press Theatre. end. At it, his aide went around and asked who No question,the Prime Minister can do what he wanted to be on the list of questioners,saying that likes. If he doesn't want to talk to reporters there Harper was going to take a lot of questions, so isn't a heck of a lot anyone can do about it. everyone who got on the list should get a question. But governments come and governments go Harper came out, took maybe five questions and like Prime Ministers before him he will be and walked away. None of the Russian reporters relegated to the history books complete with an got a question and were rightly ticked. asterisk: did not like reporters. And just recently because the Conservative Oh well. government has been getting a rough ride over the possible mistreatment of detainees in Richard Brennan, a Toronto Star reporter, is Afghanistan, cabinet ministers are refusing to president of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. He come to the microphones in the foyer following was also president of the Queen's Park Press Gallery question period.Harper has taken to sneaking out for eight years.

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 11 Student Journalist Hong Kong Fellowship Exploring Hong Kong – Asia’s world city

Application Deadline: Deadline: July May 31, 31, 2007 2007

Hong Kong, Asia’s world city, is a Special Administrative backgrounds. The winning student journalists must publish Region of the People’s Republic of China, run by Hong Kong or broadcast at least three stories about Hong Kong within people under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle. six months upon completion of the trip in the local media or Situated at the southeastern tip of China, Hong Kong is in their university/school journals or newsletters, but they will one of the most open, externally oriented economies in the have complete editorial freedom. world. It is also considered the best springboard to trade and The award is open to any journalism student who is currently investment in the growing China market. in a recognized university or college level journalism program. Hong Kong has been rated the world’s freest economy by the Applicants must be a paid-in-full member in good standing Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute and Fraser Institute. of the CAJ. Non-members may take out membership upon making an application. For application procedures, please visit What makes Hong Kong tick as a great world city and a world the CAJ website at www.caj.ca class financial and business centre are: its unrivalled location; its free and liberal investment regime; its low and simple tax Selection of the successful candidates will be made and regime; its transparent common law legal system and rule of announced in mid-June. The visit program must be completed law; its world class infrastructure; its free flow of information; before the end of March 2008. its entrepreneurial spirit; and a truly international lifestyle. Application must reach: Student journalists, who are interested in knowing more The Canadian Association of Journalists about Hong Kong and seeing Hong Kong to gain first-hand Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology insight, are invited to apply for the “Student Journalist 1385 Woodroffe Avenue, B-224 Hong Kong Fellowship”, organized by the Hong Kong Ottawa, ON, K2G 1V8 Economic and Trade Office (Canada) in association with the By Thursday,Tuesday, July May 31, 31, 2007 2007 Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ). For enquiries, please contact Mr Stephen Siu, Assistant Two winning student journalists will be awarded a package Director (Public Relations) of the Hong Kong Economic & each, including a 5-day official visit with an economy class air Trade Office at (416) 924-7374 or email: stephen_siu@ ticket and hotel accommodation. When in Hong Kong, the hketotoronto.gov.hk or John Dickins, Executive Director, winners will have the opportunity to visit various points of CAJ at (613) 526-8061 or email: [email protected] interest, and meet with people of diverse views and cultural Dateline Hong Kong Fellowship 2007 A Working Fellowship for Canadian Journalists

ApplicationApplication Deadline: July May 31, 31, 2007 2007

Hong Kong, Asia’s world city, is a Special Administrative Each application must include a resume, a written Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China, run by statement of support, including a letter of intent from Hong Kong people under the “One Country, Two Systems” the editor/producer of designed media outlets to publish/ principal. Hong Kong is one of the most open, externally broadcast at least three Hong Kong stories within six oriented economies in the world, built on free enterprise months upon completion of the trip in the respective and free trade. newspaper, magazine, or electronic media as they deemed appropriate. With China’s unprecedented economic growth, Hong Kong has been used as the gateway to the robust China’s The proposal can concentrate on any area of life in Mainland market. It has also served as the springboard for Hong Kong, including but not limited to business, trade, the Mainland companies to go overseas. Hong Kong has politics, infrastructure development, IT, tourism, housing, been rated the world’s freest economy by the Heritage education, culture and environment, etc. Foundation, the Cato Institute, and Fraser Institute. Selection of the successful candidates will be made Working journalists are invited to experience Hong Kong at and announced in mid-June. The visit program must first-hand and write or report on various aspects of be completed before the end of March 2008. this great city by applying for the “Dateline Hong Kong Fellowship 2007” organized by the Hong Kong Economic Application must reach: & Trade Office in Canada in association with the Canadian The Canadian Association of Journalists Association of Journalists (CAJ). Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology 1385 Woodroffe Avenue, B-224 Winning journalist(s) will be awarded a package with a Ottawa, ON, K2G 1V8 5-day official visit program with business class air travel and hotel accommodation. When in Hong Kong, the By Thursday,Tuesday, July May 31, 31, 2007 2007 journalist(s) will have the opportunity to visit various For enquiries, please contact Mr Stephen Siu, Assistant points of interest and meet with people of diverse views Director (Public Relations) of the Hong Kong Economic & and cultural backgrounds. Trade Office at (416) 924-7374 or email: stephen_siu@ Neither the Hong Kong SAR nor the CAJ will have any hketotoronto.gov.hk or John Dickins, Executive Director, control over or rights to the work of the participating CAJ at (613) 526-8061 or email: [email protected] journalist(s) and they will enjoy full editorial freedom. FEATURE BY HÉLÈNE BUZZETTI Mamma non grata at The National? Network television doesn’t seem to welcome young mothers

