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8. Pulse of the community How a Jewish community newspaper changed its voice 12. The fine lines of cartooning Cartoonists are supposed to be funny, but what At a glance happens when no one laughs? 14. The new voice Social networking websites allow journalists to break 5. Courting the truth the mold A legal ruling gives journalists a new defence against libel 17. Reporting under fire 11. Olympic insider Embedded journalists risk their lives to share stories of war A student reporter aims for 20. Conflict journalists in training journalistic gold Journalists get a crash course in war reporting 32. Parsons picks up the pace at a Canadian Forces base Veteran news anchor Tony Parsons 21. Fallen storyteller refuses to call it quits Reporter Michelle Lang gave her life doing the job she loved 35. In jest we trust 22. Censorship in china Satire often gives us insight Are authorities in the world’s fastest-growing economy into the Big Truth lifting the heavy hand of media control? 25. Home team advantage How team websites are changing the nature of sports coverage 28. Writing into the storm Journalism jobs may be scarce but j-schools are still packing ‘em in 30. Teaching a man to fish A recent journalism grad reports on how Canadian cash is helping rural communities in Ethiopia 33. Surfers beware Speed matters when it comes to the free flow of information on the ‘Net 36. The campus press Do student newspapers offer the best training for budding journalists?

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 35 LJR

The Langara Journalism Review An annual review of trends and issues in Western Canadian journalism written and produced by Langara College journalism students. Editor Derek Scott Managing Editor Alana Turner Senior Editor Ben Lypka News Editor Trevor Crawley LJR Staff and Graduating Class of 2010 Assistant Publisher Carly Sheridan Back row from left: Trevor Crawley, Derek Scott, Jerome Turner, Aleksandar Lescan, Production Editor Diego Syz Alex Polutnik, Alana Turner, Diego Syz. Front row from left: Brandi Vincent, Amanda Art Directors Jackaman, Kimiya Shokoohi, Cheryl Minns, Marjorie Ennis, Andrea Cheung, Carly Marjorie Ennis Sheridan, Ben Lypka. Missing: Erin Steele, Weston Steele Brandi Vincent Chief Photographer Erin Steele Photo Editor Cheryl Minns Editor’s Note Copy Chief Jerome Turner Copy Editors Ready to answer the call Andrea Cheung Aleksandar Lescan Last year proved to be a deadlly learned to present the facts and let the Weston Steele year for journalists. The Committee to readers decide. Alex Polutnik Protect Journalists reports 71 journal- But if we’ve learned anything, it’s Page Editors ists, including Calgary Herald reporter that a journalist’s duty is to go further Andrea Cheung Michelle Lang, were killed worldwide and dig deeper in search of the truth be- Amanda Jackaman in pursuit of their passion – a passion to cause there’s no sense telling half a story. Aleksandar Lescan reveal the truth, no matter the danger. We are not all interested in joining Carly Sheridan Some may suggest the job of profes- the troops on the front lines or heading Diego Syz sional storyteller is a relatively safe one. to the nearest failed state. Some of us Weston Steele For the most part this is true. Undoubt- will be content to stay in Canada report- Kimiya Shokoohi edly more journalists survived 2009 than ing on political affairs, or perhaps just the Alex Polutnik did not. But these 71 deaths serve as a affairs of the rich and famous. Whatever Advertising stark reminder of how dangerous this job the beat, we’re ready to get out into the Amanda Jackaman can be. world and get our hands dirty. Cheryl Minns Why do journalists do it? Put their Our class has come a long way dur- Instructor/Publisher lives on the line to tell someone else’s ing the last few years. No longer are we Rob Dykstra story? I believe it’s because they have a content with merely questioning the status calling – a desire to find the truth. quo – we are determined to find the Langara College During the past two years our jour- answers. By continuing this journalistic 100 West 49th Avenue nalism class has spent countless hours tradition, we will ensure that those 71 Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 2Z6 learning the skills and gaining the knowl- journalists who came before us didn’t die Telephone: 604-323-5415 edge to answer that calling. in vain. Email: [email protected] www.langara.bc.ca/ljr We’ve learned to explain complex –Derek Scott concepts in a manner that anyone should Cover photo by Erin Steele be able to understand. We’ve learned the Class photo by Sean Best and Johanna Goodyear rules of media law and ethics. We’ve also Illustrations by Brandi Vincent

!" #$%&$'$"()*'%$+,-."/01,02"3454 By Courting the Er in Steele Truth

earlessly reporting the truth just got a bit easier. Although this is beneficial to journalists, Tunley says the Journalists and bloggers now have greater leeway in road to free expression involves other aspects, such as access to their quest to report the truth following the Su- information laws that give journalists more information about preme Court of Canada’s ruling that allows a new government activities and policies. defenceF against defamation. “All of these things are different aspects of a better climb The ruling take into account the potentially subjective to free expression in Canada,” he says. concept of truth and allow the media to report on it, even if Tunley believes blogs are part of this climb. “All kinds of it’s not verifiably true, under two broad conditions: that the new media are available and we need to encourage that as well reported truth is in the public interest, and that the journalist to really have all of these dimensions to free expression.” acted diligently to get all necessary sides to the story. Responsible communication takes the rapidly travelling ve- “It is important because in many circumstances you can’t hicle of social media directly into account. McLachlin says that know for certain the truth of every fact reported,” says Phil because social media often communicates matters of public Tunley, a media lawyer and board member of Canadian Jour- interest and may cast a wider net of claims, it should be subject nalists for Free Expression. to the same laws as traditional media. The new defence, legally referred to as “responsible communication on matters of public interest,” takes this into account by allowing journalists to report responsibly with less All of these things are fear of libelling someone. Public interest includes the wide spectrum of any subject that any group may have an interest different aspects of a better in. Despite this new freedom, Chief Justice Beverley McLach- climb to free expression lin cautioned in her ruling that, the media still have a critical –Phil Tunley responsibility. “It is vital that the media act responsibly in reporting facts on matters of public concern, holding themselves to the high- “While established journalistic standards provide a use- est journalistic standards,” she wrote. “ful guide by which to evaluate the conduct of journalists and “But to insist on court-established certainty in reporting non-journalists alike, the applicable standards will necessarily on matters of public interest may have the effect of preventing evolve to keep pace with the norms of new communications communication of facts which a reasonable person would ac- media.” cept as reliable and which are relevant and important to public When it comes time for bloggers and journalists to assess debate.” whether they acted diligently in trying to verify truths, the The rulings consider the delicate balance of power be- Supreme Court has laid out several guidelines, including the tween freedom of expression and the the mandate to protect seriousness, urgency, public importance of the allegation, and reputations. McLachlin found that decisions in libel cases “whether the plaintiff’s side was sought and accurately re- leaned in favour of the latter. ported.” “While the law must protect reputation, the current level The reliability of the sources and whether the inclusion of of protection – in effect a regime of strict liability – is not the defamatory statement was justifiable should also be taken justifiable,” she wrote. into consideration. Finally, whether a defamatory statement’s Tunley agrees the balance of power before the rulings public interest lay in the fact that it was made – such as in a leaned more toward protecting reputation. direct quote – rather than its truth, should also be considered. “It’s important that journalists be able to pursue their Tunley cautions that reporting on sensitive government work following reasonable and responsible procedures.” matters or cases involving whistle-blowers, the truth may not Defamation is a limitation to free expression, so by making be necessarily verifiable. the possibility of defaming someone more difficult, that limita- Nonetheless, the ruling should facilitate journalists’ work tion is lessened. in uncovering imformation necessary to the public debate. LJR

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 35 News Briefs CityTV sheds staff, cuts content Pleas from communitites to keep lo- time is devoted to things that are easy to cal news coverage fell short earlier this cover versus the significant.” By the year when Rogers Media eliminated 60 In order to scrimp and save, some poistions in CityTV newsrooms across programming was cut completely and Numbers Canada . other popular segments, such as Breakfast Rogers said the cuts were a result of Television and CityLine were cut from The Committee to Protect Journalists “shifting viewer patterns coupled with the four hours to three. reports that 2009 was the deadliest overall state of the economy.” The layoffs affected local reporters, year for journalists since it began Ian Morrison, speaking for Friends of editors, producers and camera operators documenting deaths. Canadian Broadcasting, critisized the cuts in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Ed- are detrimental to Canadian news cover- monton. age and will negatively affect the way Ca- A Rogers spokesperson called the nadians receive their news. cutbacks “simple economics.” 71 “They depress both the quality and –Alana Turner Journalists killed worldwide in 2009 quantity of local coverage, where more 52 Broadcasting group disbands Murdered Canada’s organization representing “It has become obvious some time broadcasters has folded, in part due to ago that the three sectors, television, the ongoing dispute between TV and radio and specialty [channels], all in 12 satellite companies over coverage fees. the same room couldn’t really sort out Caught in crossfire or in combat Representing both parties, CAB their priorities in a manner that the as- operations found the colliding views on the feud sociation could actually do their work,” severely divided the organization. Elmer Hildebrand, CAB chairman, told CTV and Canwest approached the the Globe and Mail. 7 CRTC and pushed for fees from cable Hildebrand hopes to form another Killed on dangerous assignment distributors to compensate declining association exclusively for radio broad- revenues from local programming. casters after CAB officially shuts down Local TV stations have little com- in June. mon ground with cable companies, the –Trevor Crawley 33 CAB found in a review. Journalists killed in the Philippines 20 Newspapers fight proposed tax Number of countries where journalists Newspapers in B.C. are lobbying for The HST is a detriment to paid pa- were killed exemptions from the harmonized sales pers, said Hinds. The tax, to be imposed tax following Ontario’s decision to excuse on July 1, doesn’t affect free papers, tele- theirs. vision, Internet or radio. 67 Ontario relented after pressure by A seven-per-cent increase to papers Previous death toll in 2007 the Canadian Newspaper Association and means costs will be downloaded to news the Canadian Community Newspaper As- consumers, Hinds noted. sociation and a similar request has been “If you lose readers, you lose adver- source: CPJ made to the B.C. government. tisers. If you lose advertisers, you weak- “It’s not going as well as it did in On- en the newspapers. Then you essentially tario, but we’re still very hopeful that the weaken newsrooms because that’s where B.C. government will be able to see the the cuts will have to come,” Hinds said. wisdom of the issue,” said John Hinds, “There will be jobs lost and those jobs will CEO of both the CNA and the CCNA. very much be in editorial.”

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#4!5! News Briefs Free ad deal called ‘shocking’ Journalist Vancouver’s two major dailies ince, told The Public Eye. deny any conflict of interest in spon- The government ran the centre group sought soring a media centre informing in- and had access to photos gathered by ternational media of strategies to The Province for Operation Phoenix, Olympic free address social problems in the city’s an investigative project on the Down- poorest neighbourhood during the town Eastside shared by Global TV expression Olympic Games. and CKNW radio. The sponsorship deal was made The Province also gave advertis- Concerns over free speech infringe- through the advertising departments ing space to promote the centre. ment spawned scrutiny by Canadian of The Province and the Vancouver The free advertising move was Journalists for Free Expression during Sun – not the newsrooms – along “shocking,” Lynne Van Luven, a Uni- the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Van- with BC Housing and the city of Van- versity of Victoria journalism profes- couver. couver, reports The Public Eye. sor, told The Public Eye. The “Olympic Watch” initiative “We have contra deals with all “They should be, in fact, stand- grew out of a desire to ensure the global sorts of agencies and people we re- ing away from it and looking at it and sporting event upheld freedom of ex- port on. And there’s lots of things writing stories about it and trying to pression in the face of confrontations the company does in terms of giv- find out if it indeed is whitewashing with security forces. ing space away and cross-promotion the homeless problem or if, in fact, “It would be a terrible legacy if the and free promotion that could be this BC Housing gambit is actually fundamental right of free expression viewed as a conflict if it was run out legit.” were trampled in the process,” stated of a newsroom. But it wasn’t,” Wayne –Trevor Crawley Arnold Amber, CJFE president, in a Moriarty, editor-in-chief of The Prov- news release before the Games. Before and during the Games, pro- tests remained peaceful, except for one incident where people dressed in black clothing and face masks smashed win- dows of a Hudson’s Bay store in down- town Vancouver causing a commotion. Security forces showed “commend- able restraint in dealing with protesters,” Michael Byers, a UBC professor of politi- cal science, told CBC News. Fears of a crackdown on expression were raised before the Olympics when two reporters from the Toronto Sun were physically restrained during a torch relay stop through downtown Toronto in De- cember. One reporter stumbled while an of- ficer tried to get him off the road. The reporter hit his head and required hospi- talization. Another incident involved an Ameri- can journalist who was detained at the Canadian border while en route to Van- couver to give a talk abouth U.S health care reform and the wars in Iraq and Af- ghanistan. Border guards questioned her to see if she was coming to Vancouver to criti- cize the Olympic Games and asked to see Illustration by Brandi Vincent her computer and notes. –Trevor Crawley

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 35 ulse of the Community By Weston Steele The venerable Independent, a newspaper that has served Jews in Vancouver for 80 years, is pushing the boundaries.

