Plus: Will media outlets ever improve their coverage of national security issues?.

David Vienneau: 1951-2004 We fondly remember the Global Television Network’s former bureau chief for his professionalism and devotion to family

THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS WINTER 2005 • VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1 • $3.95 L’ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DES JOURNALISTES–

CallCall forfor EntriesEntries Michener Award 2004 Michener Award 2004 7KH0LFKHQHU$ZDUG

The Michener“The Michener Award isAwards presented are annuallydistinguished to the from Canadian other mediamedia organizationawards, because judged they to have contributedemphasize the outstandingthe arms-length example public of benefitmeritorious that publicis generated service by in the journalism. journalistic Now work” in its 34th year, the Award was established— Governor by the General late AdrienneGovernor Clarkson General, The Right Honorable , P.C, C.C. Entries are invited for the 2004 Michener Award for Meritorious Public Service in Journalism. The Award is Visitpresented our annually Website to the for news full organization details: whose www.michenerawards.ca entry is judged to have made a significant difference to the public. Past winners, from media giants to small weeklies, have been chosen on the basis of Media organizationshard-hitting eligible impact, journalistic for entry professionalism include: and theSubmissions resources available for the for the2003 project. Award must have been published within the newspapers (regardless of publishingth frequency); The 2004 Awards will be the 35 since Governor General Rolandcalendar Michener, year PPC, 2003. CC, established Five copies the annual must competition in 1970. The 2004 finalists will be announced in March 2005. news agencies and services; be provided of a written description of magazines; Submissions for the 2004 Award must have been published duringthe thepublic calendar service year 2004.performed, FIVE copies as well must as radiobe submittedand television of a written stations; description of the public service performed,five ascopies well as of five the copies story of theor story series. or series. For radioFor broadcast and television entries FIVE networks. copies of the written description are requiredbroadcast and one entries, tape or DVDfive of copies the story of or series.the A registration fee of $50 must accompany each entry. description are required and one tape Visit our web site for full details: www.michenerawards.caof the story or series. EntriesEntries shouldshould be sentsent to: to: MichenerMichener Awards Awards Foundation Foundation c/o The The Ottawa Citizen,1101 Baxter 1101 Road, Baxter Box 5020 Rd., Box 5020 Ottawa,Ottawa, Ontario, K2CK2C 3M4 3M4

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The MichenerThe Michener-Deacon Awards Foundation Fellowship was established is ’s premierin 1982 award to advance to encourage education excellence in the field of journalism and into thefoster pursuit journalism of investigative that serves journalism the public that serves interest. the public To that interest end, one Michener- DeaconThe Fellowship Fellowship is granted of annually $22, to500 a mature is granted journalist forannually four months’ (when study leave.warranted) It provides to $25,000 a journalist to allow the for winner fou r monthsto complete out-of-office a project that study serves thetime public aimed interest at and enhancing enhances the thejournalistic applicants education competence of the winner. Applicantsas a journalist. must Maturesubmit applicants written outlines with for their an interestproposed projects. in public Study service at a Canadian through university journalism is often central are to invitedan application to apply but it is for not required. University approval must accompany applications whose projects include study at a university. the 2004 fellowship. Visit our Website for full details: www.michenerawards.ca Applications for the 2005 Fellowship should be sent to: Fellowship applications should be sent to: MichenerMichener AwardsAwards FoundationFoundation 130130 Albert Albert St., St., Suite Suite #1620 1620 Ottawa,Ottawa, Ontario Ontario, K1P 5G45G4

DEADLINEDeadline FORfor receipt APPLICATIONS: of entries: February February 18, 13, 2005 2004 Winter 2005 Volume 11, Number 1

Publisher Nick Russell INSIDE Editor David McKie

Books Editor DEPARTMENTS Gillian Steward 4 First Word During the past several months, journalists have turned the tables by making headlines. By David McKie Legal Advisor Peter Jacobsen (Paterson McDougall)

5 JournalismNet Real Simple news feeds allow people to set up their private wire services. Designer By Julian Sher Bonanza Printing & Copying Centre

Printer 6 Opinion What’s wrong with Canadian journalism? Bonanza Printing & Copying Centre By John Miller Editorial Board Chris Cobb, 8 Writer’s toolbox Quotes that do nothing more than introduce factual, routine information — easily Wendy McLellan, Sean Moore, paraphrased — drag down a story. Catherine Ford, By Don Gibb Michelle MacAfee, Lindsey Crysler, John Gushue, Rob Cribb 12 The cops and the media At first he thought it had to be a joke. But soon enough, Edmonton Sun columnist Kerry Diotte realized that he had been the centre of a botched police dragnet operation. Advertising Sales John Dickins

Administrative Director 13 Book Review A new book by Mark Lisac tackles the “myth”of Alberta’s western alienation and the role of John Dickins journalists in perpetuating that myth. (613)526-8061 Fax: (613)521-3904 By Gillian Steward E-mail: [email protected]

MEDIA is published three times a year by: 14 Fine Print The case of a Hamilton Spectator reporter fined for refusing to reveal a source has important Canadian Association of lessons that journalists would be wise to heed. Journalists, By Dean Jobb 1385 Woodroffe Avenue., B-224 Algonquin College Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2G 1V8

15 Television If you’re expecting Fox News to invade Canada, you’d better think twice. Reproduction without the written By Paul Attallah permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden

Media is a publication of the 18 Computer-assisted reporting The CBC, The and The Hamilton Spectator led the way with projects that shone Canadian Association of Journalists. the spotlight on important problems. It is managed and edited By Fred Vallance-Jones independently from the CAJ and its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the Association.

22 The Last Word David Vienneau: 1951-2004 Subscriptions: $14.98 (GST incl.) per year, He is a great, great loss to our craft, taken rudely in the prime of his career. payable in advance By Kirk LaPointe Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Canada Post Publications Canadian FEATURE Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 182796 10 Lack of Intelligent Reporting Even two years post-9/11, there is surprisingly little coverage on how well or how badly Canada is ISSN 1198-2209 protected against terrorism. By Ross Howard Cover Photo Pat McGrath/The Ottawa Citizen FIRST WORD BY DAVID MCKIE Journalists in the spotlight During the past several months, the tables have turned and journalists have ended up making headlines

f there is one thread that pulls together this ago to tell a story.Although the case received a lot Gillian Steward attempted to broach the topic edition of Media magazine, it is individual of attention, and deservedly so, we asked our with him in a sidebar that accompanies her Istories of journalists who have made media law columnist Dean Jobb to help put the review of his second book. headlines. You'll read accounts of an Edmonton affair into context, which he does beautifully. "Lisac is uncomfortable talking about this shift Sun columnist who was the target of a rather in positions and will only say that he was asked to awkward police dragnet; a Hamilton Spectator give up his column and join the Journal's editorial reporter fined for refusing to reveal his source; a board. But after only three months of editorial former columnist and author writing he requested an assignment to the copy now plying his trade in relative and seemingly Ken desk 'for professional and personal reasons.'" self-imposed obscurity on the overnight copy edit Peters And finally, we use our Last Word to say desk; and finally David Vienneau, Ottawa bureau goodbye to a fine person and a fine journalist. I chief for the Global Television Network. Let's take first met David Vienneau several years ago in a brief look at these individuals in the order Ottawa when he was covering the Supreme Court they're mentioned. for The Toronto Star and I was filling in at CBC To suggest that journalists have a love-hate "The furor over Hamilton Spectator reporter Ken Radio's parliamentary bureau. I was struck by relationship with the institutions and Peters' contempt conviction for refusing to betray a his professionalism, his intelligence, his source raises two crucial questions for all of us. Do unwillingness to take himself too seriously, and Canadian journalists have the right to protect his sense of humour.I also got a chance to see how confidential sources? And if we don't, how should he operated as a proud father who took an intense we deal with sources who risk retribution — even interest in his daughter's soccer. I recall many Kerry their lives — if their identities are revealed?" occasions when David and his wife Nicki stood or Diotte While the Ken Peters case has been the subject sat on the sidelines cheering on Jordyn, who like of high-profile coverage in the mainstream media her father is the picture of hard work and and discussion on the Canadian Association of perseverance. Journalists' listserv, few people ever talk about I didn't realize that David was sick, and it was Mark Lisac. The former Edmonton Journal with shock and sadness that I learned on the CAJ professionals they write about is to state the listserv that he had died. After reading the obvious. When we write or broadcast stories and eloquent summation of David's career that Kirk opinion pieces that are either critical, or call into LaPointe had written on the listserv, I asked him question the integrity of those in power, we can to refine the piece for Media magazine. Kirk, who almost feel the weight of the angry stares and Mark is now managing editor of The , words directed our way. On a few occasions, we Lisac happily agreed. discover proofofthat animosity,and that appears "On the professional front, well, you could to be the case involving Edmonton Sun columnist search a lifetime and not find a David Vienneau Kerry Diotte. A self-described critic of the police, mistake of any consequence.He was rock solid.He he had recently uncovered a potential scandal, dug, asked, reported and wrote with intensity, then discovered what he considers to be proof that political columnist has written two books on civility and credibility.He helped everyone, but he the police were out to get him. In his piece for Alberta Premier Ralph Klein. Media magazine, he describes how the bizarre Lisac's first book, The Klein Revolution,raised circumstances unfolded and how he first reacted questions about a man who has dominated upon learning from a reporter on staff that he was provincial politics like few other figures in the under police surveillance. history of this country. Lisac continues raising David "I figured my colleague was playing a prank on equally poignant questions in his second book, Vienneau me because I'd written a recent column somewhat Alberta Politics Uncovered: Taking Back Our critical of police after a fatal pursuit killed another Province. In a province where the media have motorist when the kid being pursued ran a red been accused of being lapdogs to the Klein light and broad-sided a woman's car." monolith, Lisac's books have attempted to shake There were certainly no suspicions of pranks things up by perhaps prompting people to loved to have a scoop. He was convivial with when Ken Peters learned that he would be the question the wisdom behind his government's politicians, but not clubby. When I saw Paul centre of attention, albeit equally unwanted. cut-programs-at-any cost ethos.Lisac used to be a Martin get choked up on TV the day after David Peters is a veteran reporter with the Hamilton columnist who wrote about provincial politics at died, I knew David had stayed true to form." Spectator who found himself in court fending off the Edmonton Journal; now he's a copy editor on GOODBYE, DAVID. IT WAS NICE KNOWING pressure to reveal a source he used several years the night desk. The question is, what happened? YOU. MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 4 JOURNALISMNET BY JULIAN SHER Real simple news feeds Think of RSS as your own private wire service