he scene took place last fall. A new CBC recruit was requesting a Parliamentary Press TGallery accreditation to cover federal politics in Ottawa. At the sight of the picture of the young, pretty and female reporter, someone asked spontaneously: "Does she know she won't be allowed to have kids?" You think such a mean- spirited comment would only come from an old boy's club member who refuses to adapt? Think again. It was the sarcastic and disillusioned expression of another young female national reporter who, like more and more these days, is starting to wonder if it is possible to be a mother and work for the CBC's The National. Indeed,over the past years,a significant number of female Parliamentary correspondents have left the CBC's flagship show soon after becoming mothers. In 2006, it was Jennifer Ditchburn and MAKING THE CHOICE: Jennifer Ditchburn returned to The Canadian Press after leaving the CBC. Christina Lewand who quit a few months after The long hours made it too difficult to spend quality time with her daughter, Gabriela. She doesn't want returning from maternity leave. In both cases, it to blame the CBC... nor to abandon the fight! "…maybe the time has come in our society," she says, "to re-think work-life balance issues and see how to accommodate parents with young children because was their first child. Ironically, they began working having different kinds of people in a workplace makes it a richer environment." at The National in 2001, replacing Susan Harada and Susan Bonner, on leave after having children. The situation doesn't seem to be limited to schedule. About every person interviewed for this is now a 24-hour operation and The National goes Ottawa. In Winnipeg, Jo Lynn Sheane has story,in Ottawa and throughout the country,would on air at 9." Hoff recalls his own personal reluctantly agreed to switch her beat to consumer only talk anonymously. They left because of the experience as a Washington correspondent for six issues — six months after she returned from crazy hours they were asked to put in to be part of years and a father. "My family didn't see me from maternity leave. At least one male CBC reporter has The National's team. Monday to Friday. That's the business we're in. If recently declined a National job because he shared All stories for The National must not only be one wants to work and appear on The National, custody of his kids. It seems only Natalie Clancy in vetted in Toronto,but also viewed by a desk person. those are the hours. The National is our most Vancouver and Loanna Roumeliotis in Toronto The problem, though, is that there is usually important program. An employee can make a have succeeded in staying in their National job nobody free during the crucial filing hours to choice." after becoming mothers, obtaining a four-day actually watch the items. Therefore, reporters must But the French side of the CBC is living proof week. While the "four" in four-day week seems to very often wait for their story to be aired at 9 on that things can be done differently. Generally, be only a vague suggestion at best, (Ms Clancy Newsworld. Changes are sometimes requested for political correspondents at Société Radio-Canada claims to have worked a fifth day for 20 weeks in the 10 o'clock edition. fare better. The vetting of their story takes place 2005. Ms Roumeliotis will only say that she needs The reporters I spoke to talked about the somewhere between 6 and 7:30. The "live" to be "flexible"),they both are extremely grateful to "nightmare" of waiting in studios, doing absolutely conversations with host Bernard Derome (Peter the CBC for getting it. nothing, to be "good-nighted" by host Peter Mansbridge's French-language counterpart) are It is a matter of public record that Susan Bonner Mansbridge. Mom (or Dad for that matter) comes usually pre-taped and reporters are not requested and Susan Harada had asked in 2001 to share the back home at around 10, well past bedtime. With to stay until the entire editing is completed.All this working week. There was no openness, as the an average of three stories a week, it's easy to makes it possible for them to leave almost two management claimed it was necessary to ensure understand why maintaining such a pace and hours earlier than their English-language continuity in the coverage. Harada left journalism spending more time at home is nearly impossible. counterparts. "There is no obligation to stay if the altogether in 2001; Susan Bonner stayed at the "If you file early, you should be allowed to leave job is completed," confirms Ottawa bureau chief CBC, accepting a job of less importance, but early," says Jo Lynn Sheane, who admits being a bit Patrice Roy who himself is a father of young twins. nonetheless tailored for her. Christina Lewand also bitter. The consumer beat, after all, "was not At TVA, the biggest private network whose left journalism. She had asked for a four-day week. everything I dreamed of, no question about that." newscast draws up to 900,000 spectators (by far, But there was one catch.She had to work the week- The CBC refuses to be labeled as an "anti- the largest television audience in francophone end shift. family" organization. "The CBC and myself try to Québec), reporters are usually home by 7. But exactly why are so many female reporters be as flexible as we can," says George Hoff, All reporters interviewed think it would be easy running away from The National after becoming managing editor of the Parliamentary bureaus for to improve the situation, by hiring someone in mothers? The answer is contained in one word: radio and television. "But there's a reality.TV news Toronto to watch the items as they come in at the

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 14 end of the day.George Hoff disagrees, arguing that fought against a system which refuses to adapt. such a reorganization is neither feasible, nor Others were disappointed by the lack of solidarity desirable. among female reporters. "It's like teenage sex. No But exactly why are so "There will always be more stories than desk matter how often you're told you could get editors.Someone,somewhere will have to wait.I've pregnant, you don't believe it until it happens to many female reporters heard of this problem before. Well, it's not a you!" Most of them thanked me for writing about problem.That's the way we work.The best TV news such a sensitive issue everybody is whispering running away from The is at 10 o'clock, on CBC. We don't want to make about. mistakes, we don't want to rush. Our reputation is Bitterness is tangible among the "Ex's" of The National after becoming at stake." National."I find it sad and ironic that the CBC does mothers? The answer is And four-day weeks? Hoff admits he is no fan, so many stories about daycare systems, working for continuity issues. He thinks Clancy and women and a vast array of social issues on a daily contained in one word: Roumeliotis got theirs because they are in basis when it has its own internal barriers for situations slightly different from that of being in women and parents of young children that it has schedule. Ottawa. "For a manager, it's not ideal." failed to address," said one person. "Things won't change," predicted one person I Says another: "We are image makers. And the Every case is different spoke to. "At the CBC, they consider working for image we send is the wise senior veteran and every reporter The National is a privilege. Thousands of people correspondent who reads the news with the young, would like your job. So why change anything?" enthusiastic, energetic, talented, beautiful women. interviewed for this story Another one adds: "It's geared for people who are And what happens to those women when they age? willing to say 'I will not have a life'." They go away!" provided a slightly different Jennifer Ditchburn, who returned to Canadian Press after leaving the CBC,doesn't want to blame Editor's note: Hélène originally wrote this piece explanation for their the CBC... nor to abandon the fight! "If you accept for trente, the French-language magazine for a job on national TV,it's like becoming a lawyer or Quebec-based journalists. She kindly agreed to resignation. Still, a lot feel a a deputy minister. You know there will be long translate the article for Media magazine. bit guilty: they wish they hours, both for men and women, mothers and fathers. So that makes it difficult for me to had stayed and fought criticize the CBC because I knew when I accepted Hélène Buzzetti is a political correspondent for the job how it would be . But in all those cases, the Montreal newspaper Le Devoir. against a system which including lawyers and deputy ministers, maybe She has been a member of the Parliamentary the time has come in our society to re-think work- press gallery for 7 1/2 years, and served as its refuses to adapt. life balance issues and see how to accommodate president in 2003-2004.Hélène also has a three-year parents with young children because having old daughter. different kinds of people in a workplace makes it a richer environment." Julie Van Dusen agrees. This energetic Parliamentary reporter had a shot at the National in 1995, while her three kids were all under the age of six.She survived 18 months."When you accept a job, you have to accept what comes with it." At the same time, though, she recognizes it was frustrating to stay at work until 9 to do the same job she now completes for the 6 o'clock show. But other people interviewed for this story say it is characteristic of systemic "discrimination." By telling you from the start of its existence,the bosses are in a way shielding themselves from future criticisms. To be fair, the CBC is not the only network to impose such exhausting schedules. At CTV, too, reporters stay usually until 9:30. Some female reporters still make it. Rosemary Thompson is one of them."CTV has always been good to me,offering me promotions when I got pregnant." She says she even got the four-day week. But still, she admits this was also made possible thanks to an understanding husband and a fantastic mother-in- law. Every case is different and every reporter interviewed for this story provided a slightly different explanation for their resignation. Still, a lot feel a bit guilty: they wish they had stayed and

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 15 FEATURE BY CATHERINE FORD Women in the media can’t have it all The choice still comes down to raising children or making the early evening deadline

Plus ça change . . . the more things stay the Young women reporters, a number of whom women who worked were young and single,spinster same. dismiss the title "feminist" with what approaches schoolteachers, nuns or war widows. Married contempt, must be the children or grandchildren of women and mothers — usually the same people — oo bad. Most women would have believed first- or second-wave feminists. Should they thus stayed home, whether they were emotionally or that after almost 40 years of feminism, child believe every job should be theirs for the asking, psychologically equipped to do so. Tcare would still not be regarded as primarily a without any consequences? Reality tells another As the years went by, it got easier to do both, but female employee's responsibility. But wishing won't story. Feminism brought equality of opportunity, there are still jobs where the stark choice is one or make it so and young women are discovering they but being female means there is no equality of child the other. Today,it is the rare and privileged woman still can't have it all, at least not without something bearing. To do both — have children and aspire to who doesn't have to at least attempt to do both. The or somebody suffering. one of the top media jobs in television — is still dual income family is the statistical norm. The ideal, that women should not have to choose almost impossible. And I say "almost" in If every Canadian woman who works stayed at between children and career, remains as elusive recognition that there have always been so called home to protest the lack of social support for their today as it has been since women were first recruited superwomen who can, and do, have it all. Mostly, double-duty lives, the economy would shut down. in 1875 to work as secretaries on the eight-year-old those rare women merely pissed off the rest of us But that's merely a fantasy, borne out of the invention, the typewriter. who just couldn't do both. realization that while feminism brought us choice,it What Hélène Buzzetti reports (on page 14) about What being female in the mass media (still also delivered an obligation to do it all.And while we young working mothers at the CBC in general and at among the most conservative businesses around) were busy teaching the younger generation that little The National in particular, should not surprise means for most of us is choice, albeit still limited. girls didn't have to marry doctors, they could be anyone. The CBC isn't much different than other Many of us who started in the business in the doctors themselves, we somehow "forgot" to adjust media outlets when it comes to demands on its middle 1960s knew the choice was stark: career or the social infrastructure to allow for the stark fact journalists that the story should come first. children.In the world in which I was raised,the only that it is still the women who bear the children and

NOT HAVING IT ALL: Feminism brought equality of opportunity, but being female means there is no equality of child bearing.