PThe office of the Jewish Independent is cozy but the view when editor and owner Cynthia Ramsay took over the paper from its Main Street building isn’t much – just a few rooftops. from long-time owners Sam and Mona Kaplan in 1999, she felt The more important view is the much broader one that over- it needed a different approach. Although it remains pro-Zionist, looks Metro Vancouver’s small Jewish community numbering Ramsey wanted to give a voice to those with other ideas. about 25,000. The venerable weekly paper is currently the only “Sam and Mona Kaplan had a definite vision of the paper Jewish voice in the city, and is making an that they wanted, and how they wanted effort to reach out to readers who hold a their community,” says Ramsay, who was wide range of opinions. born in Winnipeg and holds an economics The Jewish Independent, formerly i don’t think that degree from Simon Fraser University. She known as The Jewish Western Bulletin, shoving these people says the Kaplans were strongly Zionistic, began publishing in 1930, well before the orthodox and conservative. They would creation of Israel and the horrors of the under a rug is a way refuse, for example, to publish stories Second World War. It was the self- to deal with them with references to intermarriage. proclaimed “organ of the Jewish commu- Cynthia Ramsay “This was their vision of the paper nity” and it had the job of uniting an ex- and many of our readers loved that vision panding Jewish population at a time when of the paper, Ramsay says.” anti-Semitism was on the rise not just in Europe“ but in Canada, Both Ramsay and her assistant editor Basya Laye are Jewish, as well. It strived to draw its readers’ attention to the dangers but the paper hires both Jewish and non-Jewish freelancers. facing Jews around the world and to draw the non-Jewish pub- Ramsay says one of the first things she did when she purchased lic’s attention to those concerns. the paper was to give a voice to the “fringe groups” previously The paper had always been staunchly pro-Zionist (the belief ignored by the paper because of their not-so-Zionistic views. in a national homeland for the Jewish people) and it made no One of those groups was Jews for a Just Peace, which is mention of any opposition to Israel except to criticize it. But in favour of the “two-state solution,” splitting Israel to create a

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#4!5! Palestinian homeland. approach when it came to politics and have opinions. You, the reader, can in “They’re very controversial and we Israel, making up for its lack of history most instances detect bias in what they felt that if they have an event or they with a ton of passion. The Tribune was choose to report, how they report it, write a letter to the editor we’ll start born of the discontent felt by some even in their choice of words. allowing those to be printed and that members of the Jewish community after The Jewish Tribune Western Edition caused a huge backlash,” Ramsay says. the Independent shifted to what they felt is different; we declare up front that we But she defends the paper’s new ap- to be a too-liberal position. are a Jewish newspaper, and as such we proach even if it upsets some of its read- In an interview with Rayek just are biased in favour of the community ers who were more comfortable with the before the Tribune ceased publication, he that we serve. We stand up for Canadian status quo. referred to the Independent as “the other and Jewish values. We cherish freedom “They [Jews for a Just Peace] are newspaper,” the disdain clear in his voice. and democracy. Our reporting will be Jewish and it’s the Jewish community “They took the community for fair and balanced but we will not com- newspaper. We include them for two granted for too long and they do not promise our principles. We will not le- reasons: one, they’re Jewish and two, for approach the issues that concern the Jew- gitimize known anti-Semites and will not those people who don’t like them and ish community as a Jewish paper. If you provide a forum for those who viciously ...who would like to hear what is being want to read about what Hamas [militant vilify our sister democracy of Israel.” said against Israel. I don’t think that shov- group in Gaza] thinks, pick up the Geor- Rayek, who is the B.C. chair of B’nai ing these people under a rug is a way to gia Straight.” Brith Canada, an advocacy group which deal with them.” The Tribune took a strong Zionistic serves to protect and stand up for Jews But not everyone agrees with this stand and its style was fiery and opinion- against anti-Semitism, calls his paper view. Salomon Rayek is one such person. ated. For example, in the first issue of the more “forthright.” He was the editor of the western edition Tribune, Rayek wrote: “It does not pay much attention to of the Jewish Tribune, a Toronto-based “Some other media would have you political correctness.” paper, until it ceased publishing in Febru- believe that they present the news in a The Tribune was highly critical when ary. It established its Vancouver operation completely objective way, but the reality the Independent published an announce- in April 2009 and took a more hard-line is that people, especially media people, ment in its community calendar section

Erin Steele photo Cynthia Ramsay, owner-editor of the Jewish Independent, wants her newspaper open to a variety of voices.

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 35 I think dialogue in this community is lacking, especially on Israel. people are talking past each other.

–Cynthia Ramsay

informing readers about an event against He says that when the paper was under pendent is middle-of-the-road. But the “the Israeli apartheid wall.” Ramsay was the ownership of the Kaplans, it served fact that it is independenly owned by a well aware that this was an anti-Israel to promote their own beliefs. member of the community who is open event but believes issues will not go away “They were more interested in pro- to discussion is better than the papers simply because they are ignored. moting a very narrow point of view,” says owned by large Jewish organizations that “We put something like that in so Mivasair. “It was a waste of trees to print treat the papers as an extension of their that somebody who is incredibly pro-Is- that newspaper and was just continual operations. rael will go to the event, be civil, engage repitition of the same perspective.” Ramsay wants to use the Indepen- in discourse and try to counter some of His opinion of the Jewish Tribune dent to help break down barriers that she these myths,” Ramsay says. was much the same and expressed relief believes have divided the Jewish com- “The Jewish Tribune ran three pages that it was no longer publishing. munity, not just here but across North demanding how I could possibly give “It was a horrible propoganda piece America. these people space, how I could give – very, very kind of extremist,” says She feels that in Vancouver many them credibility and they demanded Mivasair. Jews are entrenched in their positions answers from the editor of the other Jew- He likened the views of the Tribune and refuse to discuss them. The problem ish newspaper. They have their own way to those of people who favour “repres- is compounded by what Ramsay says is of dealing with things they don’t agree sion, supression and who want to narrow an unfair political labelling of her views. with.” the discussion.” Because she doesn’t follow the conserva- Rayek counters this by saying that But he doesn’t think the Indepen- tive stance she’s perceived by some as “the moment you give them space in dent, while much more open to differ- left-wing. your newspaper, you are part of them, ent opinions, is perfect. There are many “I’m so not what they think I am,” you are helping them.” He says that the issues that still need more discussion she says. “I sort of take a bit of pride in Tribune had a set of principles that “we including Israel, the Palestinians and that because if they can’t tell from read- know are right.” whether there’s a legitimte anti-Semetic ing this newspaper what my political Ramsay doesn’t see different opin- threat in modern times. beliefs are, I feel like I’ve succeeded as a ions as a bad thing and would encourage “I think the paper stays in very safe publisher.” more debate about controversial topics. terrtitory,” says Mivasair. “There’s so Even though she has distanced “I think dialogue in this community many issues in the Jewish community the paper from what it was during the is lacking, especially on Israel. People are that should be addressed that the paper Kaplan era, she does plan to maintain its talking past each other and you’ve got just avoids.” role as a mirror of the Jewish commu- people on the far right and people on the He refers to a recent story the In- nity. Thus there are the necessary stories far left and I bemoan the fact that there’s depent did on inclusivity, as an example. involving Jewish culture—holidays, no one staying in the middle that will It’s safe because, in principle, everyone customs, entertainment—and profiles come out and stand their ground.” agrees with it. of Jewish individuals making significant One man who is standing his ground “Should we exclude gay people? Nah, contributions to the community. is Rabbi David Mivasair who welcomed nobody says that anymore. Should we But she also sees the paper as re- the Independent’s change of philosophy exclude single moms? Nobody thinks that flecting the variety of views involving like a breath of fresh air. anymore. Should we exclude disabled the more sensitive political issues. The Mivasair is one of the most progres- people? No, no, no.” community, she says, will do the talk- sive rabbis in Vancouver and was the first Compared with Jewish papers in ing – the newspaper will help foster the in B.C. to perform a same-sex marriage. other cities, Mivasair believes the Inde- discussion. LJR

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#4"!" By Olympic Benjamin Lypka Insider

coaches would be arriving any moment. I pulled out my pen and notebook and quickly jotted down several generic questions, trying to look as professional as y job as a volunteer student reporter for possible in my Olympic News Services bright-orange theM Olympic News Service was to just get the facts – bib. and get them right. I was to file the basic information on I spotted one of the coaches arriving on the the sport I was covering, plus comments from athletes concourse. Dressed in a nondescript black suit, he was and coaches. in the company of three other men all wearing Team That made me a member of the not-so-exclusive Slovakia jackets. His assistants, I thought. Good, I would club of nearly 11,000 media people working the 2010 first get some comments from the losers. Vancouver Olympic Games. It was an eye-opening He looked around, likely expecting a hoard of experience for a young journalist to work the so-called reporters, but he saw only me. He turned to the three mixed zone where the many journalists clawed and men with him, said something to them, and they all elbowed each other to get chuckled. I took a closer to the athletes. deep breath, and I was thrilled prepared to introduce to be doing this not Switzerland? No, we’re playing myself. I would ask only because of the my questions here, opportunity to have Canada, he said. Oh, yes, I thought, right in front of the a front-row seat at feeling the blood rush to my head, man in his hotdog the Games, but also “ stand in a now near- because the information that means I’m talking to the Swedish empty arena. I generated – my I stated my name information – would be coach, not the Slovakian. and that I was a posted to a database and reporter with the available to journalists around the world. How good Olympic News Services but I was a bit flustered and would that look on my résumé? forgot to ask him his. I asked him several questions My assignment this day was to cover the game about the game, and then finished by asking his opinion and the post-game press conference for a women’s on his next opponent, Switzerland. He looked puzzled. hockey game at the University of British Columbia’s “Switzerland? No, we’re playing Canada,” he said. Thunderbird arena. The Swedes were playing the Slovaks Oh, no, I thought, feeling the blood rush to my head, – their first appearance in the Olympics. that means I’m talking to the Swedish coach, not the I watched the game, interviewed several of the Slovakian. players afterwards (the Swedes were victorious) and Somewhat chagrined, I managed to recover, laughed dashed out of the arena to the nearby media centre at my mistake and thanked him for his time. The others to interview the coaches. I arrived but no coaches who were with him – the three men with the Slovakian were there. I waited for a few minutes and was then jackets (I am not going to assume they were Team informed the press conference had been moved to Slovakia’s coaches) – had already walked away. Thunderbird arena. I learned the hard way what I had been told in So I hurried back. The spectators had mostly journalism school so many times: never assume. I would dispersed but I found myself having to dart around never again mistake a Swede for a Slovak. the blue-jacketed volunteers, game officials and Oh, by the way, I did get the name of Sweden’s international journalists. coach. It’s Peter Elander. I wondered later what would A frazzled-looking media centre manager—my have happened if I had named him as the Slovak coach. boss—greeted me and let out a sigh of relief. She It would have been all over the world. Who would have quickly informed me to be prepared because the team known? Just me – and maybe the hotdog man. LJR !"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 44 The Fine Lines of Cartooning By BRANDI VINCENT