t's the newest trend in delivering news on the Headlineviewer (at www.headlineviewer.com) Yahoo has a good help guide at Web — and it promises you instant news from uses Moreover's vast world news feeds my.yahoo.com/s/rss-faq.html. Ithe sources you want, when you want it. (mentioned in more detail below). It has a vast Another excellent Web page is Newsgator (at It's called RSS,for Real Simple Syndication.You array of world and general news,but you can't add www.newsgator.com), which has a decent free and may have noticed some major media news sites, your own news feeds. a superb pay-for service. such as the New York Times, the BBC or Le Monde Diplomatique,are starting to display on their FINDING RSS WEB PAGES pages a distinctive small orange box with the letters XML. OK, once you have downloaded a reader or RSS is essentially a list of headlines encoded in signed up for a Web page service, how do you go such a way that it can be used by another program about finding RSS news feeds? There is still not a or website. XML is the coding language — just single, good systematic way to find news feeds. like HTML is the language used to write Web Even major news sites don't always make it easy, pages — that allows any media organization, or often hiding their pages of news feeds with anybody else for that matter (governments, obscure addresses. bloggers, even JournalismNet), to push or deliver On any Web page, you can always look for the a stream of news and information to anyone who distinctive XML logo: wants it. Feedreader (at www.feedreader.com) is one of Think of it as your own private wire service, the simplest of the new breed of news readers. It's only you get to choose the sources and topics. free and easy to use.

DOWNLOAD RSS SOFTWARE Another easy trick is simply to Google the There are two ways to read RSS news feeds: with name of your favourite news source and add RSS: the help of downloaded software or on a Web page. for example "new york times rss" will find you the The most convenient way is through software impressive list of free news feeds offered by that that you install and run as a newsreader on your paper at http://www.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/. computer. The advantage is that you have the The best directory of RSS feeds so far is feeds permanently. You can program the found at NewsisFree.com. You can search newsreader to run automatically and it goes out by letter of the name of the publication at and downloads the latest headlines from the news http://www.newsisfree.com/sources/byname/ sources you have selected. Finally, Pluck (at www.pluck.com) offers more or by news category at The disadvantage, of course, is that you have to than just a news feed. It attaches to your Web http://www.newsisfree.com/sources/bycat/ know how to download and install something browser and also will "pluck" Web searches for And, finally, one of the most extensive news from the Web (though it's not harder than any you. lists on the Web is at Moreover.com.It lists other download and the programs pretty much hundreds of news feeds provided by Moreover — install themselves.) from almost every country and region in the All the programs are basically the same. An world and covering most sectors of industry, icon sits on your desktop taskbar; click on it,a box commerce and news. opens up. On the left is the list of news feeds they You will find all the links listed above and many have already programmed in.You can delete some RSS WEB PAGES other RSS sources on JNet's RSS page at and add others (see below for where to find www.journalismnet.com/rss. JNet also offers its them). Some of the programs can also be The second way to read RSS news feeds is own RSS news feed you can subscribe to for free configured to run inside your email service, such through Web pages that allow you to read RSS — a Pick of the Week with the best new resources as Outlook. feeds.The advantage is that there is no software to for journalists on the Web. NewzCrawler (at www.newzcrawler.com) download and install. Like getting your Yahoo or offers both a free and a pay-for version. Hotmail,you simply set up an account,put in your Julian Sher, the creator and webmaster of password and read the news. Journalism Net (www.journalismnet.com),does In fact,Yahoo has one of the best (and free) RSS Internet training in newsrooms around the world. programs. Look for the 'My Yahoo' logo on the He can be reached by e-mail at main Yahoo page or go to my.yahoo.com and sign [email protected]. This article and many up. Many news pages offer a single click button other columns from Media magazine are available ("Add to My Yahoo" that allows you to instantly online with hot links on the JournalismNet Tips install the feed onto your Yahoo page. ) page at www.journalismnet.com/tips.

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 5 OPINION BY JOHN MILLER Journalists fiddle while journalism burns In Canada today, nobody who has any influence over journalism seems to care enough to draw us together to discuss what to do

ne of the hottest stars on the American innovative newsroom in the country and other years, documenting the slow progress towards newspaper seminar circuit is a Canadian editors would consider it beneath them to ask you representative newsrooms. Oeditor, Dana Robbins of the Hamilton about it." In Canada, The Canadian Association of Spectator. Seven times in the last six months, he's Newspaper Editors (CANE) professes no diversity been invited south to speak to U.S. editors about CONSIDER THE EVIDENCE: mandate. The only information on diversity on what he calls "the Spec Revolution," a bold and the Canadian Newspaper Association web site is a innovative type of journalism he's directing at the The Web site of the American Society of decade old. Minorities remain five times under- Ontario daily. Newspaper Editors bursts with energy.It contains represented in Canada's newsrooms, way out of "We've had so many inquiries from U.S.papers, reports on newspaper credibility, civic touch with their changing communities, and no including a large Texas daily that actually sent two journalism, developing the "learning newsroom" one seems to care. senior editors to Hamilton, that I've lost track," and "best practices" for covering local news. The Canadian Association of Journalists boasts says Robbins. The Americans, he says, are 1,400 members, but many aren't journalists. A "fascinated by what we're doing." "who's who" list of top Canadian journalists is a But the story is different in the insular world of "who's who" list of people who do not belong to Canadian journalism. Only two Canadian editors the CAJ. It runs mostly on volunteer help, and have phoned to ask about what's going on in his contributes little to the debate about how to make newsroom. The only public platform he's had was journalism better. Any serious discussion on the at the Canadian Newspaper Association's 2004 association's online discussion list is usually cut convention in Vancouver, where he was on a panel short by someone using the tired argument that discussing how to change newsroom culture. journalism isn't a profession,and never should be. This lack of curiosity about bold new ideas is This lack of dialogue runs deep. Canada's part of a tired old story.Canadian journalism can university-based journalism schools have be like a stagnant pool. It lacks both a forum and developed in isolation as well, and there is no the desire for professional debate and mechanism for sharing ideas and knowledge improvement. among them. Research tends to be conducted As newspapers, in particular, come under within English and French "silos," despite a increased pressure to change by the faster delivery national research consortium set up between of news on the Internet, and at a time when Laval, UBC and York-Ryerson with a multi- convergence and corporatization are taking their million donation from Bell Globemedia. There is toll on newsroom budgets, the lack of professional no industry-academic accrediting body for concern for journalism is almost a death-wish. journalism education, as there is in the U.S. Robbins blames what he calls a "leadership Journalists are being trained without a standard deficit" at most Canadian dailies, and their core curriculum, and frequently without any reliance on tired old formulas to try to arrest a 20- meaningful input from potential employers. year decline in readership. "In Canada, you could have the most innovative A lively professional debate among journalists "We tend to look for solutions within our own newsroom in the country and other editors would can contribute to higher standards of journalism. buildings, rather than looking outside." The consider it beneath them to ask you about it." American editors talk a lot about things like concentration of ownership of newspapers, he credibility at industry gatherings.In the past year, says, has resulted in insular, corporate thinking — Dana Robbins, Hamilton Spectator editor U.S. news organizations have taken a tougher line and a reluctance to share ideas. "Virtually than their Canadian counterparts on issues like everyone is viewed as the competition." There are more than 100 tips for better plagiarism and fabrication. Case in point: When Ironically, Robbins believes Canadian journalism, and the latest issue of the ASNE's Jack Kelley was suspected of fabricating sources, newspapers can be more innovative than their magazine, The American Editor. the publisher of USA Today called in three counterparts in the United States — it's just that ASNE reports complete paper-by-paper results respected outside editors to investigate. no one ever finds out about it. In the U.S., fresh of its annual newsroom diversity census from 927 After a thorough inquiry documented his ideas are debated and developed in professional newspapers, part of the organization's goal to transgressions, Kelley was fired and the paper's forums. In Canada, that never happens. "In have newsrooms reflect the percentage of editor resigned. When I told one of the Canada," he says, "you could have the most minorities in society. It's been doing this for 28 investigators,Bill Kovach,that such a thing would