MEDIA, FALL 2004 PAGE 16 PHOTO CREDIT: CBC.ca A few years later,a more enlightened publisher and human resources manager turned the unused auditorium into a day-care centre. I have To do both — have "While feminism never had to use it, but that was my personal choice. Along with that choice not to raise children and aspire brought us choice, children was also the recognition that my colleagues had a right to both work and child to one of the top media it also delivered an care. But such rights are not absolute. In 1998, Giselle Culver wrote in the Ryerson jobs in television — is obligation to do it all." Review of Journalism that newsrooms are full of women who "face a difficult juggling act as they still almost impossible. try to balance the competing demands of career and family, ambition and the desire to be there for their children.As they find ways to cope, they still the women who have the prime responsibility are part of a slow evolution in the pattern of Some things won't change: a reporter in the for their care. work — an evolution that recognizes the field, whether for television or newspapers, can't (Prime Minister Stephen Harper's $100 a realities of modern family life." One of the expect the story to conform to his or her family month is little better than an insult for anyone journalists Culver interviewed said — maybe schedule. who needs outside child care. Maybe it keeps with a certain wistfulness — that to be a great The media can make more changes than they stay-at-home mothers quiet, because they don't mother meant making some other career choice. have — certainly they can adjust to the reality of seem to be laughing the federal Conservative Almost 10 years later, women are still making modern life — but the big story always runs on government out of its daydream that $1,200 a year those hard career choices. The Why is simple: its own timeline. provides for child care. Those women who are at News doesn't conform to a family's dinner hour home, who can already afford to be home, would and to expect to be able to get home in time to still be there regardless of the government's tuck the kids into bed is unrealistic. This doesn't Catherine Ford is a retired Calgary Herald stipend. Please see Dianne Rinehart's story on mean the mass media is no place for mothers, national columnist and the author of Against The page 18) but that young women cannot expect to have it Grain: An Irreverent View of Alberta. She is a If the men who run Canada's corporations were all, automatically, because this is 2007. member of the editorial board for Media. to be faced with the choice of being CEO or being Dad, their own companies would rapidly become more family friendly. It's no surprise only about five percent of the top money makers at Fortune 500 companies are women. Some media companies have tried, but few have succeeded.(One woman colleague said to me years ago that the only obvious benefit of trying to make the company more family friendly was that the men were now praised for leaving meetings to go to hockey or soccer practice.) The Calgary Herald and the Edmonton Journal remain the only two Canadian newspapers — at least the only two I could find — with on-site day-care centres. One would have thought the success of both would have convinced other private businesses to follow suit. Alas, such staff benefits — expensive to run and expensive to use — are still rare. When plans for the Calgary Herald's new plant (it opened in 1981) were being unveiled to the staff for suggestions, the building contained a spacious auditorium, to be available for the public to use. Staff members asked about a running track and a patio outside the cafeteria. I stood up and asked where the day-care centre was. The editor at the time chuckled and asked: "Why, Catherine, are you planning on needing one?" Great yuks and guffaws ran through the audience. I sat down and the Herald built its three-storey plant on one of the foothills outside of Calgary's downtown. After the move, it became obvious that few people in downtown Calgary wanted to meet in what was then an industrial park at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Highway 2.

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 17 OPINION BY DIANNE RINEHART Pass the beer and popcorn Why did reporters fail to tell Canadians the real story about the Conservatives’ childcare policy?

s it possible that a 30-second sound bite about media coverage during the campaign. It became You be the judge.As of mid-April: beer and popcorn gave the federal "a look at a 30-second clip rather than a real IConservative Party a free ride from media discussion of substantive issues," such as the fact ✘ There was still no plan in place for the analysis on their Universal Child Care Benefit there actually was nothing to guarantee, as Reid 125,000 new child-care spaces the Tories policy in the last election? pointed out, that the money go to childcare. pledged under a business tax incentive plan. More than a year later, it's time to reassess the Others involved in the childcare debate describe There was no sense from business leaders, scrutiny journalists on Parliament Hill gave to the media coverage of the Tory plan as "shallow," said Canadian Federation of Independent $2.5 billion program that delivers $100 monthly lacking in both critical analysis and basic Business president Catherine Swift,that they cheques to families for each child under six. information. felt they were responsible for child care During the election campaign Paul Martin aide So what went wrong? Did journalists allow spaces. Scott Reid infamously said: "Don't give people 25 Prime Minister Stephen Harper to "frame" the bucks a week to blow on beer and popcorn. Give policy as one of choice, and fail to remind readers ✘ In fact, there still was no government them child-care spaces that work." of the facts? Or did columnists buy the Harper response to recommendations put forth last "Everyone went kind of berserk on that," notes spin and inadvertently help reinforce his December by the task force the Conservatives NDP MP Denise Savoie in her analysis of the message? established to study how businesses could be encouraged to create childcare spaces, something the former Conservative Ontario government under Mike Harris already knew from experience would be challenging: Not one new space was created under their earlier tax incentive plan.

✘ Meanwhile,parents who have been receiving their monthly cheques since last summer realized that they had to pay tax on the money. This was a message they apparently missed from the media coverage — despite the fact it was initially reported when the programs were announced. Or perhaps the message got lost in a deluge of information and political messages about "choice."

✘ As the Conservative government was clawing back the childcare money,it was also ending the Liberal's childcare program, four years earlier than expected.

✘ And there was this surprise: after the election, perhaps to help finance the new childcare plan, the Tories announced they were canceling another family support program, the Canada Child Tax Benefit, which critics say went to parents who needed the money the most.

✘ And the kicker? The Harper government spent $123,205 on a study that informed them that — you guessed it — Scott Reid KISSING BABIES: The Conservatives' childcare policy was sold to Canadians as being about choice. may have been right: "The general consensus But how much choice did parents of more modest means really have? was that the $1,200 will not have any real These are some of the questions journalists failed to ask. impact on child-care choices and instead will be used to help with the next bill....No one is

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 18 PHOTO CREDIT: CP PHOTO/Adrian Wyld So what went wrong? Did journalists allow Prime Minister Stephen Harper to "frame" the policy as one of choice, and fail to remind readers of the facts? Or did columnists buy the Harper spin and inadvertently help reinforce his message?