an editorial cartoon is a colour- was killed in a downtown Vancouver in September 2005, sparking violent ful soapbox surrounded by black nightclub. protests throughout the Middle East and typeA and hard facts, a reprieve from the His cartoon showed police offering other parts of Africa. In an attempt to ad- “he saids” and “according tos.” Sketching zero dollars as a reward for information dress the violence of one religion – albeit a clever doodle in a small, square box and someone obviously took excep- with controversial artistic liberties, such may not seem intrepid, but newspaper tion to the cartoon’s message. Krieger as depicting Muhammad with a bomb in readers take them seriously. So his turban – about 200 people seriously that Bob Krieger, a died as a result of the protests. cartoonist for the Vancouver- Cartoonists often find them- based daily, The Province, once selves pushing the envelope in received a death threat for one of order to make a clever statement his pieces. on a controversial issue. Their The cartoon portrayed humour tends toward sarcasm – people in Ontario stomping that is their job, after all. That’s on Quebec flags to show their when an editor steps in and of- discontent over bilingualism. fers a second opinion. Krieger laughed when he saw the Krieger says he has had “dif- threat. ferent” experiences with editors. “Some guy tore my cartoon Some will look at a cartoon and out of the paper, put a big red if there’s any question about it felt pen target over my name and crossing the line, they will con- scrawled that he was gonna cut sult a lawyer. me open with a sword,” Krieger “Others will say, ‘We’re says, chuckling. “And he spelled gonna have to take this to the ‘sword’ wrong.” lawyers and that’s gonna cost Krieger could tell the person money, and we’re not gonna do couldn’t tie his own shoelaces, it,’” Krieger says. “So it depends but his editor was concerned. on the editor, basically.” “[My editor’s] secretary In the fall of 2005, Krieger walked in with this big stack of drew a cartoon incorporating the papers and my editor said, ‘Annie, did was at home when the threat came into now-famous police mugshot of Gordon you see this? Krieger got a death threat! the newsroom. He was warned and the Campbell after the B.C. premier was ar- We should call the police!’ And Annie newspaper took new precautions. “I’m rested for drunk driving in Hawaii. The kind of looked down her nose with her responsible for a change in the bomb- balloon had Campbell saying, “Teachers reading glasses and said, ‘Oh that guy. He threat policy at the office,” Krieger says. have to respect the law,” in reference to writes all the time. I just throw them in Bomb threats resulting from car- an illegal strike at the time. The cartoon the wastebasket.’” toons aren’t unheard of, of course. It was to run in the Province’s Oct. 13 That happened 15 years ago. Since would’ve only taken one cartoon of Mu- edition, but was pulled and replaced by a then there have been no specific threats hammad to incite the outrage of millions photo of a polar bear. to his life, but someone did call in a of Muslims throughout the world, but The paper’s editor-in-chief, Wayne bomb threat to his newspaper. That was Jyllands-Posten published 12. The Danish Moriarity, made the decision not to after he drew a cartoon of a wanted newspaper gained international attention run the cartoon because, according to poster for the murderer of Bindy Johal, when it criticized Islam and self-censor- Krieger, Moriarity felt the paper had a notorious organized crime leader who ship through a series of political cartoons published too many cartoons involving !"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#"4!4 Campbell and the teachers. what the reaction will be to a cartoon is can’t even remember.” The cartoon appeared a day later on always there. Getting the point across in a cartoon the online news site, The Tyee, and since Graham Harrop, cartoonist for the isn’t always easy. Arnould says the minute then Krieger has done more cartoons Vancouver Sun, says his feedback is about he does anything about religion he gets a for the sports department than he has half positive and half negative. He delib- lot of feedback. After one such cartoon for the paper’s opinion pages. Currently, erates over a cartoon if he’s not sure how pertaining to religious fundamentalism the Province and the Vancouver Sun label readers will receive it. in Iran, a Jewish reader wrote him to say their editorial cartoons as being the view “You’re not going to rush to judg- he was offended, while a Muslim reader of the cartoonist, as opposed to the view ment and do something that you’ll called to say it was balanced. of the newspaper, as is the case with the perhaps regret. There have been cartoons Murphy says he always tries for a unsigned written editorials next to the I have done where it’s almost a spontane- fresh perspective. cartoon. ous reaction, and I’ve looked over it and “The very best thing for me is finish- A conflict of views between the thought, ‘You know, I wish I had done ing an ed-cartoon that I think is a totally newspaper and the cartoonist doesn’t something different.’” original and audacious take on the topic bother Dan Murphy, who also at hand – sending a cartoon draws for the Province. In the that’s never been done before last federal election, Murphy The very best thing for me is off to the presses.” drew a cartoon that lambasted Criticism of his car- Prime Minister Stephen Harper finishing an ed-cartoon that I toons gets the ink flowing for deceiving Canadians over the think is a totally original and even more. “I heard some cost of the war in Afghanistan. mounties were upset about Right next to it was the newspa- audacious take on the topic. a couple of cartoons I did per’s editorial endorsing Harper – Dan Murphy about RCMP idiocy. I tried to and his Conservatives to form resolve that problem by doing the next government. Harrop’s approach is perhaps more more cartoons about RCMP idiocy. And Murphy says the inconsistency is not light-hearted than the Jyllands-Posten’s unfortunately they gave me plenty of a problem. “For me, that’s what a good fair, but it doesn’t mean he won’t wel- opportunity.” ed-page is all about.” come a sensitive issue. He believes if Cartoons can draw the ire of readers, So how does a cartoonist decide on there’s truth to the cartoon, the humour but sometimes not because of the subject his targets? Krieger says brainstorming will come through. being targeted. Murphy once did a car- tomorrow’s cartoon isn’t hard when “we “I look for the humour. I want to toon depicting former B.C. premier Bill have very highly paid people in Victoria, make people laugh; that’s what I want to Vander Zalm as a blind shepherd leading Ottawa and Washington to provide us do with the editorial cartoons,” he says. a flock of sheep to the edge of a high cliff. with all kinds of ideas.” Politicians always “Not that I don’t address the point. I’m Vander Zalm or his supporters didn’t provide him with plenty of fodder. trying to do it in such a way that I would call to complain, but an advocate for the So do large corporations and their maybe get my views across, but it would blind did. sometimes arrogant ways, but that’s be in a more humorous fashion.” As a comment on the mistreatment when satire can become pricey. The Unlike Krieger, Harrop has had a of native people, Krieger drew a cartoon threat of a lawsuit – also known as a “slap relatively boring history with his editor – of a totem pole with traditional figures – suit” – can be a damper on a cartoonist’s a sentiment the Vancouver Sun’s editorial a bear, a beaver and an eagle. The fourth free expression. page editor shares. Fazil Mihlar can’t figure was that of a priest molesting an “They call them slap suits because it remember the last time he had an issue Aboriginal child. just sends a shiver – it’s a slap in the face,” with a cartoon, aside from the occasional “I thought this will symbolize how says Grahame Arnould, a cartoonist for typo. screwed First Nations people have been,” the Georgia Straight. “[The publication] “One time there was a cartoon about Krieger says. “I got some very angry re- won’t go there again because they just Sarah Palin – not one of Harrop’s – and sponses from the First Nations communi- don’t have the resources. some people didn’t understand what the ty and I felt horrible because in my mind “[They] have a bunch of really high- point was,” Mihlar says. “I showed it to they totally misunderstood the cartoon.” priced lawyers around who are retained two people and they didn’t get it. If two His point – to criticize the Catholic basically to get the message and image of people in the newsroom don’t get it, that Church’s handling of native people – was the corporation out in a certain way.” means my reading public will probably overwhelmed by the anger from the na- Even with only the threat of a law- not get it.” tive community. He was informed that suit, editors would be a lot more cautious He says cartoonists are more like totems were symbols of pride and that he about what they publish next, Arnould columnists because they have the free- insulted natives terribly by his ignorance. says. Small publications, especially, don’t dom to express themselves, a liberty “I thought totems were vehicles to stand a chance because lawsuits are so they’re welcome to practise as long as it show history,” he says. “I apologized pro- expensive to fight in the courts. is fair comment and doesn’t libel anyone. fusely and explained where it came from, Like death threats, slap suits against “Once in a while something is in bad and they were very accepting. Some were editorial cartoonists are relatively rare taste for some people,” Mihlar says. “[But] dubious, but I screwed up and all I can do in Canada. That said, the concern about it’s been so few and far between that I is apologize.” LJR

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 45 !"#$! !%$&!! !'()*$

Journalists are using social networks to communicate with their readers

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#45!5 By AMANDA JACKAMAN

ew-age social networking What starts off as just a chatty blog them. In her blog, she tells readers what sites are allowing journal- post, may became the jumping-off point it’s like to cover crime for a living. Nists to break the mold and turn away for a longer and more thoughtful piece in “My blog is an extension of my from their traditional role as people void the newspaper. reporting on gangs and organized crime,” of personal opinion who seldom have Shaw suggests every journalist should Bolan says. “I have found that it’s a great contact with their readers. be using social media, not just for ideas way to get tips I probably never would Twitter accounts, Facebook profiles but also for getting instant feedback that have gotten. I get to communicate and personal blogs are being used more beats e-mail. As well, she believes the directly with people involved in gangs, and more by today’s journalists, not just Internet gives her much more scope to or people who know people involved in for social reasons but for research and for present her stories. gangs.” communicating with readers. “There is a lot happening that doesn’t Her blog, called The Real Scoop, was Gillian Shaw, a Vancouver Sun always fit in the newspaper,” she says. “I nominated for a 2009 Online Journal- reporter and the author of a blog called get to add videos, live blog, create my ism Award, which honours excellence in Digital Life, writes about technology, own little surveys and do other things digital journalism. the Internet and social media, and all the that don’t work in a print publication.” Although blogging has benefitted trends and issues involved in this brave It helps her in fulfilling her own role her career, she admits it takes a lot of new world. Shaw says blogging has as a storyteller. “Sometimes I joke that if I time to keep up with it as she tends to go brought her much closer to her read- wasn’t a writer, I’d share stories with the through readers’ posts twice a day. She ers. Her journalism is no longer limited person next to me in the Safeway lineup.” spends up to four hours after work re- to “that one newspaper landing on the Shaw’s colleague at the Vancouver sponding to posts on a busy day. Her blog doorstep.” Sun, Kim Bolan, also relies heavily on gets more then 200,000 hits a month. I love the communication and inter- social media for her work writing about “It’s good to know that people are action with our readers and our com- gangsters, terrorists and other criminals seeing my hard work,” she says. “I’m very munity.” – and police efforts in trying to catch proud of the work I put into my blog.” She says a few years ago journalism was a one-way conversation. “We would write our stories and that was that until the next day’s paper. People could call or write but there Gillian Shaw’s top 5 reasons why wasn’t that real-time interaction that we journalists should use social media can have today.” With online journalism, Shaw says the conversation has become two-way. 1. Meet readers on their territory. “The web is 24/7 and we can publish now in print, online; we can produce 2. Find out what people are saying about you, your stories, your videos and share our stories in many newspaper. ways.” Twitter took both the social and 3. Have a dialogue with your readers, not lecture them. Through the paper journalistic world by storm last year, you speak to your readers; online you speak with them. with people’s 146-character word “tweets” concerning everything from 4. Instead of asking your colleagues if they know a single, left-handed politics to sports to the private lives of father of two who cheers for the Canucks and drives a Lexus – or what- our celebrities – everything, in fact, that ever interview you happen to need for a feature – tap your request into people have an opinion on. Shaw finds Twitter. that social networks such as Twitter now act as her personal news feed. 5. Beats email. Most in-boxes are flooded with pages and pages of often- “I get great story tips, connected irrelevant stuff. There’s nothing like 140 characters to impose discipline with interesting and really helpful inter- on a story pitch. views for stories on Twitter,” she says. “It can be a huge and immediate source for stories.”

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 45 One of the difficulties Bolan faces to her career. relationship-building between the reader is holding her tongue, as she doesn’t “At the Vancouver Sun we embrace and the newspaper,” she says. “Social always agree with what is being posted in all forms of digital media,” she says. networking is a big part of bringing this response to her own thoughts. “Most of our reporters and some of our into the newsroom, and we see it as an “I try really hard not to take away editors also maintain a blog.” essential part of our future as journalists.” people’s voices even when they are very Langrick says the Sun uses social Some journalists make a point of raw, profanity-laden or critical of myself networking to promote the newspaper separating their professional and personal and other people,” she says. online. social networking activities. Bolan uses Facebook mainly for “I make no reference to my job on research purposes. my personal Facebook page,” says Metro “In fact, I have a couple of accounts It’s easier to Vancouver reporter Kristen Thompson. in fake names so I can troll anonymously.” “find someone on “I’ve omitted any personal information Bolan’s Twitter account is filled with that could lead people to the fact that I’m tweets about stories she’s covering that Facebook than using a reporter.” day. Browsing through her posts, she tells 411. “I do have a professional Facebook readers nearly three times a day what – Kristen Thompson page and a Twitter page but there are no she’s up to. photos of me. I’ve been careful to keep “I guess it’s just a habit now to text “We use applications like Twitter and the two aspects of my life separate and to tweets from my phone to the website,” Facebook on a daily basis to promote our keep my personal life private.” she says. “Sometimes I’ll be covering a content online,” she says. “Those efforts But like Langrick, Thompson does murder in the morning, and then some- have put us far in front of similar-sized make extensive use of Facebook and one will get shot in the afternoon, and newsrooms in terms of our web traffic.” Twitter for story ideas, and to get in then I’ll get an anonymous tip about the Blogs aren’t just a platform for contact with sources. UN Gang.” personal opinions; they are an alterna- “It’s easier to find someone on Although the world of digital media tive way for a reporter to bring news and Facebook than using 411,” she says. “Both is still relatively new, Vancouver Sun re- insight to readers, according to Langrick. [networks] have become valuable tools porter Maggie Langrick calls it essential “[Blogs] play an important role in for me as a reporter.” LJR