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 6 PHOTO CREDIT: Gary Yokoyama/The Spectator never happen in Canada, he was incredulous. But when Brad Evenson of the National Post was discovered to be fabricating sources, the paper EXPERIMENT IN STEEL CITY called in no outsiders and eventually ran an unspecific four-inch clarification on page two. No What's revolutionary about the Hamilton Spectator? editor felt any need to resign.Evenson is no longer at the Post, but other Canadian plagiarists have "We are trying to build a culture that kept their jobs. has a greater capacity for failure," says editor-in-chief Dana Robbins. Ideas are carried from paper to paper in the "We believe in taking risks. I'd rather U.S. by top editors and reporters who are actively talk on the phone with a reader recruited and scouted at regional and national job who's upset rather than sit here not fairs. That does not happen in Canada, and it is knowing if the paper has touched not unusual for journalists to stay at the same anyone today." paper all their careers. Lack of turnover can be a particular problem at small papers, where tight • What he calls "a culture of newsroom budgets restrict training and innovation" has taken hold in development. If you hire problems there, they the newsroom, focused on may never go away. targeting new or infrequent Speaking of that,Canada has no counterpart to readers who are women or baby the American Press Institute or Poynter Institute boomers. The new Bible is the 2001 Impact study, conducted by the Readership Institute at Northwestern University in Illinois. That study Canadian journalism identified eight strategies to win back lost can be like a stagnant readership. pool. It lacks both a • The paper was made forum and the desire easier to navigate by eliminating the business for professional debate and lifestyle sections. Now there are only four sections and improvement. each day: News, sports, classified and GO, a broadsheet magazine that features food, health, event for Media Studies, well-funded professional listings and what Robbins development centres where new ideas are calls "fun." propagated. Nor do we have any Pew Center to explore new ways that journalism can fulfill its • In 2003, the Spec mandate to serve democracy, or a Committee of experimented with creative Concerned Journalists to refresh journalistic non-fiction and ran a 31-part standards. series about a local man who One of those American institutes, the Project poisoned his wife and business partner. "Poison — a for Excellence in Journalism, recently released a true crime story" resulted in a report entitled The State of the News Media 2004, circulation gain of five per cent which found that Americans think journalists are in single-copy sales, the largest sloppier, less professional and moral, less caring, in the paper's history. It took up more biased,less honest about their mistakes and 82 full pages of the paper and generally more harmful to democracy than they won a National Newspaper did in the 1980s. Award for special projects. Two public meetings to discuss the Journalists, the report said, believe they are series attracted standing-room working in the public interest and are trying to be audiences. fair and independent in that cause. This is their sense of professionalism. • The paper ran another such The public thinks these journalists are either project earlier this year, on lying or deluding themselves. News organizations abortion doctor sniper James are seen as largely in business to make money Kopp. It has three more mega- and the journalists who work for them are seen to series in the works. be motivated by ambition and self-interest. To members of the public, journalists have become • The newsroom has a significant part of the corporate elite. training budget — rare in Canadian newspapers these Continued on Page 19 days.

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 7 WRITING TOOLBOX BY DON GIBB Quotes should be real, engaging and meaningful Quotes that do nothing more than introduce factual, routine information — easily paraphrased — drag down a story

had 15 minutes with former Conservative introduce factual, routine information — easily finding good ones and forced me to work harder leader Robert Stanfield in the newspaper paraphrased — drag down a story. in an interview when I wasn't getting good Icafeteria and the same length of time to write Here are some of the pitfalls: quotes. my story. So I borrowed a tape recorder,thinking the only THE "REFERRING TO" THE FACT QUOTE sensible strategy was to pepper him with OR "SAID OF" QUOTE questions in the hope of getting something worth "We are looking for a 2002 or 2003 blue writing. Here's a quote from a story about Colorado Toyota," the police inspector told reporters at I fired away. I didn't have enough time to write Avalanche coach Bob Hartley taking the Stanley the scene. down one answer before I fired the next question Cup to PPG automotive glass plant in his home … but then, it was on tape and I could fill in the town of Hawkesbury, Ont. blanks as I was writing the story later. Back at my desk, I turned on the tape recorder "First thing I told him was you're crazy," and listened as it repeated Stanfield's words in an Gerry Lemieux, an operator at the plant for incomprehensible slow motion. The battery had the last 28 years, said of the day Hartley left died and along with it, the words of Robert PPG to coach the Hawkesbury Hawks of the Stanfield. Central Junior Hockey League in 1987. With only 15 minutes, I did all I could. Part of the story read something like this: "Said of" and "referring to" quotes often need lengthy explanation. Often, the solution is to Conservative leader Robert Stanfield said provide the background first as a lead-in to the if he becomes the next prime minister he will quote. In this case: "look into" Canada's health care system. He said it is important to "fix things" before they Hartley left PPG in 1987 to coach the get worse. Hawkesbury Hawks of the Central Junior Stanfield said he saw it as his "duty" to tell Hockey League. "First thing I told him was Canadians his plans for "their future." you're crazy," said Gerry Lemieux, an operator at the plant for the last 28 years. Although this story is as much about the hazards of a tape recorder as about lousy quotes, you get the idea. THE BRACKET-CRAZY QUOTE The fragmentations above need no quotation marks. In fact, the words look silly with the In this quote, Darcy Tucker of the Toronto added frills. They are only a disguise — a way to Maple Leafs is commenting on an incident where try to fool readers and editors and to avoid I had 15 minutes with former Conservative leader he was hurt in a playoff game: having to admit that I didn't have a complete Robert Stanfield in the newspaper cafeteria. So I quote to use. borrowed a tape recorder…Back at my desk, I "If that's (Detroit Red Wings centre) Steve Quotes are an essential and effective writing turned on the tape recorder. The battery had died Yzerman getting hit like that, (the NHL tool when they are used properly. They lend and along with it, the words of Robert Stanfield. would review the play)," Tucker said, his left authenticity to a story, they breathe life into it, arm in a sling. "The other night (Yzerman) they add credibility. We have a reason for using such feeble quotes goes under and hits (Chris) Pronger (of the And they allow readers to hear another voice.A — we haven't got anything else. And we know St. Louis Blues) like what happened with me story that lacks quotes is usually a pedestrian that's a poor excuse. and (Mike) Peca (in the first round of the piece of passive writing. Having been a victim of the find-a-quote-at- playoffs). I get abused for it. I'm called a But just as brilliant quotes bring a story to life, any-cost, I eventually turned finding good quotes dirty player. But (Yzerman) does the exact quotes used poorly or in heaping quantities can into a game. I told myself that every interviewee same thing and he's just trying to protect smother it. Quotes that do nothing more than had to earn a quote. It made me more alert to himself."

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 8 PHOTO CREDIT: National Archives of Canada, C-26588 (http://www.canadianheritage.org/reproductions/21791.htm) This is subjecting readers to unnecessary pain and suffering. The need for so much bracketed material means you must paraphrase. By doing so, you also highlight — and keep — the best TEN TIPS FOR USING part of the quote: QUOTES MORE EFFECTIVELY "I'm called a dirty player. But (Yzerman) does the exact same thing and he's just trying 1) Keep them short. 6) Use to advance the story to protect himself." through narrative. 2) Paraphrase the routine. This bracket-crazy quote,by the way,has all the Q-7) Use to highlight signs of a tape recorder quote. It tends to be 3) Use to capture emotion — material where the bloated and comes in a string of sentences. joy, frustration, precise words are excitement, anger. important. JARGON QUOTE 4) Use to provide opinion, 8) Use to support statements Rather than explain a complex issue to readers offer perspective. made in a story. by paraphrasing what a speaker said,we sometimes subject them to a speaker's written words: 5) Use to highlight important 9) Use to add colour. information or testimony "Municipal legislation, ethical codes and from documents, courts, 10)Use to bring another voice policies are vague with respect to both the TIPSparliament. into your story. definition of conflict of interest and the responsibilities of the elected members of municipal councils who are in, or who The commissioner described his new job as THE PREDICTABLE, PEDESTRIAN encounter, conflicts of interest," said the "walking barefoot on hot coals every day." AND CLICHÉ QUOTE councillor. "This vagueness creates an increasingly ECHO QUOTE They can be used over and over again: untenable state of uncertainty and vulnerability for the elected members of Hello … hello … where have I heard that before? "It was awesome." municipal councils as well as undermining Echo quotes result when a reporter paraphrases a "It was fun." the legitimacy of those elected to council in person's statement and repeats virtually the same "Thank God we have closure." the eyes of members of the public." material in a quote directly following the paraphrase: The only good feature of these quotes is their No doubt this comes directly from a motion The chief administrative officer said no layoffs length.In his book,The Craft of Interviewing,Tom presented to city council, but it takes more than will result from the loss of the $7-million Brady describes quotes as "brief, brilliant bursts first-, second- and third-reading to get the point contract. "There won't be any layoffs as a result of life." here. Such technical jargon cries out for of the loss of this contract," she said. I once read that writers should try to keep paraphrasing: quotes to one sentence. Two is OK, but three is The simple solution is to make a decision on one or usually one too many.It's not a bad "rule" to keep Coun. Joan Jackson said municipal the other — to paraphrase or to quote. in the back of your mind, especially for those who councillors trying to deal with possible love to quote at length or regularly use a tape conflicts of interest will get little help from THE EXPLANATION QUOTE recorder. vague guidelines in municipal legislation, So what does work? Quotes that give readers a ethical codes and other policies. It's really lazy reporting to expect the interviewee glimpse into personality — that show emotion. Such vagueness creates uncertainty and to do the heavy lifting by explaining — through a Quotes that express a point of view. Quotes that vulnerability for councillors, she said, and quote — how things work. The writer needs to don't appear to have been rehearsed or taken from undermines their legitimacy in the eyes of the understand how something works, but he doesn't a news release. public. have to bore readers with the details: Here are a few examples: "There are six- to eight-week programs FRAGMENTARY QUOTE offered in aerobics,dance,clubs and aquatics just "I was so afraid of closing my eyes," she to name a few. recalled recently. "And it was so odd. There If the point wasn't made with the Stanfield And the latest program is called step. It is a was no pain, no pain at all." partial quotes, here it is again: bench that you step up on to get your heart rate (A woman talking about the day a up. However, it is considered more low impact gunman tried to kill her.) The commissioner said his new job will be a than aerobics and because there is less stress to "challenge." the knees, the chance of injury is greatly Apartments are so scarce that even veteran reduced," he said. real estate agent Joan Wilson, who has to The quote marks add nothing. Challenge speaks for itself. However, if the words are unusual or This is all factual information that is best show a person's personality, that's when a paraphrased because the writer can say it more fragmentary or partial quote can work: succinctly. Continued on Page 19