POINT PERSON: Rona Ambrose became one of the daycare plan's main salespeople during the election. The infamous "beer and popcorn" quote allowed her to go on the attack rather than field legitimate questions about the viability of Harper's plan.

going to be in a position to go back to work childcare or even children.The only link is that it the fact the Tories targeted "every-day parents." or stay at home to raise children because of goes to families." Finally, she argues, the Liberal plan didn't get the the $1,200." Don Giesbrecht, president of the Canadian Child boost it needed from the provinces, who were Care Federation, doesn't know of any cases where concerned they were signing on to an expensive Maybe that's why the government announced child-care centres received calls from parents program, like health care and education, that they in its mid-March budget speech, that instead of saying the $100 cheques were enabling them to may end up holding the bag for down the road. trying to encourage businesses to build spaces, it sign their kids up for day care.What he is hearing, But those suggestions are unlikely to dissuade would provide the provinces with $250-million a is parents telling him they didn't realize, until they critics in their assessment of the media's coverage. year to create spaces — less than the $1-billion a started filling out their tax forms, that the cheques For instance, they wonder why journalists ignored year the Liberal plan would have delivered, but a would be taxed. "The media didn't play that up." figures the Caledon Institute of Social Policy welcome reprieve to provinces as the Liberal Worse, he says the media were fearful of pursuing released during the campaign. The institute's funding dried up. the story because "they're so afraid of their analysis concluded that families earning $30,000 to So why did the Tory childcare plan, that the relationship with this government that they don't $40,000 were the least likely to benefit from the Conservatives were forced to shore up one year want to offend [them]." Conservatives' campaign promise.The news wasn't later, get such an easy ride from journalists? Ottawa Citizen political reporter Norma much better for parents in a slightly higher income Childcare advocates have weighed in with their Greenaway, who covered the campaign, is bracket:A family with two children,with one under assessment. perplexed at the surprise parents were expressing six, earning $36,000 would only net $388 a year for They point out that worse than the media focus this spring that they had to pay tax on the $1,200 the child out of the $1,200. on the 30-second sound bite on beer and annual credit, and that the program, in the end, Families who most benefit from the "choice" popcorn, was an acceptance by journalists that wasn't about choice. plan, then? Those with incomes of more than the plan was really about choice. How many "Most mothers I know knew it was taxable, and $200,000 with one parent already at home.In short, people decided to stay home to take care of their though the [political] focus was on choice, to me it those who benefit the most are the families that kids, or to enroll them in daycare, because of the was so clear it wasn't going to provide choice." have the choice of having one parent at home. The $1.2-billion mailed out so far? According to the Greenaway thinks part of the problem was the Caledon study shows they'll get to keep $1,076 of Conservatives' own $123,205 study, likely no one. two opposing childcare plans were both the $1,200 annual amount and spend it anyway "If you're spending a lot of money on a program complicated, that the election wasn't about they choose. you kind of want to know whether it actually does childcare — it was "an election that revolved mostly provide what is promised," says Martha Friendly, around scandal and charges of Liberal corruption." Dianne Rinehart is a freelance columnist, writer coordinator of the Childcare Resource and She says the Liberals didn't do a good job of and editor, who covered the 1993 campaign as a Research Unit.In fact,"there's nothing to link it to presenting their policy,and some voters appreciated reporter with CP's Ottawa bureau.

PHOTO CREDIT: CP PHOTO/Fred Chartrand MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 19 LEGAL AFFAIRS BY DAVID CRERAR AND MICHAEL SKENE Public interest in the pursuit of defamation Canadians may be able to look to British courts for additional protection

nevitably, in the pressure of a newsroom, INDICIA OF RESPONSIBLE (6) The urgency of the matter. News is often a otherwise responsible journalists can get their JOURNALISM perishable commodity. Ifacts wrong from time-to-time. Journalists endeavouring to investigate and publish The earlier case of Reynolds set out 10 points (7) Whether comment was sought from the information in the public interest can now find for the court to consider in assessing whether the plaintiff, although this may be unnecessary, some relief that their responsible-yet-erroneous defendant exercised journalistic responsibility impractical or obviously futile. reports will not result in a costly court judgment. such that public interest defence should apply: The Jameel v. Wall Street Journal Europe SPRL (8) Whether the article contained the gist of the [2006] UKHL 44 decision from the House of (1) The seriousness of the allegation; the more plaintiff's side of the story. Lords offers a positive and important protection serious the charge, the more the public is to media defendants in defamation actions: misinformed and the individual harmed if (9) The tone of the article; a newspaper can http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200 the allegation is not true. raise queries or call for an investigation 506/ldjudgmt/jd061011/jamee.pdf without adopting allegations as statements In Jameel, Britain's highest court clarified and of fact. confirmed that its earlier decision in Reynolds v. Times Newspapers Ltd., [2001] 2 A.C. 127 Although the decisions (10) The circumstances of the publication, provided a significant new "public interest including the timing. defence" available to persons (including of the House of Lords reporters, newspapers, broadcasters, and Jameel emphasizes that this list is non- presumably Internet broadcasters) that have are not binding upon exhaustive; the weight and applicability of these published articles on matters of public interest considerations will depend on the facts of the that turn out to contain incorrect and harmful Canadian courts, individual case; these considerations are to be statements. applied in a "flexible and practical manner." Canadian courts place Importantly,the 10 factors are not to be applied THREE-STEP ANALYSIS FOR as 10 "hurdles" such that if a media defendant RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM considerable weight on fails to establish one, the defence will be denied. Although Reynolds was greeted with celebration The Reynolds/Jameel defence essentially them. Reynolds has when it was released in 1999, trial courts had assesses whether the actions of the media since applied that case in a restrictive manner, defendant exhibited "responsible journalism". In already been endorsed such that the "public interest defence" rarely carrying out this assessment, the court will ask succeeded. In essence, if the plaintiff was able to three questions: and applied in a number show that the journalist failed in or fell short in any of the 10 factors, the defence would be lost. 1. Was the subject matter of the article a matter of of Canadian cases. The court in Jameel was very critical of this public interest?: In answering this question, restrictive approach. the court must consider the article as a whole, Equally importantly, the House of Lords and not isolate the defamatory statement. confirmed that these principles will apply not (2) The nature of the information, and the only to newspapers but to all reportage on matters 2. Was the inclusion of the defamatory statement extent to which the subject matter is of of public interest, presumably including in the article justifiable?: Did the statement public concern. television, radio and the Internet: as stated by that turns out to be untrue contribute to the Lord Hoffman, "the defence is of course available article, or was it unnecessary or gratuitous? (3) The source of the information: reliance on to anyone who publishes material of public hostile, biased, interested or ignorant interest in any medium." 3. Was the defendant journalistically responsible?: sources can misinform the public. Were the steps taken by the media defendant RESPECT FOR PRESSURES AND to gather and publish the information (4) The steps taken to verify the information. PROFESSIONAL DECISIONS OF responsible and fair? The media defendant EDITORS AND JOURNALISTS must show that it met the expected standard (5) The status of the information: the allegation of "care that a responsible publisher would may have already been the subject of an The House of Lords endorsed and showed an take to verify the information published." investigation which commands respect. understanding of the professional decisions that