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#45!5 Reporting under fire

By Derek Scott

“When a free country goes to war, the press and the military need each other – one to fight and the other to explain why. Only in that way can they accomplish their respective missions.” “ – Mike Wallace, 60 Minutes correspondent

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 45 lines of military conflict. whatever they want to,” Menard says. Since 2003, more than 300 jour- But, he adds, “If you’re going to jeopar- hen Prime Minis- nalists have taken part in the Canadian dize soldiers’ lives or report on where ter Stephen Harper Forces Media Embedding Program. we’re going to be at particular times decided to ban media While embedded with the troops on the that would be an OPSEC [operational coverageW of military ramp ceremonies, ground, reporters eat, sleep and breathe security] issue.” the move was met with mixed emotions. with the troops – for all intents and According to Taylor, the agreement is The ceremonies, part of the repatria- purposes the journalists are non-fighting all part of the military’s aim of control- tion of soldiers killed in combat, were members of the unit. ling its message. deemed too emotional and controversial While some academics and journal- “It’s in their nature to control and for public consumption. But the ban was ists question the ethics of embedding, manage the flow of information and short-lived due in part to pressure on Graeme Smith, foreign correspondent it’s going to happen every time. When Harper’s government from both the me- with the Globe and Mail, believes the you go there as an embedded journalist dia and the military. They argued that the ability to be up- ceremonies were in the public interest close and personal and allowing them to air would serve as a with the troops reminder of the ultimate sacrifice paid by on the ground When you go there as an Canadian soldiers abroad. makes for good At one time it may have been journalism. embedded journalist you’re improbable, to say the least, to see the “If I’m an em- going to see a very narrow military and media working so closely bedded reporter, together. These days the two sides have I’m actually section of the war and you’ll become nearly inseparable in their seeing first-hand get the truth, but you’re not combined effort to provide Canadians what my subjects going to get the whole truth. coverage of military operations. are doing,” he Scott Taylor, editor and publisher of says. “It’s bearing “ – Scott Taylor the military magazine Esprit de Corps, witness to the ac- has been covering the Canadian military tions of your subject.” you’re going to see a very narrow section for more than 20 years and says in that Prior to becoming embedded, jour- of the war and you’ll get the truth, but time the military has come to understand nalists must submit to a criminal record you’re not going to get the whole truth.” check, pass a medi- For Smith the basis of agreement is cal and physical quite simple: “Don’t say anything that’s test, and sign an going to get people killed.” embedded agree- Regardless of how the agreement is ment that outlines administered or interpreted, one thing what they can and both sides can agree on is that without cannot report on. it and the military protection it provides Among the list of there would be even less news coming restrictions are re- out of conflict zones. porting the specific According to Taylor, getting reports location of troops from “outside the wire” is easier said than and the rules of done because of the inherent danger as- engagement. The sociated with working in a conflict zone. agreement also “In a perfect world you wouldn’t states the possibil- need to be embedded for protection.” ity of censorship on Smith agrees, but he stresses the “Any information importance of also getting the stories the Commander… outside military control in order to tell Photo courtesy of Scott Taylor orders restricted for the whole story. Scott Taylor on the front in Iraq, 2005. operational reasons.” “In some areas…it’s just too darn Capt. Dean dangerous to walk around without guys the benefit of working with, rather than Menard, Canadian Forces public affairs with guns and that’s where you end up against, the media. officer with the Canadian Expedition- with this problem of reporting that’s only “The military has wised up to the fact ary Force Command, says journalists are from the military perspective,” Smith that they need to keep the public opinion relatively free to report on anything they says. “But it is absolutely necessary to on their side so they need to work with see, and that the restrictions are meant get information from an un-embedded [media].” only to protect the soldiers and their perspective.” According to Taylor, the relationship operations. That is precisely what he did during has been improving because, these days, “We don’t influence, restrict or his time in Afghanistan when he cre- reporters are getting closer to the front prevent the media from reporting on ated the award-winning “Talking to the

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#45!5 Taliban” multimedia series. The piece, watch journalism.” the area they’re entering or the soldiers consisting of interviews with Taliban According to Menard, “When there they intend to report on. Some reporters insurgents, short documentaries and is a death there is definitely a lot of arrive and are shocked to find so many written articles, sought to shed light on coverage on that. But when there is a people, both military and civilian, carry- the Afghanistan conflict from the Taliban good story, not so much, because that’s ing weapons, he says. perspective. just what journalism is focused around. “Sometimes there’s a naivety that Although the series did not always Right?” comes to it that is absolutely shocking.” place the Canadian Forces in the most Taylor says there is an overwhelming In an effort to provide journalists positive light, Smith says his experience amount of positive news coming out of with the training and knowledge neces- working with the Canadian Forces has Afghanistan, but those stories are not of sary to report from conflict zones several been “shockingly good.” much interest to the average Canadian. institutions, and the Canadian Forces “They have been patient with teach- He believes media coverage dealing with itself, have created training programs. ing me things that I didn’t understand reconstruction initiatives and humanitar- Athabasca University, north of Edmon- and incredibly understanding when I’ve ian efforts are no longer appealing to ton, has partnered with the Canadian caused controversies.” Forces to give journalists Menard says that once an opportunity to act as an embedded journalist reporters in a simulated makes the decision to leave conflict zone during train- the unit in search of stories, ing exercises at Canadian the onus is on that person Forces Base Wainwright. to arrange for security and The Canadian Defence and protection. Foreign Affairs Institute, “They basically take a non-profit independent their lives into their own research institute in Calgary, hands,” he says. offers a nine-day media- While embedding may military theory course with be the safest option for a classroom instruction and journalist wanting to report field trips to CF bases. from a conflict zone, pro- Taylor recognizes the tection is not guaranteed. benefits of these courses, On Dec. 30, 2009, but he points out that a few Michelle Lang became the days of military familiariza- first embedded Canadian tion will not create an expe- journalist to be killed in rienced war correspondent. Afghanistan. Lang had “It’s like saying you’re been in the country for less an expert on airline safety than three weeks when the after you get that briefing armoured vehicle she was before take-off.” travelling in struck a home- There have been times when the It’s clear that the media made roadside bomb. The nature of war forces journalists and the military have both blast killed Lang, along with individually and collectively four Canadian soldiers. and soldiers into conflict taken steps to improve their “Even if they’re with us because we’re trying to get the sometimes adversarial relation- we can’t avoid inadvertently truth and they are trying to ship. Perhaps the best indica- driving over an IED,” Menard tion of how far that relation- says. win the war. ship has come can be found Despite the ever-improv- “ in the words of retired Gen. - Graeme Smith ing relationship between the Rick Hillier, former Chief of media and the military, the Defence Staff, following Lang’s two sides can be found at odds over what Canadians back home. death. each considers relevant news. “I think that the audience desire to “The sometimes ‘normal mistrust’ “There have been times when the na- read that stuff has diminished over the between soldiers and reporters was usu- ture of war forces journalists and soldiers course of time just as it would be with ally quickly overcome when soldiers saw into conflict because we’re trying to get anything else.” that accompanying reporters were taking the truth and they’re trying to win the A particular irritant for the Cana- the same risks as themselves to do their war,” Smith says. “And sometimes those dian Forces is the lack of professional job,” Hillier told the National Post’s Don two interests conflict with each other.” due diligence on the part of the media. Martin. “Those who reported on war The military doesn’t really under- According to Taylor, some reporters and did it from the frontlines, without stand why the media is always so preoc- have shown up to cover conflicts and the which they could not get the story right, cupation with what is known as “death- military without properly researching deserve a special place in our history.” LJR

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 45 Conflict journalists in training By Derek Scott Reporters get a crash course in embedded reporting

s she progressed through Jour- life. The objective for the students is to There are several institutions and nalism school Eve St-Cyr never compile a portfolio of their work to be agencies that provide conflict correspon- seriously considered a career as handed in to their instructor at the end of dence training, but according to Eller- aA war correspondent. However, follow- the practicum. man, Athabasca’s program is the only ing graduation she decided to find out if Capt. Tom St-Denis, exercise media simulated experience of its kind in the conflict reporting was for her. officer, stresses, “These are not school country. St-Cyr was one of 10 student jour- projects. What people are doing is daily Prior to heading out into the field, nalists who spent two weeks at Canadian news. We create an interactive environ- St-Cyr’s class had a crash course in mili- Manouevre Training Centre at Canadian ment where they get to practise what tary life and operations. Forces Base Wainwright in south-central they know.” As part of the enculturation they Alberta last summer as part of Athabasca Training for the students is differ- receive basic military instruction where University’s course called Introduction to ent from what the soldier experiences, they fire modified weapons, learn the Military Reporting. but the opportunity to interact with basics of mines and booby traps, sleep “I just wanted to know if I had the each other is invaluable for both sides, under the stars and are introduced to balls to do that kind of stuff,” she says. St-Denis says. combat first aid. The course is a three-month online “It’s a mutually beneficial arrange- But the training is hardly enough to program consisting of group discussions, ment where the military, the soldiers and make the students experts in military assignments and a field practicum de- commanders get exposed to media and operations, St-Denis says. signed to introduce reporters to the mili- get to deal with media on several levels “At best it is a cursory introduction tary culture and to give them the tools to in a controlled exercise environment,” to these various facets of the soldier’s operate in a military environment. The says St-Denis. trade.” practicum for St-Cyr’s two-weeks in the “The army gets to see how journal- Regardless of the quality of military field takes place during a military training ists work and they get to see how they’re training provided, St-Cyr left with a new exercise at a replica Afghan village at CFB being portrayed.” perspective on the military. Wainwright. Evelyn Ellerman, communications “I didn’t know anything about the Throughout the field training stu- program coordinator at Athabasca Uni- military before these two weeks and it’s a dents mimic their professional counter- versity, believes courses like these are es- whole different way of living,” she says. parts as embedded journalists. They use sential for aspiring war correspondents. As for a career in conflict reporting? their previously learned reporting skills “A journalist would be useless work- It’s something she could see herself doing to create daily newscasts and newspapers. ing in a conflict zone if that journalist in the long run. The news is then delivered to the hadn’t had some kind of introduction to “I think I’d be okay. You just have to public, in this case the soldiers, for what the military is trying to do and how remember it’s not Hollywood – people consumption just as it would be in real it operates.” die everyday.” LJR

Photo Courtesy of Eve St-Cyr CBC Calgary’s Mike Vernon, left, briefs reporters Eve St-Cyr and Ashley Burkey in the field at CFB Wainwright.

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#!"4" By Trevor A Fallen Crawley Storyteller

n Dec. 30, 2009, members of a Canadian ranchers about their fears and the threats to their livelihoods. Forces provincial reconstruction team In the 2004 provincial election, Lang covered a press were on patrol in an armoured vehicle four conference given by then-premier Ralph Klein at a senior kilometresO outside of Kandahar City, Afghanistan, when they centre. She noticed a young woman sitting in the crowd drove over a roadside bomb, killing all five occupants inside. of seniors and after making some inquiries discovered the Sgt. George Miok, Sgt. Kirk Taylor, Cpl. Zachery Mc- woman was living at the facility because there was nowhere Cormack and Pte. Garrett Chidley all lost their lives in the else she could get the level of medical treatment she needed. line of duty that afternoon. Lang spent the next few months investigating the woman’s Michelle Lang, a reporter for the Calgary Herald and predicament, and others like her, and ended up with a superb Canwest News Service, was the fifth person who died in the piece of journalism. blast. She was embedded with the troops, covering the Ca- “It was a fantastic piece of reportage but also some nadians’ involvement in the war in Afghanistan. She was two incredible writing, and she just did such a marvelous story weeks into her assignment. on it and that’s one of those pieces you’re always going to Lang was one of 71 journalists deliberately killed in remember,” Varcoe says. 2009, the deadliest year on record, according to the Com- Lang began her career at the Prince George, B.C. Free mittee to Protect Journalists. Eleven days after her death, Press, a bi-weekly paper and quickly demonstrated her pas- British journalist Rupert Hamer, was also killed by a roadside sion for news. She moved on to the Moose Jaw Times-Herald bomb. and the Regina Leader-Post in Saskatchewan before landing Journalists like Lang and Hamer place themselves in at the Calgary Herald. Lang’s dedication and hard work paid dangerous situations because they believed that telling com- off in 2008 when she received a National Newspaper Award pelling stories from war-torn countries matters. But these for reporting on health issues. deaths throw a harsh spotlight on the dangers foreign cor- All this without any formal journalism training. respondents face working in unstable regions. “Michelle was an unbelievably hard worker. She was te- Lang, after having gone through safety training in Canada nacious and if she thought there was a story there, she would and at the military base in Kandahar, was eager to get outside keep digging until she found it, or she was confident there the confines of the base, according to Chris Varcoe, her editor was no story there,” Varcoe says. at the Herald. Outside of work, Lang enjoyed spending time with her “Michelle was the kind of reporter who believed that you fiance, Michael Louie, with whom she was planning a sum- had to be on the ground and you had to be with real people mer wedding. She loved playing ultimate frisbee and was a to tell the story.” fan of the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Lang, 34, was on the health beat at the Herald and ap- Lang had a great sense of humour and was either playing proached her job with a intensive work ethic that made her pranks on her friends and family or on the receiving end of stand out. them. When Lang first arrived at the Herald in 2002, Varcoe, “She really attacked that beat with fervor to try and bring a reporter at the time, got together with co-workers and to light things that were going on behind the scenes to keep convinced Lang that there was a rookie initiation where the the government accountable,” says Gwendolyn Richards, a newcomer had to buy everyone an expensive steak lunch. fellow Herald reporter. Lang called her mother that night in a panic because she What made her shine was her ability to take a broad didn’t know how she was going to pay for it all. Her col- story and find a human element that would resonate with leagues kept up the routine for a few days before coming readers. When she wrote a story on mad cow disease, a huge clean. “When I told her, I was expecting to get an earful. Not issue in Alberta, she not only covered the health aspect but at all. She immediately started laughing and she said, ‘I’m took the time to travel to farming communities to talk to gonna get you,’” Varcoe recalls. LJR !"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 24 Censorship in china