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 9 FEATURE BY ROSS HOWARD Intelligent reporting about security Even two years post-9/11, there is surprisingly little informed reporting on how well or how badly Canada is protected against terrorism

ournalists heartened by the launching of a Learning from the Arar inquiry and the pervasive, intrusive and well-funded ($7.7 billion public inquiry into Maher Arar's abduction to Parliamentary review may be a slow and limited extra, since 9/11) business. The new reality is that JSyria, with the associated RCMP raid on an process. Which only adds to the new uncertainty Canada's security system faces a long and "possibly Ottawa Citizen reporter's home, have a lot to about domestic security and civil rights, and to traumatic" anti-terrorism battle but it has huge learn. the Canadian media's alarmingly insignificant gaps including public understanding, public After preliminary public testimony,the inquiry role in finding the right balance. confidence and sophisticated Parliamentary has now disappeared behind closed doors for As Carleton University national security oversight, says Rudner. potentially months of wrangling with federal specialist Martin Rudner puts it, "security and "Most Canadians seem to feel that we live in the security authorities over what can be revealed. eye of a hurricane…yet it is clear that the peaceful Even reporting the location of these secret dominion is gravely menaced" by terrorism proceedings could be punishable under new encroaching and already embedded in local national security provisions. communities, says Rudner. For example, the The inquiry originally offered potential insight dependence of Canadian Muslim and Arab into any Canadian complicity in the U.S. institutions' upon Saudi Arabian funding makes abduction in New York and alleged torture in them "vulnerable to extremist influences that can Syria of a Canadian citizen, in this new era of threaten Canadian multicultural values, public sweeping American anti-terrorism laws and safety and national security." comparable Canadian provisions. Rudner, who first raised his concerns at last The RCMP raid on Citizen reporter Juliet spring's CAJ convention in Vancouver, says the O'Neill's home last January, seeking her Arar majority of reporting about security issues in stories' sources, indicates that the new security Canada is uninformed and leans towards the mind-set puts the media within the reach of trivial or over-sensationalized small scandals Mounties acting for bureaucrats in the Privy within the security establishment. Council Office. Knowledge of how the Canadian security The Arar inquiry, in response to rights' establishment operates through the RCMP, CSIS, advocates and media alarm at a Canadian CSE, SIRC, etc and works through or around example of abuses recurrent in the U.S., also Before taking his inquiry into the treatment Parliament, is "very poor" for almost all reporters provided a timely opportunity for a wider probing of Maher Arar (pictured above) underground, and media managers, says Rudner. of Canadian security in this new age. commissioner Mr. Justice Dennis O'Connor Another of the Arar inquiry's special advisors From senior jurists to newspaper publishers, unhappily observed that the new security agrees. academia, the Canadian Bar Association and the laws effectively obscure "the whole idea of "There's a lack of specialization, lack of Canadian Association of Journalists, there has a public inquiry." continuity and lack of context to much of Canadian been widespread concern that Canada has lurched reporting on intelligence and security," says York into terrorism and security obsessions with rights are the single most unknown important University professor emeritus Reg Whitaker, the surprisingly little public understanding or issue in Canada…[and] Canadian journalists are dean of Canadian security studies who now consensus on the threat and the appropriate unfamiliar with almost every aspect." teaches at the University of Victoria. response. Rudner, director of the Canadian Centre for The end of the Cold War saw cost-cutting within But as inquiry commissioner Mr. Justice Intelligence and Security Studies and author of Canadian security services and a disintegration of Dennis O'Connor unhappily observed before several related books, says "there's a great specialized security reporting in Canada. taking his inquiry underground in September,the vacuum" of intelligent reporting about "Security and intelligence were not seen as new security laws effectively obscure "the whole intelligence-gathering and rights intrusions, and connected to anything," says Whitaker. National idea of a public inquiry." Justice O'Connor left Canadian journalists, media managers and security became a lowest-priority beat with few open the possibility of a constitutional challenge journalism schools are doing little to fill it. reporters building a web of contacts. The new to the murky security provisions. Rudner is one of five special advisors to the realization that terror can reach Canada is now Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler says he Arar inquiry on how to create independent altering the parochial view. The neo-liberal hopes to extend a mandatory three-year review of supervision of the RCMP when it engages in ideology of Canada is losing ground and the 2001 Anti-Terrorism Act to include the huge national security activities. He also authored the government is being re-centred in Canadian life. collection of other laws also amended in the name study published in September's Canadian Foreign In the name of security issues it is assuming a of enhanced national security. But a wider Policy Journal tracing the sudden galvanizing of a more pivotal, dominant position. But most of the legislative review depends upon the mood of a moribund and disorganized national security coverage ends up being uncritical of security minority-governed and short-lived Parliament. establishment in Canada into a much more agencies and their competency. And the agencies

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 10 PHOTO CREDIT: CP PHOTO/Jonathan Hayward effectively manipulate the media, according to although it may be cursorily covered under other Whitaker. subject headings. Most J-schools offer Media focus on small scandals such as lost conventional courses in the legal rights and briefcases and hapless informers' fates and obligations of journalism, but Rudner and Bell "completely ignores the process — the machinery of both say they see no evidence that national government which weighs recommendations and security,anti-terrorism efforts and rights under the Sources_AD made the decisions" which embraced the post-9/11 new laws are mandatory knowledge for every cranking up of security powers, says Whitaker.Even graduating journalist,or for every managing editor two years post-9/11, there is surprisingly little and news director. informed reporting on how well or how badly The RCMP's rifling of reporter O'Neill's personal Canada is protected against terrorism. belongings, because the Privy Council Office Federal Auditor-General Sheila Fraser revealed couldn't find her Arar story source inside the last spring that despite $7 billion for security since bureaucracy, identifies the paradox of the terrorism 2001 there are still 25,000 additional lost or stolen threat. In the new era of anti-terrorism, do the passports annually going unnoticed at the borders, vaguely defined Canadian traditions of press and 4,500 of the airport workers given security clearance since 2001 have criminal records or associations. But the National Press Gallery remains preoccupied with the more easily covered political fulminations and fall-out over Fraser's other hot report about Liberal ad agency scandals. There are exceptions, including CP's Jim Bronskill in Ottawa who scrutinizes the security process. The two national dailies now have security-beat reporters, and CBC Television documentary-makers like the McKenna brothers have probed some of the darker corners. But for an issue which has substantial new importance, and has altered the balance between security and rights in Canada with spillovers into crime-fighting, street protest and even religious freedoms, most of the reporting provides conventional illusions, not understanding, says Rudner. "Security and rights are the single most Stewart Bell of the National Post is the only full- unknown important issue in Canada…[and] time Canadian reporter on the terrorism beat, and Canadian journalists are unfamiliar with has a passport full of Middle East visas to prove it. almost every aspect." He worries that most Canadian media "continue to downplay the threat to Canada. — national security specialist, Martin Rudner "We need to take a much broader approach, to include the fund-raisers here in Canada as part freedoms give way to intimidation and overt of our reporting on terrorism. Who are the persecution? Simon Fraser University political support groups? Check their credentials, look at scientist Paddy Smith is one of those worried the the court evidence and (access-to-information) uneasy balance between security and documents," says Bell, who is author of the new accountability is seriously off-kilter. book Cold Terror: How Canada nurtures and Smith, who studies the security-rights exports terrorism around the world. quandary, argues that the extent to which security Bell argues "most of the reporting is done with ends up impinging on civil rights is a measure of such superficiality" that it reveals nothing, the security service's failure to deter terrorism in including the reality that Canadian anti-terror the first place. Ironically, the more media outlets agencies like the RCMP and CSIS are competent at improve their reporting on security and rights, the observing terrorists at work in Canada but they more likely they'll become victims of the have an appalling record at actually halting them. imbalance. Rudner puts much of the blame for such Smith nicely sums it up: superficial coverage on journalism schools and "The fact that it is harder to undertake this editors. "Journalism schools don't train journalists responsibility — impacted at times by anti- in security studies, conflict analysis and terrorist legislation, systemic inertia and at times international studies," he says. "J-schools have to by corporate editorial policies — is not sufficient rebalance their technical skills training with grounds for not taking on the task. substantive study of security institutions, "Rights and security will not be rebalanced terrorism and the cultures which breed it." without the best efforts of Canadian journalists." A quick online scan of the curricula for a half- dozen Canadian journalism schools suggests Ross Howard teaches journalism at Langara Rudner's right. Nowhere is there any mention of College in Vancouver and trains journalists offshore specific security-intelligence-terrorism reporting, in conflict reporting. PHOTO CREDIT: CP/Tom Hanson MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 11 FEATURE The cops and the media Edmonton Sun columnist Kerry Diotte thought it was a joke when someone warned him that he may be under surveillance. In this story he describes what happened