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 20 responsible journalists and editors must make media defendant that reports on a matter of under pressure. Lord Hoffman noted that public interest, in good faith, and behaves in a "allowance must be made for editorial judgment," journalistically responsible manner. The court and that "the fact that the judge, with the will likely take pains not to second-guess or advantage of leisure and hindsight, might have rigidly or artificially impose a test of perfect made a different editorial decision should not hindsight on editorial decisions. In this, Jameel Sources_AD destroy the defence." Lord Bingham similarly offers a vital reassurance to journalists,publishers held that "weight should ordinarily be given to the and editors grappling with the pressures and professional judgment of an editor or journalist in duties of delivering vital information to the public the absence of some indication that it was made day after day. in a casual, cavalier, slipshod or careless manner." David Crerar is a partner in the Vancouver office POST-9/11 STORY OF of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, and serves as an OBVIOUS PUBLIC INTEREST adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law. He is a graduate of the Applying these principles to the facts of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. In addition to case, the House of Lords allowed the appeal. The media and defamation law, Mr. Crerar practises Lords confirmed that the Reynolds defence should and has published in the areas of banking protect the defendant Wall Street Journal from a litigation, injunctions, class proceedings, and defamation action brought by the Abdul Latif protection of trade secrets. Jameel group and related companies. The article Michael Skene is a partner in the Vancouver in question,published five months after the office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. He holds law September 11, 2001 attacks, alleged that the degrees from the University of Cambridge and the Jameel plaintiffs were under investigation by the University of Toronto. Mr. Skene practises in the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority for acting as areas of construction and surety law, and conduits for financing terrorists. This turned out commercial litigation. He has extensive experience to be untrue. in all aspects of media and defamation law, The Journal had spoken to a representative of including pre-broadcast and pre-publication the Jameel companies the night before advice, obtaining access to court documents, setting publication. The representative declined to wake aside publication bans, and pursuing and up Mr. Jameel for comment, but asked that the defending libel claims. article be postponed by 24 hours. The Journal declined, and advised that the article would state that representatives for the Jameel companies TRAUMA "were unavailable for comment." The two lower AND courts had found that the Journal's refusal to delay JOURNALISM publication deprived it of the Reynolds defence. RESEARCH PROJECT The House of Lords disagreed: it did not find that this approach violated responsible journalistic Call for Participants practices, and would not have found the journalist's action to be fatal to the defence. In reaching the decision, the Lords noted the If you are a journalist or serious and unsensational tone of the article and photojournalist who is or of the high importance of the subject matter. As was exposed to trauma or stated by Lord Hoffman, "[i]t was a serious disaster events in the contribution in a measured tone to a subject of context of your work and very considerable importance." As noted by would like to contribute to Baroness Hale, "[i]f ever there was a story which a study that aims to met the test, it must be this one….if the public interest does not succeed on the known facts of understand the impact of this case, it is hard to see it ever succeeding". these experiences:

IS JAMEEL THE LAW IN CANADA? Please contact: Dr. Patrice Keats Although the decisions of the House of Lords Simon Fraser University are not binding upon Canadian courts, Canadian courts place considerable weight on them. 778-782-7604 Reynolds has already been endorsed and applied [email protected] in a number of Canadian cases. Canadian media outlets and journalists can This study is sponsored by the probably assume that a Canadian court would Social Sciences and Humanities apply the Reynolds public interest defence, as Research Council of Canada clarified in Jameel, to offer wide protections to a

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 21 THE FINE PRINT BY DEAN JOBB A new weapon in the fight against defamation suits Britain’s highest court recognizes “responsible journalism” as a defence to libel. Our courts should follow suit to protect solid journalism and the public interest

inutes before deadline in a Canadian The Law Lords revisited the issue last fall in a sued and a jury awarded damages of £40,000 — newsroom, a reporter and her editors ruling that offers further protection for the media. about $90,000 Cdn. The House of Lords, however, Mhuddle around a computer. On the In Jameel v. Wall Street Journal Europe,they faulted the trial judge for setting up the Reynolds screen is the final draft of a story accusing a reminded lower courts that the "Reynolds factors as "hurdles" for journalists to clear before restaurant inspector of taking bribes in return for privilege" is designed to liberalize the law and being able to claim the defence. ignoring food-safety violations. ensure important stories are brought to light A "respected, influential and unsensational Police confirm they are looking into the (both rulings are available online at newspaper," as one Law Lord put it,had published allegations but refuse to identify the inspector. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ a story on an issue "of undoubted public interest" Two unnamed city hall sources confirm his name ldjudgmt.htm). — the fight against terrorism. The report was and say he has been suspended. The mayor based on unnamed but highly placed U.S. and promises to take steps to ensure diners are not Saudi sources but,given the secrecy of the Saudis, being served tainted food. The reporter has called could not be verified. A reporter phoned Jameel the inspector's office and home five times seeking Group's president, but he was out of the country comment, but to no avail. The editors decide to Thanks to Britain's and unavailable to comment. publish and the story, naming the inspector, runs The House of Lords saw no need to delay on page one under the headline, "Bribe probe top court, Canadian publication until the businessman could prompts health fears." comment. They also felt it was proper to name The police do their work but no charges are laid journalists may have Jameel Group and other businesses being and the inspector is reinstated. The allegations monitored, as this gave the Journal's article turn out to be false; public safety was never at a new weapon to ward credibility. risk.The inspector,his reputation sullied,sues the What mattered most, the Lords said, was that newspaper for libel. off defamation suits, the story dealt with an issue of public As our law of defamation stands, the importance and the journalists acted newspaper can do little to defend itself. Truth is a even when a story turns professionally, tried to verify the information defence, of course, but the story is not true. News and contacted those involved for comment. To reports are poor candidates for the defence of fair claim the defence, in the opinion of Lord comment (which is designed to protect opinions) out to be false: the Bingham, a journalist must have "taken steps as and, in any event, a factual basis is required. A a responsible journalist would take to try and judge might conclude that the newspaper had a defence of "responsible ensure that what is published is accurate and fit duty to alert the public about a potential health for publication." hazard; if so — and that's a big "if" — the report journalism." Jameel is a major precedent, extending the could be considered privileged and the lawsuit concept of reasonable conduct at the heart of dismissed. medical malpractice and other negligence But thanks to Britain's top court, Canadian lawsuits to the legal minefield of defamation. journalists may have a new weapon to ward off Journalists' codes of ethics can be used to defamation suits, even when a story turns out to Not long after the September 2001 terror determine whether conduct constitutes be false. And that weapon is the defence of attacks in the United States,the Wall Street Journal responsible journalism, Lord Hope noted, "responsible journalism." reported that U.S. law enforcement agencies had providing "a standard which everyone in the The House of Lords created the defence eight asked Saudi Arabia's national bank to monitor the media and elsewhere can recognize." years ago, in the case of Reynolds v Times accounts of the country's leading businesses. The The ruling is not binding on Canada's courts Newspapers Ltd. It requires judges to assess the intention was to prevent the accounts from being but media lawyers here have begun citing tone of an article, the reliability of its sources, the used — perhaps without the businesses' Reynolds-based defences as part of their efforts made to interview those defamed and knowledge — to fund terrorism. seven other factors to determine if a story was Abdul Latif Jameel Group, one of the published in the public interest. businesses named in the report, and its president Continued on Page 25