taking a step forward

By Marjorie Ennis

oes the rapid growth of China and its move were very few obvious restrictions during his stay. He reported toward Westernization mean that the country’s from Tiananmen Square – the scene of the infamous anti-gov- authoritarian regime is loosening its control ernment protests in 1989 – free from any government interfer- over the media? Political issues involving Tibet, ence. As far as he knew, no one listened in and no one waited the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and, most in the shadows to unplug his live hit. He had a sweeping feeling recently, Google’s decision to distance itself from a censored that this moment was going to be a significant one for foreign Dsite, show that the Communist government is still very much in media reporting from China. control of the flow of information. But some Canadian journal- And it was. Hanomansing spent a month in China covering ists who have recdently spent time in China say the clampdown various aspects of the Olympics, and the only hitch had been on foreign reporters, at least, is not as stringent as it used to be, that his permission for the live hit from Tiananmen Square, even though they concede the situation for Chinese reporters which been arranged before the trip, was inexplicably with- may be quite different. drawn. After negotiations, however, the Chinese government Some of the most noticable changes occured just prior to reinstated its permission. the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. CBC journalist and news “We felt like we had the freedom to do the stories we anchor Ian Hanomansing covered those Olympics and says there wanted but we wonder if that was a result of, for us, a small

!!" #$%&$'$"()*'%$+,-."/01,02"!343 window in conjunction with the Olym- ing those in Canada and the United States the news pieces, as well as ban subjects pics,” he says. “The Chinese may have also manipulate information to certain and shut down stations. The Communist been on their absolute best behaviour.” degrees. He says that the Canadian gov- Party’s Central Propaganda Department Miro Cernetig spent almost four ernment, for example, uses enormous is in place to make sure that the content years in China as a foreign correspondent public relation machines paid for by the of the news stays in line with the beliefs for The Globe and Mail. Cernetig, now a taxpayers to do exactly the same thing. of the party. columnist for the Vancouver Sun, says the “It’s a bit grey about whether they do Chinese media is becoming freer in many it and we don’t,” he says. “I think we all areas. The government seems to have do it in different ways.” am Razavi is a Canadian journal- less control over the media then it did Cernetig notes that the U.S. admin- ist who worked as a freelance in the past, although he notes that it still istration is another example of a Western reporter in China for English- nation controlling information. He says Klanguage publications. He has experi- exercises degrees of censorship. “If papers cover things that the gov- the U.S. government uses the Internet to enced censorship first hand. He wrote ernment doesn’t want covered such as bypass mainstream media and send mes- a story for a business magazine on the democracy or human rights or corrup- sages directly to selected audiences. massive growth of Chong Qing, a city tion scandals that touch too high or are “They don’t think that we’re satisfy- whose expansion was largely fuelled by too sensitive, then they’re shut down,” ing them enough, and we don’t. Then foreign investment. he says. “It’s still a state-controlled they try to take the news out directly,” In his story he quoted a local gov- medium, but not ernment official complaining about the in the sense of how central municipal government giving lo- it was controlled cal officials orders and leaving them with under Mao or under little power to do their job. Even though Stalin [in the Soviet the complaining official’s name was not Union]. I would say in the article, his critical comments were it’s quasi-state media taken out by censorship officials. enterprise.” Razavi, who freelanced while attend- Cernetig never ing Tsinghua University, says this was his felt uncomfortable only personal experience with censorship filing a story while in the year he spent in China. He is now in China. The only back in Canada working as a producer for problem he faced Global National in Vancouver. was having work- “I never changed my behaviour, or related travel to Tibet my writing, or my journalistic approach,” denied. Razavi says. “I never tailored it in the He says that for context of China. I did it as I was trained a foreign reporter and as I thought appropriate.” to be thrown out of Razavi believes that when reporting China you would Cheryl Minns photo in China, it is important to look at the re- need to be writing Miro Cernetig: Never felt uncomfortable in China. alities of the social, economic, and politi- something scandalous cal system. It is not a democratic country about a top leader or and therefore, what might be realistic in working as an activist journalist. For the says Cernetig. “And the Chinese do the the West is not what is realistic there. most part the government does not cen- same. They control the popular message The biggest challenge for foreign sor what reporters write, but if officials by not having them in it…we do it in a journalists in China is adapting to a do not like what they have written they much more subtle way.” system that they might not be used to, will impose limitations and may censor according to Razavi. future stories. “Being a journalist in China is “The bravest journalists in China he growth in the number of news starkly different than being a journalist in are not foreign journalists, they’re the sources in China seems to have Canada.” Chinese journalists,” says Cernetig. “They mirrored its explosive population. Western journalists see their role as truly are the people who take the risks. TThere are now more than 2,000 news- watchdogs of society, a position Chinese Not that foreign correspondents papers, more than 8,000 magazines, 374 journalists traditionally do not share. Un- don’t, but Chinese journalists with a television stations and 282 radio stations der the Communist system, journalists Chinese passport and Chinese residence in China. work for the good of society, as defined are the ones going to pay the maximum The main government censorship by the Party. Thus, as Razavi notes, the price for freedom of the press, and do agencies are the Genereal Administra- Chinese believe they need to simply pay that price.” tion of Press and Publication and the report the news – as it is defined by the Cernetig points out that China is not State Administration of Radio, Film, and government. the only country attempting to control Television. Both have the authority to However, despite restrictions on the message. Other governments, includ- license publishers and scan the content of what they can and can’t report, Chinese

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343&&&&&&&&&&&&25 journalists have recently criticized scams or malware placed on their com- minded journalistically. government policy, which is still much puters. “We also made clear that these Still, the university gave the inter- different than holding the government attacks and the surveillance they uncov- national students a list of taboo subjects accountable. ered – combined with attempts over that included Tibet, Tiananmen Square, “The Chinese Internet scene, the the last year to further limit free speech Taiwan and the Falun Gong, a spiritual bloggersphere, if you will, is very, very on the web in China, including the movement that is outlawed in China. active. There is a lot of discourse about persistent blocking of websites such as Annie Lui, a Chinese citizen who government policy-making, more than Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google Docs reports from the Australian Broadcasting one would perhaps expect in a country and Blogger – had led us to conclude that Corporation’s Beijing Bureau, believes like China,” says Razavi. we could no longer continue censoring Chinese journalism students are being Chinese journalists have a lot to our results on www.google.cn,” wrote taught journalism with Chinese charac- learn from Canadian journalism, such as David Drummond, Google’s manager of teristics. the drive to get a story, how to tell it in a corporate development, on the official “Chinese media get directives all the compelling way, to question information Google blog. time about what can be reported and and authority, to adhere to deadlines and “We want as many people in the what can not, or how we should report to be investigative in their work, accord- world as possible to have access to our on this. In China, at journalism school, ing to Razavi. you are taught that media is the organ of When China celebrated the Olym- the party.” pics, it also marked 30 years since the Lui says that despite some of the country’s shift away from Maoism and apparent loosening of restrictions, the toward the embracement of Western Chinese government still essentially concepts. In January 2007, the Chinese controls the media. When the media do Foreign Ministry set new rules that gave criticize the government, it is only within foreign reporters more freedom as part certain boundaries. of China’s Olympic commitments. These “It’s better to give media freedom rules gave journalists permission to in- even at the risk of libel than to limit me- terview Chinese political parties without dia too much for fear that they are saying first asking for government permission, the absolute right thing.” as well as the freedom to report outside So while many journalism students the city for which they were accredited. in China are are learning to be critical, Although the rules were supposed to according to the Western model, Lui end two months after the Games ended, says once they are on the job, it will be a China decided to keep the policy. different story. You can be critical of the But Western journalists covering government, but at your own peril. the Games noted that China still had a According to a yearly count by the heavy hand when it came to controlling Committee to Protect Journalists, by the information. end of 2008 there were 125 journalists Razavi says it was just to try to make photo courtesy of Kam Ravazi in prison in China. This does not include a good impression on the world. “I think Kam Razavi in China: He never those who were imprisoned some time any country that hosts the Olympics, in- changed his approach. during that year, and released. cluding Canada, wants to put its best face Almost 90 per cent of Chinese forward and doesn’t want negative news services, including users in mainland journalists jailed were writing for print to be part of the game.” China, yet the Chinese government has or online news sites, with the remainder The Olympics certainly served to been crystal clear throughout our discus- spread between television, radio and film shine a light on censorship in China. But sions that self-censorship is a non-nego- documentaries. Chinese citizens themselves still have tiable legal requirement,” he wrote. “We Being a Chinese national and pass- limited access to information. Google’s very much hope that the Chinese govern- port holder, Lui says at the end of the recent move to shut down its site in Chi- ment respects our decision, though we day she is the one censoring herself. She na came about because the international are well aware that it could at any time is always reminded that some Chinese search engine refused to run a censored block access to our services.” nationals have been put in jail for passing site. Users of China’s www.google.cn are on information that the government now being redirected to Google’s Hong uring the 1980s,Tsinghua Uni- considers a national secret. Kong server, available in Chinese. The versity began a pilot graduate Says Lui: “For some really sensitive decision came after an investigation into program for professional jour- stories such as stories on dissents, on cyber attacks found evidence suggest- nalistsD taught by American professors. It Tibet issues, on June 4 [Tiananmen ing Gmail accounts of dozens of human was halted after the Tiananmen Square Square Massacre], I’d better keep my rights activists with connections to China crackdown in 1989, but reopened 20 hands clear from them. I know this is not were being infiltrated by third parties. years later. The program brought Chinese good as I am supposed to fight for justice According to Google, the hacking and international students together to as a journalist, but I don’t want to risk was most likely done through phishing teach the Chinese to be more open- my own safety or life.” LJR

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#!454 !""# !""# !""# $"%&#'(& &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&)*+,& &&&&&&&&&&&&&-,.+ !"#!$%#&"'()! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&&2343& 25 Can sports reporting on team websites be trusted?