he Canadian Association of Journalists police who had two officers under cover inside the showed up at Overtime to catch a "serial drunk event that wound up sparking a major bar and others outside. driver." (I've never so much as been charged with Tcontroversy began innocently. Scanner conversations referred to me as " T-1" drunk driving.) As president of the Edmonton CAJ chapter, I (or target one) and fingered Ignasiak as "T-2." Within days of the CAJ event the chief had helped organize a Nov.18 meet-and-greet for Later reports alleged police may have also targeted announced a two-pronged internal probe — one journalists to socialize with provincial election newly elected Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel. to investigate the conduct of cops who attempted candidates and their supporters at a popular Two days after the CAJ event, Ignasiak huddled to carry out the operation, the other to investigate downtown bar called Overtime Broiler & with Mandel and Edmonton Police Service Chief why Rayner's executive assistant, Insp. Bryan Taproom. Fred Rayner in hopes of getting a full explanation. Boulanger, issued the news release leading the A few hours into the affair that began at 5 p.m., They agreed to say nothing more publicly about public to believe Ignasiak and I were drunk and it and was attended by more than 50 people, an the allegations until Rayner gave them a report appeared I would drive home in my car. excited Edmonton Sun colleague raced up to me four days later. Surprisingly,initial public reaction seemed split holding a cell phone. But Ignasiak hit the roof the next day when 50-50 between people who were outraged over the She said something like,"Oh my God,you've got police issued a news release that he felt was allegations and others who perhaps didn't quite to talk to Shane.The cops are talking about you on attempting to put a "spin" on the bizarre operation understand the implications of the story. Some the police scanner." Police admitted in a news release they sent cops people wrote letters to the editor of the Edmonton I wound up talking to on-duty Sun police to the bar after receiving information that "a Sun saying journalists and high-ranking public reporter Shane Holladay who told me he was officials shouldn't expect to be above the law when hearing Edmonton Police Service (EPS) officers it came to drunk driving. chatting on a police scanner about both me and That night at Overtime I Edmonton police were asked if they'd ever police commission chairman Martin Ignasiak, didn't believe cops were conducted a similar operation at other bars, who was also at the mixer. there to target me. I told our targeting allegedly intoxicated patrons with a half The reporter said it sounded as if police were dozen cops including under-cover officers. They aiming to catch both me and Ignasiak driving police reporter something couldn't say that they had. home after drinking too much. along the lines of, "Bullshit. Police and police supporters raised enough I figured my colleague was playing a prank on I don't believe you. It doesn't controversy that Ignasiak wound up having to step me because I'd written a recent column somewhat matter, I'm taking a cab aside temporarily as spokesman for the police critical of police after a fatal pursuit killed another commission on the issue. Some people felt he had motorist when the kid being pursued ran a red home anyway." I left in a a conflict of interest.Some officials actually said he light and broad-sided a woman's car. cab about 10 p.m. I always should resign from the commission.I was appalled In that column,I said the young driver who fled take a taxi if I have more at those views. Ignasiak had done nothing wrong. police should receive the brunt of people's anger, In my view, he was the victim here. but cops still should provide the public further than a couple of beers. Weeks after the botched event, police still had details about how the chase was handled. not provided the police commission with many I'd also been the first to expose a questionable drunken patron was going to leave a downtown details of the operation. Commissioners had not 20-year, $90-million photo radar contract EPS restaurant in his car." even been allowed to hear tapes of the police traffic cops had been pushing hard to city council. In the same release they reported "a second scanner conversations from that night. When my source raised allegations that some EPS intoxicated man whom they recognized as a high- Reporters who'd attended the event were being officers had taken unauthorized perks from the profile member of the community." re-interviewed by police who were asking them photo radar technology company they were Police say they saw both of us leave in cabs and odd questions centering on how much they saw promoting, a full-scale RCMP investigation was then, "the officers concluded their investigation." Ignasiak and me drinking that evening. launched into their conduct. That night at It wasn't hard for the public to conclude the Although police commissioners initially wanted Overtime I didn't believe cops were there to target release was referring to me and Ignasiak since to have some answers on the police action within me. I told our police reporter something along the we'd already been named in news stories. I wasn't four days of the debacle, they were still in the dark lines of, "Bullshit. I don't believe you. It doesn't at all pleased at being referred to as a drunken more than three weeks after the event. matter, I'm taking a cab home anyway." I left in a patron who was about to drive his car. I wasn't cab about 10 p.m.I always take a taxi if I have more drunk and it didn't appear to me Ignasiak was Kerry Diotte is a veteran of 25 years in than a couple of beers. either. Journalists who'd been at the event and journalism. He has worked in radio, television, As pieces of the story came together, alarming were interviewed agreed. newspapers and magazines and has been employed allegations surfaced. Police scanner transmissions I wasn't pleased having my name dragged since 1985 by the Edmonton Sun where he's been heard by Holladay and a TV station staffer lent through the mud. I was even less pleased when an an opinion columnist for six years. He can be credibility to fears I'd been specifically targeted by Edmonton Journal columnist later wrote that cops reached at [email protected]

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 12 PHOTO CREDIT: CP/Tom Hanson BOOK REVIEW BY GILLIAN STEWARD The alienation myth To the rest of Canada, it looks as though the Conservatives are well entrenched. Up close, and through the Lisac lens, things look a lot murkier

pensions. The letter immediately gained currency populated by stereotypical cowboys and as an expression of political frustration not just mavericks, Alberta is a place of "compulsive on the part of Albertans, but of all westerners. conformity." But who were the authors of the letter, asks Everyone, from big city mayors to university Lisac? " They were academics, policy analysts and presidents, toes the line rather than publicly would-be politicians (Stephen Harper, now challenge the policies of the provincial federal Conservative leader,was among them).Yet government. And yet Alberta politicians, both they received immediate credibility in the form of federal and provincial, are quick to condemn the heavy media attention, including a story and a "democratic deficit" in Ottawa. posed, front-page portrait in the National Post." Lisac places a lot of the blame for Alberta's stultifying political culture at the feet of the mainstream media, a brave thing to do given that he is employed by The Edmonton Journal."The prevailing method of political journalism in the province drifted toward a deliberate strategy of getting along with the government in exchange for Alberta Politics Uncovered: a steady diet of leaks that led to "exclusive stories" Taking Back Our Prov ince — stories about usually inconsequential matters By Mark Lisac or full of inaccuracies." NeWest Press This collusion between a controlling government 122 pages and a compliant media has led to growing voter $10.95 (paperback) apathy in Alberta, Lisac writes — a point underlined by the recent provincial election here. lbertans are soaked in self-deception. So Voter turnout sunk to an all time low of 46 per says Edmonton author and journalist Mark cent. Not even a chance to vote for senators — ALisac in his latest book Alberta Politics another one of those cleverly constructed myths — could entice people to the polls. In the end, Uncovered. And the biggest deception of all? Mark Lisac has now written two books on more Albertans voted against a Klein government Western alienation — that tried-and-true phrase Alberta politics…For the past three years he that pops up in news media accounts across the has been working the night copy desk at the than voted for it. country as regularly as a gopher on the prairie in Edmonton Journal. He took about eight weeks But the party ended up with about 75 per cent spring. of earned vacation time last spring to write of the seats in the legislature. To the rest of "This is one of those big sounding phrases that his latest book. Canada, it looks as though the Conservatives are people throw around when they want to sound like well entrenched. they know a lot," Lisac writes in this small book. It seemed to have escaped many media pundits Up close, and through the Lisac lens, things "It's a handy tool for politicians trying to juice that insular academics may not speak for the look a lot murkier. up their own reputations and the reach of their population as a whole. Or that Saskatchewan and I could go on and on about this book. Having power. It's an all-purpose headline for Newfoundland may have more reason to feel lived and worked in Alberta as a journalist myself journalists." alienated from the rest of the country than rich, since the days of Peter Lougheed, I found that That's just the beginning. Lisac then proceeds influential Alberta. Lisac pulled together a number of prevailing to carefully dissect the current image of Alberta The roots of alienation are historic and deep, myths about this province and neatly sliced them and Albertans that has been crafted in much of writes Lisac, but they stem mainly from a rural open. In doing so he reveals faulty logic, and the mainstream media both inside and outside society that has long fought to maintain its empty but manipulative propaganda. the province. influence as the family farm (or ranch) dies out His thesis will surely be debated long into the He points to the famous "firewall" letter that and Alberta becomes urbanized.This lost sense of night by people who will point to Albertans' long- was sent to Premier Ralph Klein in a "blaze of entitlement fuses with the anger of perennially standing and overwhelming support for publicity" shortly after Stockwell Day's Alliance aggrieved oil executives in downtown Calgary. conservatism,whether it be the Klein brand or the Party was soundly defeated by Jean Chrétien's The result is a pervasive rhetoric about western Preston Manning brand. Liberals in 2000. alienation that sounds catchy but is at odds with But conservatism isn't necessarily anti- The letter proposed that the province virtually contemporary reality. democratic, and it is this swing toward a separate itself from the federal government and The real alienation happens within the go it alone on everything from health care to province, according to Lisac. Rather than a place Continued on Page 20