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 22 COMPUTER-ASSISTED REPORTING BY FRED VALLANCE-JONES Google now offers a spreadsheet Though lacking in some of the features of programs such as Microsoft Excel, Google’s product is worth testing

ast time in this space I talked about There is sometimes a tiny delay in displaying the Microsoft's latest upgrade of its .Office suite. result of a formula, but not long enough to be a L bother. After taking a quick test Since all's fair in love and war, I figured this time Four tabs at the top of the screen give you access I'd give equal space to Google, Microsoft's primary to screens to format your sheet, sort it by a single drive I can say that while the competitor in the battle-to-rule-the-world. column,and enter formulas.I was surprised to find Google version lacks many As I mentioned in passing, Google now offers a an impressive array of available functions, free spreadsheet program, not to mention a word including many that journalists would need. There of the more sophisticated processor, to anyone who cares to sign up for a is no autosum button, but by clicking 'sum' at the bells and whistles of the Google account (also free, by the way). top of the screen, you can quickly start a sum Unlike the worksheets created by Microsoft formula, and then complete it by clicking on cells Microsoft product and has Excel, you don't store the result on your hard drive, just as you can do in Excel. The basics, such as an but rather on Google's server. That means you can equal (=) sign starting a formula,and a colon used a rather Spartan look, it revise or edit your work from any computer with an to indicate a range in a formula, are exactly the functions well. Internet connection, and even allow others to use same. the same document. You can also create rudimentary graphs and The potential here is enormous, both for charts. computer to work on it some more in Excel,Access newsrooms on a budget that would like to give each Saving and reopening a document works or any other program that can open a text or Excel reporter access to basic spreadsheet software, and smoothly, and allowing someone else to view or file. for joint projects,where several journalists will add work on your spreadsheet is as simple as entering Probably the single biggest downside to the or modify data. their Google e-mail address.You can 'publish' your program is its apparent need to have an active The only question is whether it works. spreadsheet on the Internet so anyone can see it, Internet connection. I found that when the net Well, after taking a quick test drive I can say that and engage in online chat about it. connection failed, everything but the most basic while the Google version lacks many of the more One of the nicest features of the Google functionality disappeared as soon as I tried to sophisticated bells and whistles of the Microsoft spreadsheet is the ability to export your sheet to move from one tab to another.This was frustrating, product and has a rather Spartan look, it functions Excel, pdf or text format. Google does the and might limit the ability of those with dialup well. conversion for you before the file downloads to connections to use the service.You will also be out Once you have a sheet open on your computer, it your computer. This means you can start a sheet of luck if you are on the road and your hotel doesn't behaves pretty much like any other spreadsheet. on the road,and then download it to your provide net access. I think the jury is still out as to whether this kind of remote-server program is really the way of the future. But it certainly has its advantages.You don't have to crowd your hard drive with bloated software and you'll never lose your files if your drive fails. On the other hand, you put yourself at the mercy of someone else's storage, and take the risk that policies such as the current free access might change.You could suddenly find yourself paying a monthly service charge or per-use fee, which could quickly add up to more than the cost of buying a conventional spreadsheet program. All these things said, Google's spreadsheet application provides a useful alternative to Excel, Quattro Pro and other similar products, especially if you want to easily access your sheet from any computer or share it with others. It's worth taking for a test drive.Just go to Google.com and follow the links to sign up.

Fred Vallance-Jones is a reporter and weekend editor at The Hamilton Spectator. You can contact him at [email protected] MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 23 WRITER’S TOOLBOX BY DON GIBB Write for your audience...... and not for your sources

eporters just want to be loved.By their What the ambulance attendants call Reporters need to determine the story focus bosses, other reporters, editors (well, themselves is secondary to the story of early. Writing coach Don Murray, of the Boston Rmaybe not so much), by their sources … administering life-saving techniques on the way Globe, offers this sage advice: Most good stories even their spouses and children. to hospital. say one thing. "They tell not of a battle, but of a We may seem a tough breed, but we're really Reporters need to attend such events with an soldier." Write not of the internal details of not. agenda, too, and that should be the readers' switching from the role of an EMA to a Which leads me to an unscientific theory agenda. Their job is to ask questions they paramedic, but of the impact of the change — (probably accurate one time out of 20, with a believe readers would ask or would want saving lives. plus or minus margin of error of 97 per cent). answered. What effect does the story have on Here's another example of the agenda taking Reporters too often write for the people they are their readers? What's the impact — good or priority where the message is never properly writing about. They give more thought to what bad? What do readers need to know? Why translated for those most affected. Let's look at their sources, their editors and their reporter should readers care? the lead,the agenda and the buried message that friends will think about the story rather than speaks to your readers. their readers, viewers and listeners — the very ones they are trying to lure into their stories. It has been two weeks of work to rule by However, with a little adjustment in thinking, Reporters… elementary school teachers in the Napa reporters can dramatically alter the stories they District School Board. write and the impact they will have on their give more thought Work to rule measures were audiences. Learn to write for your audience. implemented Jan. 4 after contract Here's an example of what I'm talking about. to what their sources, negotiations failed between … A reporter has been sent to the local hospital to cover a press conference announcing training The next two paragraphs quote a teachers' for emergency medical attendants (EMAs) who their editors representative attempting to explain the ride the ambulances. Those who called the press complicated formula by which the education conference have an agenda. Fair enough. So do and their reporter department determines its "funding formula." most of the people we interview. And then we get to the heart of the story. The In this case, a spokeswoman goes to great friends will think first work-to-rule measure to affect our readers lengths to explain how EMAs will soon gain the — children and their parents — appears in status of paramedics — just like we see on TV. about the story paragraph five. Teachers will not be writing The reporter dutifully listens to the explanation comments on student report cards to be sent and writes down how delighted hospital rather than home next week. personnel are to take on training that will result First,the lead.It offers nothing new to readers. in better qualified EMAs. their readers. Next week's lead could say, "It's been three Back in the newsroom, the reporter opens his weeks …" followed by "it's been a full month story with a few paragraphs explaining the since …" The lead needs to focus on the main transformation from EMA to paramedic. The element of the story. lead: "They are often referred to as paramedics The headline on the previous story was, EMAs Then, the reporter fell into the trap of trying by many people, probably based on what they will soon be paramedics. The headline should to toss in all of the background before he see so often on television, but the people riding and could have been, EMAs receive training to reported what's new.The teacher's quote and the the ambulance out of the health sciences centre save lives.Which one grabs your attention? funding formula were not the story on this are actually emergency medical attendants." By focusing on readers, reporters will ask particular day; the story was the impact of the As a feature, maybe that's the way to go, but more focused and more challenging questions. work to rule on parents and their children, here's what's buried. Within a few months, Reporters shouldn't ignore the agenda bringing us back to the all-important question: EMAs would have the training to actually treat presented by those they cover, but they should What effect does the story have on your readers? patients on the ride to hospital — treatment bring along one of their own that focuses on the Answer: Next week's report cards will be that could save lives. These words are in the readers' needs. missing the comments of your child's teachers. story and these words speak directly to the The real problem, as I see it, is getting caught And here's another question to add to the reader. The reporter offers examples to back up up in the person's or group's agenda and reporter's arsenal: What makes this story the comment — giving aspirin to a heart attack devoting too much energy to understanding and different? Court stories can always lead with the victim, hooking a patient up to intravenous, explaining it without leaving time to explore the judge's verdict. Accident stories can always lead treating a person with an allergy to bee stings. impact of the story — what it really means. with the fact a 34-year-old local man and his two