lare Farnsworth saw his team and sport-specific websites is the but I have much more access to the team 22-year career as a sports sheer volume they can produce. Websites and there’s a lot less chasing of stories. If reporter vanish after his can post content 24/7 whereas news- this is life on the dark side, I should have newspaper closed its doors. papers are usually limited to once a day. seen the dark side a long time ago.” CThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer, founded in Sports fans have a voracious appetite for Hermida has his doubts. 1863, became one of the many casualties any and all news regarding their favou- “If there is a large scandal involv- in America’s struggling newspaper indus- rite teams and the Internet satisfies that ing a league or teams, I wonder if the try and Farnsworth’s newspaper writing craving. writers on their site would be willing or career perished with it. “These websites have journalists who be allowed to write about it?” Hermida “I remember walking into the of- will report on anything and everything,” wonders. “At some point there will be fice and it looked exactly like a business Hermida says. “Often their stories don’t an issue where writers simply won’t be you see in a going-out-of-business sale,” follow the typical news story pyramid able to talk. The challenge here is read- Farnsworth says. “It was a strange and but fans always want to hear the latest ers aren’t stupid. If they only get vanilla empty feeling.” Farnsworth was the pa- news. They want everything and they news, team sites will not be seen as a per’s football writer, covering the Seattle want small news bites in addition to the complete alternative to newspapers.” Seahawks. big news.” It’s a theory that Vancouver Sun In an effort to cut costs, the P.I. con- hockey columnist Iain MacIntyre is bet- cluded its existence in print and switched ting on. to an online format in March of last year. “The [canucks.com] website is fine The newspaper’s demise cost Farnsworth but critical thinking isn’t encouraged,” his job, but he wasn’t out of work for MacIntyre says. “Most people should be long. He’s covering covering those same The challenge quite happy to go to the website for news Seattle Seahawks again – only this time but more sophisticated fans will seek out for the team’s website. here is readers independent sources.” “The way teams are covered has aren’t stupid. If Jason Botchford, a sports reporter at totally changed since I started,” he says. the Province, agrees. “With blogs and Twittering, the print they only get “People writing for team websites product is an afterthought. It’s become vanilla news, team might not be viewed as entirely credible all about how quickly you can get stories “ to fans,” Botchford says. sites will not be out there.” “Is Kristin Reid [canucks.com The new type of “coverage” is be- seen as a complete reporter] allowed to dig for stories? I coming a popular and lucrative part of alternative to would guess no. The newspapers can sports reporting. Teams are learning that offer things the website can’t. We’re they can create their own content and newspapers. unbiased and can provide much more in- reach out directly to their fans using the depth content, analysis and opinion.” Internet. -Alfred Hermida One of the major sports leagues, Other pro teams are also hiring Major League Baseball, has tried to ad- sports journalists. The NBA’s Chicago dress this issue. The league employs beat Bulls hired former Chicago Tribune writers to cover games and report on writer Sam Smith to cover the team. The news for its website, MLB.com. All of the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL did the But are readers of team-controlled articles come with a disclaimer letting same, hiring former Los Angeles Daily sites getting biased coverage? Fans may readers know that anything the writers News’ sports writer Rich Hammond. be more than willing to turn to their produce is not subject to the league’s Alfred Hermida, an assistant profes- team’s website for basic stats and player approval. sor of journalism at the University of profiles but can they get objective analy- Hammond addressed the possible British Columbia, believes that team- sis there as well? Will the site carry news conflict of interest in a blog he posted created content is the way of the future. of conflict in the dressing room? shortly after signing on with the Kings’ “Before, you had to own your own Farnsworth insists working for the website. means of production. The digital age Seahawks hasn’t changed his reporting “I understand that this will raise changes all of that,” Hermida says. “The style. some immediate, significant questions,” sporting club now controls the message “I’m being allowed to do what I’ve he wrote. “To put it as plainly and simply and makes revenue off of that product.” always done – cover the team,” he says. as possible, I will draw a salary from the According to Hermida, the key to “I do have to accentuate the positive Kings, but none of the stories and/or

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#!454 blogs I write will be reviewed for approv- directly with their audience,” Hermida al by any member of the Kings’ staff.” says. “It’s a fantastic tool for athletes with But Kevin Kinghorn, director of new If I can finger paint, loyal fans. It helps develop a sense of con- media for the Canucks insists that the I’m not an artist. nection for the athlete but it’s less clear if freelance and in-house writers involved Woe be the day for Twitter is good for teams and agents.” on canucks.com are given freedom to Botchford agrees. “Twitter is really write what they want. journalism when instant communication. It’s all about “We may not have disclaimers on our we’re all lumped getting information out there and Twitter site but there is no muzzle on any of our into the same can enhance that.” writers,” Kinghorn says. MacIntyre cautions that it’s not He says the Canucks are not in a war “category. all good journalism. “Social media has with newspapers for content. caused a huge shift in what a journalist is. “I don’t consider newspapers compe- -Iain MacIntyre [But] if I can finger-paint, I’m not an art- tition. We have a great relationship with ist. Woe be the day for journalism when we’re all lumped into the same category.” He does agree that websites, newspa- pers and team sites are all leveraging themselves to be relevant sources for the sports fan. “Sports journalism is in a transition,” says MacIntyre. “I maintain that many people still want to read the newspaper every day and I find it very heartening that some people are not interested in turning on their BlackBerry to get the news. But newspapers have to recognize that digital media is not going away and we have to embrace it. This transition is a challenge and the industry is really learn- ing as we go. “Our end goal is to be a digital deliv- ery platform,” he says. “It’s not just going to be marketing and news. Video on our site is going to make a huge leap forward and we are committed to creating con- tent that fans won’t get anywhere else.” Hermida sees more specialization ahead. “I think we’re going to see more Cheryl Minns photo niche sites. Sports and the Internet were Canucks fans in action: Can they get the story from the team’s website? made for each other and the platform is the beat writers covering the team. Does “The Internet should have been limitless.” the average web-viewer only look at primed to be the next step for journal- The Province’s Botchford has a simi- canucks.com? I don’t think so. We’re not ism,” Botchford adds. “The old way of lar view. “I do believe there will always competing with one another at all.” thinking was that if you have a story, be a place, a market and a demand for To further that point, Kinghorn you sit on it and keep it for the paper. analysis, strong opinions, humour and notes that canucks.com has links to Ca- With online, if you don’t post the story, information. I used to think there would nucks stories in other media. the competition will get it. Online is all always be a place for great writing as According to Botchford, if sports about breaking stories and getting out as well. But now, I’m not so sure. fans have been flocking to the team web- much information to your readers as pos- “I suspect in the immediate future, sites, it’s because Canadian newspapers sible. Many journalists in Canada don’t team web sites will become more power- have been slow to embrace some of the understand or appreciate how important ful and newspapers less so,” Botchford advantages the Internet can give to sports it is to break stories online.” adds. “I doubt newspapers, or news web coverage. If the competition from team sites sites, will disappear or stop being a fac- “Sports journalism is changing. Me- wasn’t enough, sports journalism has also tor. With the demand I see, there should dia in Canada is still at the starting gate as been bombarded by blogs, Twitter and be room for everyone. As long as millions far as the internet and technology goes. other social media. of people continue to be fascinated by It’s like trying to pull a brontosaurus out “Twitter is an opportunity for teams, sports, you will need media, and a me- of a tar pit.” organizations and agents to connect dium, to help feed the beast.” LJR !"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 25 Writing

into the storm

Journalism schools are churning out grads eager for work. But where will they go?

By Kimiya Shokoohi

ournalism schools in Western Industry employment rates have taken a Not only are jobs a scarce commod- Canada continue to fill their plunge since the recession hit in 2008. ity for the inexperienced but veteran Jprograms, but are there jobs wait- Jeff Gaulin, director of the journalism journalists are being shown the door, or ing for graduates when they leave the job website JeffGaulin.com, says job encouraged to take early retirement. Of- comfort of the classroom? postings on his site are down 55 per cent ten, vacant positions are not filled. Major Storm clouds have been brew- compared to 2008. He notes that in the media organizations have shed employees ing over the media industry for several fall of 2008 there were 368 jobs posted like so much dead weight in an effort to years, and when the maelstrom subsides on his site, compared to 163 during the become leaner and more efficient. Do thousands of jobs will have vanished. same time a year later. more with less has become the mantra.

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#!454 During the last two years alone, Rogers have a BA, you don’t want to work here,’ “I personally connect a lot better Publishing eliminated 900 jobs, Canwest and they really were very reluctant to with multi-media – with radio or televi- cut 560, and CTV reduced staff by 105 hire me,” Roberts says. She remembers sion. I feel more compelled to watch people. employers insisting that someone with those stories and pay attention,” Novak But journalism schools in Western a BA would want to go on and do other says. Canada keep operating as if the major things and she had to assure them that While BCIT saw a dip in enrolment storm hitting the industry is nothing this was indeed what she wanted to do. in the fall of 2009 compared with the more than a summer squall. Students “The world has changed since then,” previous year, it still has more journalism keep signing up, instructors keep teach- Roberts says. “It’s not just journalism. students than other schools in Western ing and credentials keep being handed Through our whole society there’s an Canada. Its two broadcasting sections, TV out, all as if it’s business as usual. increase in the number of credentials em- and radio, collectively had 223 students “Yes, mainstream for-profit in the fall of 2009, compared media is changing and in decline with 240 students the year be- in some respects, lessening the I think that finding a job fore. But not all the students in number of mainstream for-profit and job security is a concern these programs are aiming for media jobs,” says Mary-Lynn jobs in broadcast journalism. Young, director of the graduate in any field. Novak, for example, journalism program at the Uni- -Rebecca Cheung worked last summer for W versity of British Columbia. “But Network’s production com- journalism practice is growing.” pany, on consumer-report In the fall of 2009, enrolment at ployers are looking for. People are more shows such as The Shopping Bags, and UBC’s journalism graduate school and more educated.” she is seeking to return to that area of increased to 63 students from 54 in the Roberts says over the years Langara’s broadcasting. year previous. curriculum has undergone changes to “It’s not that I don’t love hard news, Young believes that while conven- keep up with the ever-evolving industry because I love hard topics. I just don’t tional journalism jobs are in a crisis, but employers are raising the bar. They know if right now those jobs exist,” she non-traditional journalism jobs in, for want young journalists to be able to work says. “There’s got to be a way to marry example, online media are increasing. with the latest digital technology, but things that are entertaining and appealing “Digital labour is still being worked they also want them to know something but still have important messages and still through. How much are these people be- about politics and history. provide information.” ing paid? Is it enough? But it’s our belief UBC journalism graduate program BCIT broadcasting instructor George here that journalism as a practice is in student Faiza Zia Khan decided to get her Orr acknowledges that much journal- fact growing and that’s why there’s still a masters in journalism when she real- ism work has shifted from stable jobs to tremendous interest.” ized her communications degree and a freelance or contract work, but adds that Mitch Thompson, a second-year run with a couple of community papers broadcasters will always be needed to journalism student at Kwantlen Poly- wasn’t going to be enough to land her the produce and deliver a newscast according technic University in Richmond, B.C., journalism jobs she wanted. “I realized it to their broadcast licence commitments. believes the new generation of budding makes a world of difference,” Khan says. “We’re not entirely a market-driven journalists has a strong desire for knowl- “Education is an investment that pays operation so there’s a degree of security edge, and that’s what has them turning to vividly in the long run.” in that,” he says. journalism schools. “Why not become a Twenty-five-year-old Ryerson Uni- Some would-be journalists are vow- part of that so I can get that information versity graduate Katie Mercer may be ing to ride out the storm, and noting faster and find it out for myself?” Thomp- one of the few exceptions to the notion that economic uncertainty means jobs son says. that recent graduates can’t get jobs at in other sectors are not safe now either. He is also convinced that more big papers, especially in this economy. Rebecca Cheung, who has a bachelor of young people are still turning to j- Mercer landed a paid internship at Van- science and is completing the first year of schools because they aren’t able to find couver’s Province newspaper, which led UBC’s graduate journalism program, is jobs in other sectors. “People are [saying] to a full-time job as a crime reporter. “I one of those. ‘I can’t get a job now so I’ll go to school still am getting used to the idea that I’m “A lot of my friends with similar and get my skills up.’” working here,” Mercer says. “With this backgrounds – some who have PhDs – Journalism educators will argue that kind of industry you don’t know if you’ll they’re having difficulties finding jobs. I even with the changing job scene, the have a job next week.” think that finding a job and job security is industry still demands a certain level of While some young journalists are a concern in any field.” education. The chair of Langara College’s still climbing aboard what many feel is a There’s no evidence to suggest journalism program, Anne Roberts, re- sinking ship – the newspaper – others are today’s unstable journalism industry will calls the difference in education standards staking their future on broadcasting. Tara- see blue skies anytime soon. But Cheung when she started. Lee Novak, who already has a degree is in it for the long haul. “When I started out I had a BA and I in English literature, is taking broadcast “It’s seems uncertain right now but applied for a job with the Canadian Press journalism at the British Columbia Insti- I think there will always been a need for and they looked at me and said, ‘But you tute of Technology. journalists.” LJR

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 25 Teaching a man to fish

Joshua Hergesheimer photo Young boys gather to see the ferangi (foreigner) arrive at an Ethiopian development project partially funded by Canada.