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 13 FINE PRINT BY DEAN JOBB On the level The case of the Hamilton Spectator reporter should teach us that it’s important to spell out what kind of protection we can offer sources

when found, must be met and defended against on behalf of the administration of justice." Many in the media have condemned the ruling, arguing the courts should respect the confidentiality of journalists' sources. Perhaps most troubling was Crane's insistence in punishing Peters for contempt even though the sources later volunteered to come forward. Journalists could be forgiven for thinking the law already protects their sources. In January 2004 Mary Lou Benotto, one of Crane's fellow Superior Court judges, described confidential sources as essential to the effective functioning of the media in a free and democratic society. Benotto ruled the RCMP had no right to seize documents leaked to National Post reporter Andrew McIntosh about the Shawinigate affair. For the first time in Canada, she extended the concept of privilege — the kind of protection that prevents the disclosure of information passed between lawyers and clients — to the relationship between journalists and sources. Ken Peters testified that he feared being shunned within the profession But Benotto's ruling did not create blanket if he ignored his ethical responsibilities and betrayed his source. protection for journalists' sources. She called McIntosh's situation unique and stressed that his stories involved serious allegations involving the he furor over Hamilton Spectator reporter $15-million lawsuit the operators of a Hamilton country's highest elected official,the prime minister. Ken Peters' contempt conviction for nursing home have filed against civic officials Benotto's ruling did not tie Crane's hands — Trefusing to betray a source raises two they accuse of defamation and negligence. only an appeal court precedent could do that — crucial questions for all of us. Do Canadian Someone leaked documents to Peters alleging and McIntosh was facing a different situation.The journalists have the right to protect confidential the mistreatment of residents and staff — police wanted to run forensic tests on his sources? And if we don't,how should we deal with information the home claims was false and the documents to try to identify who leaked them, sources who risk retribution — even their lives city knew was false. something Benotto considered a fishing — if their identities are revealed? Our courts have always maintained that expedition with little chance of success.Crane was The answer to the first question is no, as the journalists who have information relevant to a dealing with a plaintiff seeking information Peters case made very clear. In early December court case are in the same position as any other crucial to the outcome of a trial. an Ontario Superior Court judge, David Crane, citizen. A witness who refuses to answer a Benotto's ruling is under appeal and, if upheld, ordered the Spectator to pay $31,600 in legal costs question when summoned to court risks being may refine and even expand when journalists can after Peters refused to reveal who leaked convicted of contempt, and may be fined or claim privilege. The expected appeal in the Peters documents he used in a story nine years ago. wind up behind bars as punishment. case could also clarify when judges can demand Peters promised not to reveal the source's In the Peters case, the judge said the that sources be identified. identity and, to his credit, he honoured his reporter's refusal to answer created a "crisis" in Perhaps most galling for journalists was Crane's promise. His bosses, to their credit, have backed the trial of the nursing home's lawsuit against mini-lecture on how they should do their jobs. him and vowed to appeal. Crane's only the city. Peters testified that he feared being shunned concessions were to deal with Peters under the "The only witness to a most central issue in within the profession if he ignored his ethical civil law — leaving the reporter free of the this very long trial had refused to provide his responsibilities and betrayed his source. If stigma of a criminal record — and to spare him evidence," Crane said in his ruling. "Society is journalists are being pressured to make promises from serving jail time. about limits and citizenship is about subjecting This was not an idle inquiry by a nosy judge. ourselves to the law. A direct challenge to the The identity of Peters' source is at the heart of a authority of the law in the face of the court, Continued on Page 20

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 14 PHOTO CREDIT: John Rennison/The Spectator TELEVISION BY PAUL ATTALLAH The Fox News revolution Will it be felt in Canada?

On "cultural values," Canada and the U.S. are growing apart, not together. What would Fox News make of a country contemplating gay marriage, the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana, and a very expensive gun registry?

The thought of being crushed by Ann Coulter does give one pause. But on the same show she later admitted a fondness for Western Canada, cowboys and open skies and expressed a desire to annex Canada's "ski areas." Maybe we could let her do it in July?

he CRTC has finally cleared Fox News for not always hold power and Fox News will not only a very few can ever rise to the surface of distribution in Canada.Let the culture wars always be a venue. public attention.Indeed,blogs are most successful Tbegin! Furthermore, Fox is unlikely to take the same precisely when the mainstream media pay In the U.S., Fox News has quickly become the interest in Canada or to institute a similar attention. Bloggers provide material to Fox News, most-watched cable news network, with 46 of the symbiotic relationship. Canada is not its primary which provides a platform for bloggers. top 50 cable shows in some weeks, outdistancing market and it has no incentive to deploy resources The point is not that there are no bloggers in both CNN and MSNBC.Jim Rutenberg of The New here. Canada.It's that the context in which they operate York Times has even referred to a "Fox effect": Indeed, Fox abandoned a partnership with is significantly different. "anchors and commentators who skewer the Global Television that would have allowed it to For example, does anyone remember Howard mainstream media, disparage the French and flay launch three years ago, because it saw no benefit Stern? His splashy arrival to the Canadian anybody else who questions President Bush's war to including Canadian content. airwaves was also supposed to provoke effort." (Joe Rutenberg, New York Times, April 16, Additionally, if Fox is like other American incalculable harm. But in retrospect, his impact 2003.) media, then it probably doesn't even know what appears to have been minimal. And that captures the Fox formula, which is to street Canada is on! That's an important fact. Our hot buttons are inject the raucous, freewheeling, right-wing Second, the Fox sensibility is supported by a not their hot buttons. Our political culture and sensibility of talk radio into television.As a result, secret army of bloggers, mostly angry guys with civil society are simply different. some fear — or hope — that Fox will repeat its laptops and lots of spare time. They scan the As virtually every study has shown, Canadians success here. media for anything they dislike — Dan Rather, are more tolerant, less religious, and more But will it? Fox's American success is tied to John Kerry, the Dixie Chicks — and take to their respectful of the divisions between private and specific circumstances, which may not translate keyboards in a frenzy of indignant commentary. public life, etc. easily to Canada. They are relentless, motivated and unbound by On "cultural values," Canada and the U.S. are First, Fox gladly offers itself as a platform to the conventions of objectivity, fact-checking, growing apart,not together.What would Fox News the Republican White House. The White House attribution, double-sourcing, and so on. make of a country contemplating gay marriage, lends credibility to Fox which, in return, gives the The Pew Centre estimates that a new blog is White House a venue. But the Republicans will created every 5.8 seconds. This also means that Continued on Page 21

PHOTO CREDIT: CP/Jonathan Hayward MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 15 Student Journalist Hong Kong Fellowship Exploring Hong Kong – Asia’s world city Deadline: February 28, 2005

Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board Hong Kong, Asia’s world city, is a Special Student journalists, who are interested in knowing Administrative Region of the People’s Republic more about Hong Kong and seeing Hong Kong to gain of China, run by Hong Kong people under first-hand insight, are invited to apply for the “Student the “One Country, Two Systems” principle. Journalist Hong Kong Fellowship”, organized by the Situated at the southeastern tip of China and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) of the at the center of rapidly developing East Asia, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Hong Kong is one of the most open, externally in association with the Canadian Association of oriented economies in the world, built on free Journalists (CAJ). enterprise and free trade. It is also considered Two winning student journalists will be awarded a the best springboard to trade and investment package each, including a 10-day visit with an economy in the growing China market. class air ticket and hotel accommodation. When in Hong Kong, the winners will have the opportunity to Hong Kong has been rated the world’s freest visit various points of interest and meet with people of economy by the Heritage Foundation, the Cato diverse views and cultural backgrounds. The winning Institute and Fraser Institute. student journalists must publish or broadcast some What makes Hong Kong tick as a great world stories about Hong Kong after their trip in the local city and a world class financial, trading and media or in their university/school journals or business center are: its unrivalled location; newsletters, but they will have complete editorial freedom. its free and liberal investment regime; its low The award is open to any journalism student who is and simple tax regime; its transparent common currently in a recognized university level journalism law legal system and rule of law with an program, in their third year of a BJ program or higher. independent judiciary; its world class state-of- Applicants must be a paid-in-full member in good the-art infrastructure; its free flow of standing of the CAJ. Non-members may take out information; its entrepreneurial spirit; and membership upon making an application. For application a truly international lifestyle. procedures, please visit the CAJ website at www.caj.ca. For more information, please contact Mr Stephen Siu, Assistant Director (Public Relations), Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at [email protected].