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 24 Continued from Pg. 22 TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR A new weapon in the fight... AUDIENCE IN MIND responses to defamation suits. (Please see the 1) During the researching, reporting and writing process, constantly ask yourself: What's my article by David Crerar and Michael Skene on story? What does it mean to readers? What questions would the reader ask? Can I approach page 20) The process may take time but our the story from a different angle? What's new? courts should import the responsible journalism defence. Solid journalism on important issues of 2) Remember: You are not writing the story for the people you are writing about. Their agenda or message is important, but it is not the full story.What impact their agenda or public interest deserves a legal refuge. message has on other people is often more important. Would such a defence help the newspaper that published the story on the restaurant inspector? 3) Always pursue all sides of a story. A one-source story is rarely, if ever, acceptable. Let's apply the Reynolds factors: 4) Show readers specifically how a story affects them. Avoid generalities. For example, cutting • the bribery allegation was clearly a matter of bus routes is important, but telling readers they'll have to wait longer for the bus is more public interest specific and focused. 5) Translate jargon. Avoid using words and phrases that are specific to a profession, but • the sources were solid exclude readers. Understand the jargon and technical language so that you can report it in plain language to a wide audience. • the reporter tried hard to verify her information 6) Why should readers care? It's an important question to ask yourself on every story."I don't know" is not a good answer. • the allegations had some substance and were under police investigation 7) Ask lots of follow-up questions so that you can write with confidence and with a clear focus. • there was urgency in publishing — people's 8) Tell stories. Read your story aloud to see if that's how you would tell it in a conversation health might be at risk with a friend. • efforts were made to interview the inspector 9) Find people who represent or are affected by the dull, dry, factual statistics you need to (the House of Lords acknowledges, however, report and use those people to combat our heavy reliance on talking-head experts. that seeking such comment may be "unnecessary, impractical, or obviously 10) Don't be afraid to ask dumb questions. It's better than risking a story with lots of holes and trying to explain yourself to your editor. futile") 11) What struck you about the story? What impressed you, saddened you, made you laugh, • The story was not sensationalized and made you cry, made you curious? That's often the story. allegations were not reported as fact.

12) Try writing without your notes. Eventually you can turn to them to clarify a comment or The Reynolds's test considers the quote, but writing what's in your head allows you to write more conversationally without circumstances behind the story, including the being tied down by the constraints of your notebook. timing of publication, which would seem to favour the newspaper. The story came up short on two fronts — it did not reflect the inspector's children, five and three, died in a head-on crash. But A 32-year-old woman and her four-year-old side of the story, and the seriousness of the false if reporters look for what makes this court story or son died after their vehicle skidded off the road allegation compounded the damage to his this accident story or this drug bust different,they will into a canal. reputation. get beyond the obvious. With eight of ten Reynolds bases covered, the Here's a drug bust lead … and what was buried Terror-stricken Cassandra Reed screamed newspaper should be able to claim the defence of that was different. into her cellphone and begged a 911 responsible journalism. emergency operator for help as her SUV In Jameel, Baroness Hale declared that Britain A mountain of the island's No. 1 cash crop drifted and sank into the icy waters of a canal needed more "serious journalism" of the kind filled a storage room in the local police near Bradford north of Toronto Saturday night. practiced by the Wall Street Journal,"and our detachment, the yield from another police- defamation law should encourage rather than sponsored marijuana harvest. The second one might be a bit long — removing discourage it." the unnecessary "terror-stricken" won't hurt because So should Canada's. Jump to paragraph three. It seems that marijuana we can see the terror — but it is more compelling was growing "just up the road" from the local police than the first one. Change the names, the ages, the Dean Jobb is author of Media Law for detachment and it was discovered by a police officer location in the first one and you have a lead that can Canadian Journalists (Emond Montgomery out for a jog. Different? I'll say.It takes the story from appear on any accident story. Publications) and co-author of Digging Deeper: a routine marijuana discovery to a story readers will A Canadian Reporter's Research Guide (Oxford talk about. Don Gibb teaches newspaper reporting at Ryerson University Press). He is an assistant professor of Here are two openings to the same story.Based on University's School of Journalism.He can be reached at journalism at the University of King's College in the lead,which one would you read? [email protected] Halifax.

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 25 ETHICS BY STEPHEN J. A. WARD “Call-in-Ethics”: The Pickton trial and offended audiences Media outlets must be sensitive to the concerns of their audiences, but those concerns over too much detail or too little shouldn’t drive the coverage

he start of the Pickton trial in New bordering on propaganda. Journalists have a duty Newfoundland society. Westminster, B.C., in late January placed to continue to report in an independent and In the case of the Pickton trial, what struck me Tnews organizations between audiences that truthful manner, and not act as propaganda for was how many critics focused on the negative demanded extensive coverage and people who government — despite angering a substantial duty of journalists not to report certain facts and demanded limited or cautious coverage. number of people. testimony. Few considered that journalists also Vancouver newsrooms were flooded by angry e- The fact that someone (or some group) is may have a positive duty to report certain facts mail and phone messages accusing the news "offended" by certain types of news coverage is and testimony. media of sensationalism, over-the-top coverage not sufficient, by itself, to justify a change in To argue that journalists have a "duty to offend" and making money from a terrible tragedy. Some coverage. Other factors must be taken into in certain circumstances does not justify the view callers even suggested that the new media that journalists shouldn't try to avoid shouldn't cover the trial at all.Others threatened to sensationalism and to minimize harm.Journalists cancel newspaper subscriptions. Journalists serve the should listen to their audiences. Journalism is not Everyone demanded "responsible" coverage. a licence for arrogance.But they should remember But there were enormous differences on what public, not simply by that they have to balance such opinion against a responsible coverage meant. It was the classic broader social responsibility challenge society dilemma: Report and be damned; don't report pleasing their customers, where wrongdoing occurs. and be damned. but also by fulfilling a The goal of coverage of the Pickton trial should The Pickton trial raises a general problem for be sober,accurate,non-harassing coverage of what journalism ethics that is increasingly important vital democratic role that goes beyond news updates and delves into the in an age where news organizations seek to deeper social and human aspects of this trial. If maintain audience share and bend over may offend some people. that sort of coverage is deemed offensive, so be it. backwards to "interact" with readers, viewers and Here are some ethical issues to keep in mind: listeners. The problem can be formulated as a question: How should journalists make decisions account. Journalists do some harm and cause 1. Proportionality: What amount of coverage is on their coverage? some offence with almost every story. The needed to serve the public? What is too much, One possibility is that journalists should "serve question is not "Does this offend?" but rather, or too little? the public" by adjusting their coverage to majority "Should this seriously offensive material enter the (or vocal minority) opinion. Perhaps public domain?" What people find offensive must 2. Framing of the facts and testimony: How accountability means adopting a "call-in ethics" be treated with some scepticism given the does the news media portray the case, the — adjusting coverage according to the reaction subjectivity of such judgments. One person I victims and their families? Are the central from audiences. Thorny ethical issues could be know finds it offensive to see gays kissing in TV figures portrayed as humans, with dignity, settled by surveying what audiences want. news reports and thinks such pictures should be names and real lives? If journalism was only a matter of selling a censored by editors. consumer product, then "call-in ethics" might be Sometimes, journalists must offend audiences 3. Beyond emotionalism and sympathy: plausible.Why should a shoe store do anything to to make sure that an otherwise reluctant society Although (2) requires sympathy, the coverage offend its customers? But journalism is also a faces up to a dark social problem. In the late should not be overtaken by emotion. democratic practice of informing citizens, 1980s, I and other reporters covered the Mount Journalists need to ask tough, disturbing investigating social issues and critiquing Cashel Orphanage inquiry into the physical and questions about our social system and its institutions. Journalists serve the public, not sexual abuse of young male orphans by Catholic institutions. simply by pleasing their customers, but also by Christian Brothers in St. John's, Nfld. Throughout fulfilling a vital democratic role that may offend this sad event, I and other reporters were accused 4. Graphicness: How graphic should the some people. of sensationalism,of exaggerating the problem,of coverage be? If the testimony is that women's There are many situations where members of undermining institutions. It was only the body parts were cut up and placed in the public may want journalists to compromise constant, day-to-day coverage of the sickening containers, that fact will be reported. But what their role as critical public informers. For details of the abuse that finally prompted people level of description should be used? How many example, in times of war, a majority of the public to stop blaming reporters and admit that the case gory facts are required for the public to may want reportage to be uncritical and patriotic, indicated a serious problem at the heart of understand what happened?

MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 26 NO PLACE FOR THE FAINT OF HEART: Forensic investigators make their way back to work, carrying buckets after a lunch break at the Port Coquitlam pig farm owned by accused serial killer Robert Pickton. Coverage of the trial has raised many ethical questions.

5. Potential harassment: The news media should 6. What measures have been put in place to help editorial processes are in place to monitor, avoid harassing the families of victims, citizens journalists and others deal with trauma due to correct and balance their coverage as this long of the Downtown Eastside or the relatives of attendance at this trial? trial unwinds. It also requires reporters and Robert Pickton in search of pictures or editors willing to endure the wrath of upset interviews. Some of these people want to speak Responsible Pickton coverage requires audiences. to the news media. Others will not wish to speak conscientious reporters and editors and that wish should be respected.A respectful determined to make the most reasonable Stephen J. A. Ward is the director of the UBC process for requesting interviews is essential. decisions possible and to make sure that School of Journalism.

PHOTO CREDIT: CP PHOTO/Chuck Stoody MEDIA, SPRING 2007 PAGE 27 THE CAJ GLOBAL CONFERENCE

The Canadian Association of Journalists would like to extend a big "Thank You" to all the delegates who attended the 4th Global Investigative Journalism conference.

More than 600 delegates from more than 40 countries gathered for an inspiring lineup of 146 speakers, including keynote addresses by Lowell Bergman, Ayann Hirsi Ali and Sally Armstrong. The buzz was palpable, from the interactive opening as delegates took up their Jembe (African drum) and connected to each other in the universal language of music, through the powerful opening plenary with Maher Arar, who challenged journalists to continue the debate on anonymous sources, toto thethe celebrationcelebration ofof excellence and the first-ever Global Shining Light award. www.marketwire.com

Your newswire is getting rewired.

Bigger. Better. Same nice folks.

is now called LAST WORD BY ALAN BASS Should journalism become a profession? It’s time to seriously debate this issue

f journalism is in a state of crisis in North "Maybe the bean counters will get religion," of journalism — a true profession — would assure America — and there seems to be an Meyer writes. "Maybe the suits who run media journalistic freedom and institutional autonomy Ioverwhelming consensus that it is — to what corporations will give more attention to social and at the same time would create a structure to extent are journalists responsible? responsibility.Let's not sit around and wait." ensure high quality and morality among the And what can they do about it? The challenges facing journalism today, Meyer professionals." Often, the answer to that question pins the argues, "will slowly but irreversibly force it to move This is a difficult concept for most journalists. responsibility for upholding good journalism from craft to profession.It is time to band together Many strongly believe any move to regulate practices on individual journalists and individual for self-protection …" journalism, even by journalists, would be a gross newsrooms. This is sometimes called the "heroic" More recently, Geneva Overholser — whose violation of freedom of the press. approach because it demands a journalist be journalism credentials include Washington Post But this way of thinking is based on a confusion prepared to quit rather than submit ifput in a ombudsman, New York Times editorial board of terms. Journalism and freedom of the press are situation that violates journalistic principles. member and editor of the Des Moines Register — not synonyms. Or the answer doesn't involve journalists at all authored a document published by the Annenberg Freedom of the press gives anyone the right to — the onus is put on media owners and managers Public Policy Center entitled "On Behalf of publish or broadcast without censorship. But to make sure the journalists they employ can do Journalism: A Manifesto for Change." She reviewed journalists by definition accept significant their jobs properly. This particular approach is proposals for journalism reform put forward restrictions on what they publish — in particular, often accompanied by demands that governments during an Annenberg-sponsored conference in they accept the responsibility to find, verify, report break up media conglomerates and encourage 2005. A section that focused on what journalists and analyze the truth in an open, accountable and local or non-profit ownership. themselves can do included a discussion of independent manner so citizens can make well- Journalism's current crisis has spawned a professionalization. informed decisions about their lives and their significant cottage industry devoted to studying It concluded: "Whether through communities. media and the news business and producing professionalization or a recommitment to mission, Freedom of the press and journalism are reports recommending change. In most cases, the an agreement on core standards or enhanced inextricably linked. Freedom of the press is a pre- recommendations still tend to focus on these two accountability measures … journalists need to condition for journalism — journalism could not themes, calling upon individual journalists and reinvent their social contract with the public." exist without it. But they aren't the same thing. If newsrooms to do a better job or suggesting The notion of professionalization has even there's anything we can guarantee in the Internet journalism will magically improve under different edged onto the agendas of some journalism age, it's that clarifying and enforcing standards for media-ownership structures. organizations. A proposal to professionalize journalism won't stop anybody else from However, a third theme is emerging, one that journalists was debated at a conference of La publishing anything they want.But it will be harder asks journalists to take responsibility for Fédération Professionnelle des Journalistes du to disguise propaganda,marketing,public relations journalism as other professions take responsibility Québec a few years ago. and mistruth as journalism. for their work — by defining it, setting standards In 2005, a discussion paper suggesting British No one I've quoted above would deny the and criteria for doing it, making sure practitioners journalists consider become a self-regulating incredible challenge posed by bringing journalists are qualified and committed to the goals of profession was published by the Professional together and getting them to agree to a definition of journalism and outing those who are not. Training Committee of the National Union of journalism, a common code of ethics and an I'm talking about professionalization. Journalists. acceptable method to determine who meets the This, to be sure, is a concept guaranteed to turn In both cases,as might be expected,the idea was criteria and standards required of journalists. It many journalists apoplectic — as anyone who swiftly rejected. will require diplomacy of the highest order. It will belongs to the CAJ listserv knows. We've had a However,minds can change.John C.Merrill,who also require innovative thinking because there's no number of discussions about professionalizing wrote the book "Existential Journalism" and has question journalists will need to develop principles journalism over the years and there's no doubt the been the leading critic of professionalization for and mechanisms of self-regulation that are majority opinion views the idea as an apostasy. decades, recently did a complete about-face. In a different from those of lawyers, doctors and other I think the majority opinion is dead wrong. 2005 article published in The Global Media Journal, professions. Increasingly, it seems, I'm not alone. Merrill said he had come to realize that relying on Indeed, I would argue, the longer journalists Recent proposals for professionalizing individual ethics is not enough to prevent the refuse to consider professionalizing, the more they journalism have come from some surprising public service mission of journalism from being betray themselves, their colleagues and the public. sources. Philip Meyer, one of North America's overwhelmed and distorted by powerful Over time,I suspect more journalists will reach the most-respected journalism academics, recently commercial and government interests. same conclusion. wrote a book called "The Vanishing Newspaper: "Worldwide, it is in danger of becoming either a Professionalism may not yet be an idea whose Saving Journalism in the Information Age." His government bulletin board or an advertising time has come, but its time is coming. main purpose is to persuade media owners that platform, with a surfeit of entertainment to make good journalism can be profitable. But in the them acceptable," Merrill wrote. Alan Bass is an assistant professor at the School of concluding chapter, his argument takes a "...To create an elite body.And that is considered Journalism, Thompson Rivers University, and co- surprising turn. a bad thing for the media. But to have a profession moderates the CAJ listserv.

MEDIA, FALL 2004 PAGE 30

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