Is Canadian aid to Ethiopia hitting the mark? Joshua Hergesheimer, travelled to one of the world’s most impoverished countries to find out.

had just exited passport control and My laptop backpack disappears week with Hope International Develop- was standing in the customs line- behind the black plastic flaps. “Can you ment Agency, a small New Westminster, Iup at Hailie Selassie Airport, Addis explain this bag?” the customs agent B.C.-based organization working to Ababa, Ethiopia when I saw the X-ray inquires in my direction, his eyebrows address water and sanitation issues in the machines. Two big, industrial-scale grey rising ever so slightly in the style officials mountains of southern Ethiopia.These metal boxes stood between me and the in the developing world seem to have two agencies are at opposite ends of the exit doors – the last obstacle to my first perfected. development spectrum. The UN’s WFP is overseas journalism assignment. “It has a laptop and camera,” I re- a massive organization that receives fund- I opened my passport to the still- sponded. No need to mention the voice ing from donor governments. HIDA is moist entry stamp. As far as Ethiopian of- recorder and microphones. “And a small a small, non-governmental organization ficials knew, Joshua Hergesheimer, tour- bottle of whiskey. For a friend.” My bag that relies primarily on private donations ist, wanted to snap photos of migrating always contains duty free delights that supplemented with CIDA grants. Canada birds. But the contents of my bag told a can be “donated” to officials if the need has contributed about $20 million more different story. Someone looking closely arises. to MERET than the $500,0000 that was at my camera, computer, notebook and “Is any of this equipment profes- allocated to HIDA. I figured it would be sound recorder might think I was trying sional?” he asked. I paused, not wanting interesting to see what each organization to slip into the country under the radar. to respond too quickly, then shook my was doing with this money – and how I had been warned earlier not to head. Behind me a woman was transfer- well it was or wasn’t working. apply for a journalism visa. “It is better ring boxes bound with fraying twine on not to mention such things,” an Ethiopian to the conveyor belt. There were five big t this point, I should offer a acquaintance said, pointing out that it boxes for him to scrutinize. He waved confession. I am not an unbi- would likely be denied – or, if granted, I me through. ased observer. I have yearned to would be assigned a minder and watched I left Canada with an ambitious as- visitA Ethiopia ever since I set foot on the constantly. Neither sounded appealing. So signment: to report on the work of two African continent – and fell in love with I had written down “tourism.” development organizations receiving – more than a decade ago. So as much In the customs line the man ahead funding from the Canadian International as I wanted, and knew I needed, to be a of me struggles to load his suitcase – Development Agency. I arranged a week dispassionate, objective journalist, I also wrapped in duct tape – on to the con- with the United Nations’ World Food desperately wanted to find some positive veyor belt. The customs officer glances at Programme observing a project called stories. I wanted to believe that some the video screen, then signals him toward MERET, designed to address issues of of the money and effort the world has a long table. I hear the sound of tape rip- soil degradation and land conservation. invested in Ethiopia has actually helped ping as I shuffle forward. To contrast this, I would also spend a its people help themselves. !"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#4"5" Critics of foreign aid have found And I saw subsistance farmers-turned- land degrade – after they signed up for a plenty of ammunition in Ethiopia’s fruit tree cultivators in Chencha growing program that promised to help them re- troubles. Each year the country struggles seven varieties of apples to be sent to city habilitate it. At the same time the world with chronic food shortages. And 25 markets. will likely spend billions on emergency years after Live Aid rallied globally aware I saw how humans can shape their aid for Ethiopians who face starvation. citizens to fight famine, the Ethiopian physical environment to rescue land that This is clearly a short-term investment government last October had to ask the would otherwise degrade. I saw water that saves lives but does nothing to help world for emergency food aid for more catchment ponds filled with rainwater people live better and more productive than six million people. Nearly three that last year would have washed away lives. quarters of Ethiopia’s 85 million people precious soils. I ran my palm across spiky do not have access to clean water. The green grasses growing in closure areas. fter a week spent trying to un- country ranks 191 out of 193 on the Hu- And I touched tiny seedlings destined to tangle the intricacies of the WFP, man Development Index. If you want to grow into fruit trees. it was refreshing to spend the be cynical about the accumulated benefits Not every MERET project was timeA with HIDA at their remote campsite of foreign aid, you need look no further successful. I found farmers whose crops high in the mountains of Dirashe district. than Ethiopia. stood stunted; sometimes for lack of The problem here was that women and But cynics may want to stop read- water, sometimes for lack of knowl- girls had to walk hours to collect water. ing now, because the remainder of this edge. Farmers seemed to recognize the Even then the water is often dirty. The article might just plant seeds of doubt problems of overgrazing, yet I saw boys solution was to install a spring cap and in their minds. Yes, I saw some failures. driving cows through closure areas. I gravity-fed water distribution system that But overwhelmingly these were failures spoke to four unemployed men who said pipes water directly to the village water of bureaucracy or administration, not officials of the World Food Programme taps, saving the women and girls a long, failures of imagination, determination or directed them to construct a fish farm arduous walk. The process was utterly innovation. On paper, Ethiopia may seem but failed to provide them with the fish. unique and stunningly effective. HIDA destined for failure. But I found Ethio- The pond that was supposed to contain provided the materials and the expertise, pians who had refused to accept that the fish sat unused, growing only algae. and the community provided the labour. designation. Some had even succeeded. The WFP said it was the responsibility of Every able-bodied person was recruited the Bureau Of Agriculture and Rural De- to dig trenches and transport the pipes. wenty kilometres from Hosiana velopment to provide the fish. But when And they did all this without the promise town, the muddy road melts into they inquired, the bureau didn’t reply. of payment. They did it for themselves, a maze of ruts. A rooster crows. The men said they were discouraged by by themselves. TSmoke seeps through the thatched roofs the setback but wouldn’t give up. The project was refreshingly trans- of circular huts standing in a grove of Following the funding trail proved parent. “Everyone here knows what we enset and banana trees. I am here to challenging. Farmers in Konso said are doing,” Wubliker Teklu, HIDA’s field meet Worke Sima Mogo. She comes out BOARD officials told them that there officer, told me. “If there is any corrup- smiling. was no grain to pay them to work on a tion, any cheating, the people will know Mogo looks happy – with good retaining wall. BOARD officials said they because they see the pipes and they see reason. Her land used to be barren. Now, didn’t receive the grain from their head us working with them.” the 28-year-old mother of four harvests office, and the head office said the WFP And it seems to have worked. Before three crops per year from her backyard federal office hadn’t sent the grain. When HIDA arrived in Dirashe, only 10 per garden. Since she began working with I asked about this discrepancy I was sent cent of the population had access to clean MERET five years ago, she has earned a copy of a 2009 report that blamed water. Now, nearly all Dirashe’s women enough money to send her children to international donors for only delivering and girls walk a few hundreds metres to the local school and send her husband to about half the grain and cash promised. a water point – saving time, energy, and South Africa for work. CIDA media officer Denise Robichaud lives. “Before MERET, I did not even know said that Canada had met its commitment Of course, water pipes cannot by some of these vegetables and fruits ex- of $20 million, but declined to comment themselves change society. Women and isted,” she tells me excitedly. “Now I sell on the apparent funding shortfall or on girls are still expected to do the major- them at the market for cash.” She may donor contributions generally. ity of the domestic work in Dirashe. But never have taken an economics course, As journalists, we often cite numbers social change starts small, and while the but Mogo can see the benefits of having in our stories. But stories are not really women of Dirashe will use the time they capital to invest back into the land. “I about numbers, even if they involve tens save to do other chores, Dirashe’s girls have a water catchment system now, and of millions of dollars (though taxpayers now have more hours to attend school. I want to expand the farm even more.” might think otherwise). They are about And for some reason, that makes me In Konso district I met farmers how real people are affected by decisions hopeful. LJR building retaining walls to stop ero- made on the basis of numbers. To me, the Joshua Hergesheimer graduated from sion and catchment ponds to conserve story about MERET is not that it faces a Langara College’s Certificate Journalism Pro- rainwater. In Alaba district, I spoke to massive budgetary shortfall. It is about gram in 2009. He was winner of that year’s community members who voted unani- the sad irony that tens of thousands of CIDA-Langara College Journalism Develop- mously to close overgrazed land to cattle. farmers will now have to watch their ment scholarship.

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 54 By Jerome Tur ner Tony CHEKs in – And Maybe Out

ony Parsons, Global BC’s trusted news anchor for In early 2009 Canwest announced it was going to sell, nearly 35 years, once started to grow a mustache. close or rebrand the station. “They said if an offer was not made This did not go over well with viewers. Parsons before mid-June the station would be shut down completely on found that the people who depended on him to August 31, ” deliverT the news are also averse to change. They wanted Tony Pollard and company looked to Nanaimo’s Harmac Pacific Parsons just the way he always was. pulp mill, which was taken over by employees after previous Yet change is exactly what is happening to Parsons. The owner Pope & Talbot went bankrupt. CHEK managed to forge veteran anchor so familiar to Global BC (formerly BCTV) an agreement with Canwest using contract elements learned viewers for so many years, slid into retirement two years ago, from Harmac and became the first TV station in North America only to resurface – not once, but twice – on two different to be employee owned. stations. Parsons first took on the anchoring task at the newly “It was the idea of these people believing in what they did revamped and employee-owned CHEK-TV in Victoria. He had so much, that they invested their own money in reviving what barely started his assignment there when he appeared alongside could have been a dead station,” says Parsons. “I thought, ‘Now Gloria Macarenko on CBC Van- there’s a group I could work couver’s local supper-time news, with,’” replacing Ian Hanomansing, who It’s not like they Thirty-five years of trust- left for greener pastures at The ed anchoring would have been National in Toronto. need a saviour. Parsons legacy had he retired In taking over CHEK’s 10 – Tony parsons to his homes in Arizona and o’clock news, Parsons says he Kelowna. But apparently he wanted to be involved in making can’t get enough. Adding CBC history as part of the employee endeavour to“ keep the station to his plate shows his reluctance to retreat from the lights. running after Canwest threatened to shut it down. “One of the Parsons now flies from Vancouver to Victoria and back things that drove me here was the possibility that the station, every day. For all that effort it appears not too many evening with all its heritage, might close and the community wouldn’t news viewers are taking notice, at least not initially. Ratings be served by two competitive stations, Parsons says.” show that Parsons’ first broadcast with CBC on April 12 drew CHEK used to simulcast BCTV’s six o’clock news, fewer viewers than Coronation Street, the British soap that fol- anchored by Parsons. “In a sense I have already worked for lows the news. During the same supper-hour significantly more CHEK,” he says. He likes the concept of employee ownership people watched Global than watched CTV, CBC and CITY-TV – unchartered territory for major media ownership in Canada combined. – and expresses respect for his new colleagues who are trying Parsons was visibly uncomfortable on his new set, and the to make it work. “It’s not like they need a saviour,” says Parsons. usually slick and relaxed CBC news team nearly slipped into “They are all hard-working, fire-in-the-belly-kind of people.” amateur hour. The tension was palpable enough to produce Parsons seems downright thrilled to be working five days a playful comment from irrepressible weather woman Claire a week, compared with the two days he was workingduring Martin, who quipped something about certain people’s ner- his last few years a Global. He is also keen on being part of the vousness. experiment. It’s not clear if Parsons will stay on with CHEK. He is in “It’s a unique situation in television to have an employee- his early 70s and no matter how much he enjoys delivering the owned operation,” Parsons says. “If we do everything right, then news, the commute and workload seem incredibly taxing. And we can prove to other people that it’s a sustainable thing and it he still looks out of place at CBC, perhaps quite simply because can be done.” of his long association with the competition. The transition to becoming employee owned involved a lot But who knows? Parsons might try growing another mus- of work and negotiations with the station’s ailing former owner. tache. It could give him a whole new identity. LJR

!"##$%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#"454# Surfer’s Nightmare

Service providers control the speed of webites. What does this mean for the free flow of information? By Alek Lescan & Jerome Turner

News is delivered via the Internet Canadian law does not guarantee there are now a plethora of web-only on a steadily increasing basis and those high-speed Internet to everyone. Can- sites providing different types of news companies that provide Web access to ada’s broadcast regulator, the Canadian and information. consumers – the Internet service provid- Radio-television and Telecommunications “There is a new day for media,” says ers, or ISPs – can determine what sites Commission (CRTC), has created a new Anderson. “There is a crisis in traditional get preference. Is this desireable? Steve policy concerning Internet use but pro- journalism. It’s an exciting moment and Anderson doesn’t think so. He is one ponents of net neutrality say the policy we are relying more and more on the of a number of people who believe that does not go far enough. Net.” indivuals and organizations should have So what does this all mean for jour- The problem is, explains Anderson, equal access to the Internet – a concept nalism? that large corporate ISPs such as Bell and referred to as “net neutrality.” The delivery of news is rapidly mov- Telus have the capability to “throttle” a Anderson is spearheading a campaign ing to the Web. Traditonal news outlets website, thereby slowing down its load for net neutrality, which is the focus of – newspapers, radio, television – use time, if they consider the site undesir- his website, SaveOurNet.ca. websites for news dissemination, and able.