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, 174 St. George Street, Toronto ON M5R 2M7, www.hketo.ca JOIN US FOR THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND AWARDS GALA EVENING IN

May 13-15 - Fort Garry Hotel

The CAJ is welcoming all journalists, freelancers and seasoned veterans to attend the National Conference May 13-15, 2005 in Winnipeg. The goal of this cross-border conference will be to help improve your writing and investigative skills. Don't miss this opportunity to meet other journalists, share information and network with some of North America's greatest professionals.

You're also invited to the CAJ awards gala evening, which will celebrate the best of investigative journalism for 2004!

Special room rates for all CAJ conference delegates have been arranged with the Fort Garry Hotel.

For more information on the Conference, visit www.caj.ca.

The Manitoba gang looks forward to showing you a bit of Prairie hospitality.

See you in Winnipeg!

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 17 COMPUTER-ASSISTED REPORTING BY FRED VALLANCE-JONES 2004 was a good year for CAR The CBC, The Toronto Star and The Hamilton Spectator led the way with stories that uncovered important problems

wo thousand-and-four was a banner year mandatory vehicle emissions inspection Ontario government to crack down on fraud and for computer-assisted reporting in Canada, program. (In the interests of full disclosure, I was launch a comprehensive review of the program. Tboth because of the stories, and because of one of two reporters on the project.) Two months after the Spectator package, the enormous breakthroughs made in access to Those of you who live outside of southern Ontario's provincial auditor looked at Drive important data. Ontario or the Lower Mainland of B.C. may never Clean, and identified many of the same problems Everyone knows that we lag a few years behind have heard of emissions testing. It started in found by the newspaper. our American cousins in this CAR game. They California back in the days when cars really did The work by the CBC, The Star and The always seem out front with the latest ideas and belch out a lot of pollution. B.C. introduced its Spectator once again showed the enormous power software, not to mention access to data sets that program in 1992 and Ontario in 1999. While the of CAR to reveal the inner workings, and we can only dream of, such as sex offender methods they use differ, both tests use gas deficiencies, of things that Canadians take for registries. analyzers to measure smog-causing pollutants granted. The work also blazed new trails for data Even so, we're starting to build quite a track coming out of the tailpipe. You can't renew your access in Canada, showing again that really record north of the 49th, despite well-intentioned important databases can be obtained if we try privacy laws that keep some of the most The adverse drug hard enough. It really wasn't that long ago that important data out of the hands of journalists. people were saying you couldn't do CAR because In February 2004, CBC Radio and Television reaction data had never you couldn't get data.I hope the words taste good. rolled out Faint Warning,a truly excellent series of As we head into 2005, CAR is also thriving on stories on adverse drug reactions in Canada. been made so public the Web. Perhaps as important as the stories themselves before, and I could only Until now Canadian reporters looking for was access to the data. CBC fought Health Canada information and tips on computer-assisted for several years and finally obtained the data in a imagine how the reporting have had to rely on U.S.-based sites.The useful format in 2003. U.S. sites are excellent, but not surprisingly, they Back in 1997, CBC Manitoba pioneered the bureaucrats who had are almost devoid of Canadian content. CAR posting of data behind a CAR series when we fought so hard to keep the reporters work in a completely different broadcast Poisoning our Province. With Faint environment in this country, especially with Warning, CBC took public data access to a data secret reacted when regard to privacy laws and how they affect access new level by posting a searchable version of to data.There was a significant need for a site that part of Health Canada's adverse drug reaction they discovered CBC was looked at CAR from a Canadian perspective, data. You can still find it online (at: putting it out for the celebrated Canadian success stories and provided http://www.cbc.ca/news/adr/database/ links to Canadian data. database.jsp). The effort recently won the network whole world to see. CARinCanada fills that need. an award from the Online Journalism Association. The site was launched in October and is designed The adverse drug reaction data had never been car's registration without passing AirCare in the to be a portal into CAR done the Canadian way. made so public before, and I could only imagine B.C. Lower Mainland or Drive Clean in Ontario. You will find tips on obtaining data and filing how the bureaucrats who had fought so hard to We fought the Ontario ministry for almost freedom-of-information requests, as well as links keep the data secret reacted when they discovered three years to obtain the data. When it finally to downloadable government data and some of CBC was putting it out for the whole world to see. arrived, it came on two DVDs.With more than 12 the best CAR stories done in Canada in the past The editor of this very magazine, David McKie, million records of individual tests,it was an awful 10 years. Over time, additional features will be was a key player in the CBC's work on this story. lot of bits and bytes. added to the site. More recently, The Toronto Star published its Once we figured out how to do it (a story for Again, I have to plead involvement in this, as own series based on analysis of the same data. another column perhaps), we analyzed the data Webmaster. The site is dedicated to Canada's (at: http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ and found that more than 98 per cent of cars CAR community and to those who want to find ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Render&c=Pa seven years old and newer were passing the out more about this amazing part of the ge&cid=1102071725614) Ontario tests on the first try.The series challenged journalistic landscape. I hope you find it useful. Health Canada was hardly the only agency to the conventional wisdom about emissions learn this year about the compelling power of testing, and found that claims of environmental Vallance-Jones is a reporter at The Hamilton computer-assisted reporting. Bureaucrats at benefits were greatly overstated.The investigation Spectator, part-time journalism instructor at Ontario's Ministry of the Environment found out also uncovered rampant fraud, including dozens Ryerson University, and Webmaster of as well when The Hamilton Spectator published of garages that were producing phoney Drive CARinCanada. You can contact him at Smokescreen, a critical look at the province's Clean pass certificates. The series prompted the [email protected]

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 18 Continued from Pg. 7 smell and each time she was told not to worry, they'd look into it. Journalists fiddle while journalism burns I once read that It would be tempting to see this solely as an And this from a Globe story about the work of American problem, but as we all know, there are an ambulance crew: writers should try many things wrong with Canadian journalism. to keep quotes to Mass-market media are losing their audience,yet Mr. Grayson takes over the case and much of the new investment in journalism today patches the woman on to a portable heart one sentence. goes toward disseminating the news, not toward monitor. collecting it.There are fewer reporters and editors in "Is it a heart attack?" a nervous mother-in- Two is OK, but our newsrooms today than there were 10 years ago. law asks in halting English. three is usually News organizations are falling further away from "No. No," Mr. Grayson says, "I wish my their communities. They cover news of institutions heart was this good." one too many. more than they cover news that concerns ordinary "Thank God," the woman says, her hands people.Our watchdog role is being neglected.Those folded upward in prayer. who try to manipulate the press appear to be If you read the quote aloud, you'll get a better gaining leverage over the journalists who cover So after all of this, what's the real message? sense of how it sounds. Ask yourself: Does this them. Just as you double-check your story for sound as if the person is standing in front of me But I would say there is one,overriding issue that accuracy,challenge your quotes to make sure they (or the reader) saying these words? Remember: a has gone even more seriously wrong: In Canada pass the test of being real, engaging and person's gotta earn that quote. today, nobody who has any influence over meaningful. Do not allow yourself to use a quote journalism seems to care enough to draw us that doesn't sound like something someone Don Gibb teaches reporting at Ryerson's School together to discuss what to do. would say in a conversation. of Journalism in Toronto. Harold Evans, editor of Britain's Sunday Times during its heyday,has famously said,"The challenge for the newspaper business is not to stay in business; it's to stay in journalism." Someone better step up to that challenge — and soon. Or else we may see journalism itself slope away into irrelevance, diversion and oblivion.

John Miller is professor of journalism at Ryerson University. His book, Yesterday's News (Fernwood, 1998) offered suggestions for how Canadian newspapers could win back trust and readers.

Continued from Pg. 9 Quotes should be real, engaging and... move in two months, can't find a place. "I think I should fire myself." Full Service

One final note about quotes — and that is dialogue. Dialogue is often overlooked by writers, but it does a wonderful job of taking readers into DIGITAL COLOUR PRINTING • HIGH-SPEED COPYING the scene. It could be an exchange between a lawyer and witness in court, between politicians DESKTOP PUBLISHING • OFFSET PRINTING in parliament or a reconstruction of a conversation that is vital to telling a story. I like this dialogue from a Toronto Star story BINDERY SERVICES looking into the treatment of the elderly in Ontario's nursing homes. A woman rushes to the nursing station, concerned about the smell 151 Slater Street, Suite B001, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 coming from her mother:

"There's a terrible smell from my mom," [email protected] • www.bonanzaprinting.com Martina said, slightly embarrassed. "I think she may have soiled herself." "Don't worry about it," the nurse replied, PHONE: (613) 233-6236 • FAX: (613) 233-1017 "we'll look into it." Every day for more than two weeks, Martina asked the nurses for the source of that

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 19 Continued from Pg. 13 Journal management hasn't commented on it to The judge suggested journalists stop giving The alienation myth him, although the newspaper did run a lengthy blanket promises of confidentiality and explain to excerpt shortly after it was released in September. their sources that they will do everything they can deadening,political monoculture,and its effect on However, as of early December, not even a review to protect their identities "to the full extent of the the rest of Canada, that worries Lisac the most. had appeared in The . law" or will "exert all lawful means to protect the Lots of food for thought in this book, especially "I thought about this book as more for people confidence." for journalists who like to get to get to the truth of outside the province than inside," Lisac says, "but We may not like hearing this from a judge, but a matter rather than parrot conventional wisdom. so far it hasn't been picked up outside Alberta." he's only suggesting that journalists be honest Most of the national media could use it, he and upfront with their sources. A WORD ABOUT THE AUTHOR adds, given its coverage of the recent election in The courageous stands of Peters, McIntosh and Alberta. "It was the same old stuff, "he says, "they their newspapers may change the law for the Mark Lisac has now written two books on still think Alberta is a province of full cowboys better. In the meantime, journalists should stop Alberta politics. The first, The Klein Revolution,a and oil executives. But the election showed that making promises that could land them in legal thoughtful critique of the provincial government, self-image is beginning to crack, particularly in hot water — unless they are willing to pay the fine was published in 1995, two years after Premier the cities. or do the time — and start levelling with their Ralph Klein was first elected. Lisac was the However, Alberta Politics Uncovered is being sources. Edmonton Journal's provincial affairs columnist read in Alberta. It's been at the top of the Sources should be assured we will do at the time. For the past three years he has been Edmonton best-seller list for a month, and has hit everything in our power to protect them. But they working the night copy desk (3:30 pm to 11:30 pm the Calgary best-seller list as well. should also be told that,in the unlikely event push shift). comes to shove months or years down the road, a Lisac is uncomfortable talking about this shift Gillian Steward is Media magazine's book's editor. court may have the power to demand that the in positions and will only say that he was asked to source be identified. give up his column and join the Journal's editorial Continued from Pg. 14 That's the law and that's the truth. And aren't board. But after only three months of editorial On the level we supposed to be in the business of telling the writing, he requested an assignment to the copy truth? desk "for professional and personal reasons." He they cannot keep, the judge remarked, there is an declined to go into further detail. "oppressive" newsroom culture in which bosses Dean Jobb teaches media law, investigative He took about eight weeks of earned vacation expect their employee "pawns" to flout the law journalism and newspaper writing at the School of time last spring to write his latest book. He says and bear the consequences. Journalism, University of King's College in Halifax.

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MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 20 Continued from Pg. 15 The Fox News revolution the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana, and a very expensive gun registry? Having said that, many will point to signs of what they would call clear Americanization: resistance to the gun registry, modified voting systems, ministerial recall, the use of referenda, etc. But are the aspirations of Canadians for more transparent representation, electoral reform or greater accountability merely the by-products of media influence? Call for Entries for It is certainly true that political systems around the world learn from each other, especially in an age of globalization. But is that Canadian sufficient basis on which to disqualify the aspirations of some? Besides, who gets to decide which aspirations are legitimate? Journalists So, will Fox News be offensive? Probably. For example, when President Bush visited Canada on Nov. 30, 2004, Ann Coulter appearing on Fox's The Atkinson Fellowship in Public Policy established in Hannity & Colmes opined that Canadians "better 1988, is an award designed to further the tradition of hope the United States doesn't roll over one night liberal journalism and commitment to social and and crush them. They are lucky we allow them to economic justice fostered by Joseph E. Atkinson, former exist on the same continent." (Ann Coulter as reported on Media Matters for America, publisher of The Toronto Star. http://mediamatters.org/items/ 200412010011) The thought of being crushed by Ann Coulter It will be awarded to a full-time journalist for a one-year does give one pause. But on the same show she research project on a topical public policy issue, later admitted a fondness for Western Canada, culminating in the publication of results in a series of cowboys and open skies and expressed a desire to annex Canada's "ski areas." Maybe we could articles, which the journalist is then free to develop let her do it in July? into a book. Will Fox find an audience? Absolutely, though as a tier-2 digital channel focused on U.S.politics, The Fellowship includes a stipend of $75,000. As well, a it may prove to be a specialist audience. budget for research expenses of up to $25,000 is also Will that alter Canadian news? Perhaps. And would it be bad if it did? Fox News might produce available. The research year begins September 1, 2005. one unanticipated benefit. All countries resent foreign news services that report on them. But Application forms will be available as of January 12, foreign news services often enjoy a strange 2005. The closing date for entries is March 14, 2005. freedom. They are not bound by the rules and regulations of the country on which they report. The Fellowship is sponsored by The Atkinson Charitable They are rarely part of the elite consensus. And their outsider status sometimes lets them see and Foundation, The Toronto Star and The Beland Honderich reveal things that the national media can't or Family. won't. After all, don't Canadian media have more For Application Forms: penetrating insights into the United States than the American media themselves? Elizabeth Chan, Finally, though, the future might resemble the Coordinator, past. Just as CNN eventually spawned The Atkinson Fellowship Committee Newsworld, and as CNN Headline News One Yonge Street, eventually spawned CTVNews,perhaps Fox News Suite 1508, 15 Floor will also spawn a Canadian equivalent. Toronto, Ontario M5E 1E5 Paul Attallah teaches communication at Carleton University's School of Journalism and Telephone inquiries: (416) 368-4034 Communication.

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 21 THE LAST WORD BY KIRK LAPOINTE David Vienneau: 1951-2004 He is a great, great loss to our craft, taken rudely in the prime of his career

can actually lay lucky claim to the notion that David Vienneau was the first journalist I got to Iknow professionally. He was a reporter in the Etobicoke bureau of The Toronto Star and I was a high school president — president of all the Etobicoke presidents, as it turned out, when the city's teachers went on strike and I became a bit of a spokesman for students. David interviewed me probably a dozen times in that 38-day strike, struck up a friendship, encouraged me as I entered journalism school, helped me get a part-time job at The Star (in that same Etobicoke bureau) to largely pay my way through school, then later reconnected when I arrived in Ottawa at the tender age of 23 to absorb the wonders of Parliament Hill. We played squash once, where he clobbered me.I was smart enough to find lesser partners.He got me into a media-versus-mandarin tournament, though, where I got to meet three cabinet ministers, one of whom became a great source of stories on background in the years to MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM PRINT TO BROADCAST: David was grateful that come. David knew of that and was happy for me. Global had given him his first chance in TV,humbled by the medium's impact on And that was an early, key difference I found in policymaking and public opinion. him: he was a ferocious competitor, but a laudatory colleague. When someone else had a the goods. Many mornings after we'd played experience into a medium too often lacking in story he wished was his, he didn't sulk or try to softball, I'd wake up to find our bureau following both. Of course, by that time he'd opened the knock it down. He just did what he did in squash another one of his damned exclusives. He didn't Supreme Court to TV, pushed for several press — he played harder for the next point. take himself so seriously that he couldn't find fun freedoms, and given over time to advance the For a while, we played softball twice a week, in almost anything, but when it came time to craft he loved. and David had one of those pure swings that understand that a journalist's loyalty is to his The mistake all of us make is to take such would send me chasing regularly after his hits in audience, few could match his principles. friendship and human decency for granted, as if our unlimited outfield in this quiet park by the His wife, Nicole, worked with me at CP,and the there are many more such trains bound to leave Ottawa River. I thought I was a pretty good little village that is the parliamentary press corps the station all the time. Not so, and it is a great outfielder, but my throws usually came into the was mightily impressed when David and Nicki regret — too late to do anything about it now, infield by the time David was on the bench quietly found each other. They just seemed ideal. So except fidget — that I lost touch with David when celebrating.That was another attribute that struck profoundly happy, so deservedly so. I left Ottawa years ago. I would bump into him on me: the guy just wasn't a guy in the stereotypical David had two other significant brushes with ill the street when I visited, and he and I sense. He was a jock gentleman. health, once from a trip with Brian Mulroney to corresponded when I joined CanWest in 2003.We On the professional front,well,you could search Africa — a virus incapacitated him and set him both realized it had taken nearly 30 years to finally a lifetime and not find a David Vienneau mistake back physically for some time — and once from be able to grouse again about the same employer. of any consequence. He was rock solid. He dug, the rigorous work of writing — RSI made it Given the opportunity, neither of us could. David asked, reported and wrote with intensity, civility necessary for him to adopt one of the first-ever was grateful that Global had given him his first and credibility. He helped everyone, but he loved voice-activated computers. David loved to note chance in TV, humbled by the medium's impact to have a scoop. He was convivial with politicians, that the computer was all-too-precise in on policymaking and public opinion. but not clubby. When I saw Paul Martin get committing to text his tendency to rework his He is a great, great loss to our craft, taken choked up on TV the day after David died, I knew copy in mid-sentence by starting with the word rudely in the prime of his career,and we should all David had stayed true to form. He got people to "shit," as in: "Shit, the justice minister is to be proud to have known him, prouder still if we adore him and respect him in equal measure. He introduce legislation, no, shit, the justice minister were lucky enough to be near him. didn't play favourites, didn't make deals as will introduce legislation ..." reporters often do in the capital to keep that Despite the physical obstacles, he continued to steady supply of exclusive information coming play squash,stay active,and make his move vitally Kirk LaPointe is the managing editor of their way. David just worked all the angles to get into television while bringing substance and The Vancouver Sun.

MEDIA, WINTER 2005 PAGE 22 PHOTO CREDIT: Pat McGrath/The Ottawa Citizen IBC

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