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 55 Advocates of net neutrality have raised concerns about the ability of tele- com companies to act as “gate keepers” in controlling applications and online content. A throttled site takes longer to load. A site that immediately loads will undoubtedly receive more views. The CRTC decision last October did little to ensure that all websites are on a level playing field. Its clarification of the federal Telecommunications Act gave ISPs the right to give some websites a fast lane, while others can be deferred to a slow lane or outright discontinued. If an ISP wants to throttle a site it must simply give 30 days notice before doing so. Anderson welcomes news and infor- mation organziations that are alternatives to the corporate mainstream, but fears they are the very ones who could be relegated to the slow lane, and thus have their existence jeopardized. “More media is created through in- Cheryl Minns photo dependent collaborative efforts. Indepen- Irma Arkus: Her program requires unlimited access to the Internet. dent producers create something more original and genuine compared to what virtually non-existent. complained and Bell had to adjust to we are offered by giant conglomerates.” He says there is no solution to Bell’s demand, despite its objection to how He sees the evolution of indepen- domination in Ontario – short of “erect- its service was being abused. Since the dent media on the Web as the only way ing five telephone poles in front of every CRTC decision, only Bell customers who journalism can expand its horizons. Net house,” – because major telecom compa- pay for the unlimited package in Ontario neutrality advocates encourage journal- nies own the delivery system. have unrestrained access to the Internet, ists to create new tools and modes of The ISPs companies use a method according to Bisonette. This should raise reporting and lower the bar for citizens called deep packet inspection (DPI) to an alarm to any journalist, because of the to participate. red-flag sites. A site is usally throttled, if level of intrusion an ISP has regarding That hits home for Irma Arkus, a scan shows it to have red flag content. website traffic. host of HiSciFi, a radio program on the Before the CRTC decision, throttling was Throttling is likely for journalism Web dedicated to politics, science and automatic. Now, websites have 30 days websites simply because of the nature of technology. to conform to an ISP’s demands before the craft. Ideas can be unpopular to those “While we hear from corporations the punishment is inflicted. The corpora- whose interests are challenged. How that freedom of access to content, or long would a blog net neutrality, is bad for dedicated to criticiz- business, shows like HiS- ing ISPs – or their ciFi very much depend on sponsors– survive? having unlimited access to They would much rather have a Anderson hoped the international exchange the CRTC decision of content,” she noted on private network that they own and last October would one of her recent shows, in control... you can make more money provide some punish- conversation with Ander- when you control a resource. ment for ISPs that son. arbitrarily throttle Her program depends –Steve Anderson sites. He feels the on a fast, open Internet to CRTC could have connect with her audience. “ done more, but he Currently, HiSciFi gets 20,000 down- tions follow Web use closely and have does believe the policy is headed in the loads per week by distributing its content an intimate knowledge of all customer right direction. through BitTorrent files, which is vital for information. “I think ISPs are naturally hostile… distributing large amounts of data. Using DPIs, Bell realized that nearly and they only got pushed into this by us,” Marc Bisonette, owner of Canadian 90 per cent of Internet traffic consisted he says. “They would much rather have a ISP, an online catalogue of service provid- of illegal downloads. In an effort to private network that they own and con- ers, says general knowledge of alterna- combat this phenomenon all Bell cus- trol… you can make more money when tives to Bell Canada, Telus and Rogers is tomers were throttled. But customers you control a resource.” LJR

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#4565 By In Jest Diego Syz We Trust

atirical comedy lights up people’s lives through televi- Vancouver Observer, likes to think he “brings the sensibility sion shows, websites, newspapers and various comedic of a journalist through the eyes of a playwright.” He says when performances. The satire prevalent in North American producing comedy there is sometimes a dilemma between the pop culture often focuses on current events – politics, element of truth and the entertainment factor. Swar, social trends, people in the public eye – and truth can “For me I do my absolute best to make sure that the stuff sometimes become expendable to get a point across. that I’m writing is absolutely factual,” he says. In the context of contemporary North American culture, If you try to bend the truth to fit your own purposes you the question has been asked: Is John Stewart a journalist? That risk undermining the comedy you are trying to get across. “I’d is, through his satirical way of looking at current events, does be doing the same thing I’m critical of the mainstream media he provide his Daily Show for.” audience with certain truths Espejo concedes that that so-called “objective I do my absolute best to make sure sometimes when he’s per- journalism” cannot? Or is he that the stuff that I’m writing is forming he’ll say something an entertainer using humour that isn’t entirely true, to simply poke fun at serious absolutely factual. perhaps stretching the facts, situations and famous people? -Comedian Lalo Espejo but the humour is obvious to “In media, you get small the audience, so he feels it’s pictures of fact and sometimes harmless. the big truth is wrong. Comedy is like the opposite of that,” Satire emerges organically from a culture, points out Joe says B.C. author and satirist Charlie Demers. Cutbirth, who teaches a course on satire as news at the Univer- Demers’ way of looking at the world is through the satiri- sity of British Columbia. People need to let off steam and that’s cal looking glass, as evidenced by his two novels – The Pre- why personalities like John Stewart or Stephan Colbert do so scription Errors and Vancouver Special – which display some well in angst-ridden cities like New York, Cutbirth says. of the follies of life in Vancouver through the eyes of someone Cutbirth came to Canada from the U.S., where he taught born and raised there. Journalism at Columbia University. “There seems to be a “It’s just most important that you get the big truth,” he says. stronger sense of citizen-bond for me here – I mean coming Demers notes that satire can be subtle and that it can back- straight from New York,” he says. “I notice that there’s less dep- fire if those who are its intended victims exploit it for their ersonalization, less alienation here in the Pacific Northwest.” own benefit. Canadians politicians, for example, have a very People often say they get their sense of news from The advanced way of exploiting satire, Demers says. He points to Daily Show or Colbert Report, says Cutbirth, but he believes Canadian entertainer Rick Mercer and how his show became a this audience is really quite aware of the issues and that makes campaign stop for various politicians in recent federal elec- it funny for them. tions. That brings into question the effectiveness of the satire, Cutbirth sees satire as a tool for the disenfranchised, and it Demers says. The political figureheads who are supposed to be provides a subtext for current events on a more intimate level parodied are instead given what amounts to free PR. than just straight hard news. “They kill you with access,” he says. “But I’m really not sure that comedians go out to convey Because of our closeness to the U.S., Canadians really have information. Ninety-nine per cent of the time comedians want two political cultures and our comedy is also influenced by laughs,” he says. them, Demers says. Espejo would disagree. He says comedians can shed light on In the U.S., you find African-Americans and Jewish-Amer- subjects people are sometimes uncomfortable talking about. icans dominating the realm of satire and comedy. Canadians, “Look at Afghanistan. There’s some pretty dark shit going who are considered to have a pretty good sense of humour, are on over there,” says Espejo. “The value of satire is that it can under-represented in the larger U.S. sphere. relay to people the news about something serious like war, but Comedian Lalo Espejo, who writes satire online for the with a softer impact on the audience.” LJR !"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 56 Campus Papers Fun or Functional?

Erin Steele photo

An opportunity for students to voice their views is also a training ground for future journalists.

!"# $%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#4565 By Cheryl Minns

aul Bucci, coordinating editor Campus newspapers also have very from your teacher and you’re afraid of of the University of British few rules, which is what makes them so what they’re going to say if you don’t Columbia’s student news- appealing and educational, says Katherine agree with them, that’s not promoting paper, The Ubyssey, says his Monk, a film critic for Canwest News healthy thinking, that’s not promoting foray into journalism wasn’t Services and a former Ubyssey reporter critical thinking, that’s promoting how to as a result of any particular passion for and editor. get a good grade.” Pwriting or muckraking. It was because of “A student-run college paper teaches Allen Garr, a long-time Vancouver more basic needs – food, drink and some you how to fall and it lets you fall with- journalist and weekly columnist for the good company. out consequences. And, because community newspaper The Vancouver “I came in here and there was cama- it’s pretty Courier, says working on Simon Fraser raderie and there was creativity University’s campus newspaper The and there was drinking, so it Peak in the 1960s gave him the freedom was like, ‘Excellent! Free food, and encouragement to pursue stories he drinking and friends. That is might not have otherwise. exactly what I want.’” “I remember my first student Four years later, Bucci has newspaper conference that I went to indeed been smitten by the craft, and we passed a resolution saying that evidenced by the many hours the role of a student journalist is to spent in The Ubyssey’s production be an active agent for social change,” office. In fact, he finds it so enjoy- he says. “We would try and promote able that he spends more hours positive change in society and cover there than working on his general stories that lent themselves to that. studies course work. So there was a very clear progressive This seems to be a common political agenda amongst student trait for those involved with campus newspapers of the time.” newspapers. Many journalists have He says today’s campus news- not taken the journalism school papers are less inclined to publish route, instead gaining valuable ex- activist stories because the need perience via the more freewheeling for advertising has made them student press. more conservative. “A lot of people come in here in “What the major concern their third and fourth year and stick became of student newspapers around for an extra year, take one class was generating advertising after they should have graduated.” revenue so they could pay for So, besides the food, the drink and their production, as opposed to the camaraderie, what’s the attraction Cheryl Minns photo making the revolution or what- of a campus newspaper? One of the ever we thought we were doing many appealing qualities is that student Editor Paul Bucci: He likes the freewheel- at the time.” journalists have a degree of freedom that ing student press. Graham Templeton, the other journalists working for mainstream much a opinions editor at The Peak, agrees that media may not have. student rag, it lets you do so advertising is an important part of the Jon Woodward, a reporter for CTV without legal problems,” she says. “The newspaper, but he says the main focus is British Columbia, worked on The Ubys- bottom line is that you don’t learn how being an outlet for students’ work. sey while he did a math degree at UBC in to be an expert at anything until you “It’s to be a platform for students the early 2000s. He says the newspaper learn what breaks something and you’re to be able to talk if they want to, and be gave its reporters a lot of liberty. not afraid of breaking it. You cannot heard.” “I could really enjoy the freedom be afraid if you ever want to be a good The Peak, like The Ubyssey, is funded of being put in a position where I was reporter.” by a student levy added to each student’s responsible for what I said but not for She also says the learning experience tuition. Templeton says the levy is part of who it might offend,” says Woodward, at a campus newspaper is unlike any a the reason why the newspaper is driven whose experience there resulted in a student would get in a journalism class to focus less on social change like it used summer job at one of Vancouver’s dailies, because the work is not graded. to and focus more on what the students The Province. “If you’re looking for a good grade want.

!"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 56 “The onus was on us to be open to did not feel the need to get involved in umns to clear, concise writing with flow equally representing all students who are campus activities if they were leaving and with tension, which is not something paying.” soon, Lam says. you especially learn, it’s just something At Kwantlen Polytechnic University With The Runner, “we can tap into that you have to do a lot,” he says. “Hav- in the Lower Mainland, former student thousands of more people that have in- ing been able to do that for three or four DJ Lam identified the need for the stu- terests in every area instead of just having years, I do think I can walk into a news- dents’ voice at the school and founded a journalism students with great skills and room and definitely be okay. I’ve gotten Kwantlen campus newspaper called The a great goal to produce the news.” over all those anxieties about calling Runner in 2008. This is how a campus newspaper people up and going to places.” Prior to its creation, the school’s should be, Garr says, with a variety of Templeton says news outlets look only campus paper was The Kwantlen students who all have different interests for campus newspaper involvement on a Chronicle, which was and skills. He says the people he worked résumé because it shows experience and produced by the school’s with on The Peak were skill. He says this is especially prevalent journalism program and among local newspapers. restricted to the jour- Liam Britten, nalism students. the editor-in-chief Lam was part of of The Other Press the journalism pro- at Douglas Col- gram when he realized lege in the Lower the weekly newspaper Mainland, says was not able to cover working on a cam- the variety of things pus newspaper can that were happening prepare students for on campus because work at community there were a limited newspapers. He says number of journal- it prepared him for ism student report- his first journalism in- ers. ternship at The Maple “The Chron- Ridge-Pitt Meadows icle just couldn’t Times in 2008. do what other “The fact that I student newspa- had editors to teach me pers do and that’s basic news structure at be an open voice The Other Press first for any student was very helpful – what the work environment in any program Ubyssey’s student editorial staff: Food, drink and good company. of any skill set,” is like at a newsroom, he says. Cheryl Minns photo how you need to meet Alan Bass, deadlines and what is a journalism expected.” instructor at Thompson Rivers University Britten also empha- in Kamloops, agrees that the drawback of interested in the sizes how important a journalism program newspapers is that world first and then became interested in reporter’s clippings from a they are technically assignments with journalism. campus newspaper can be. He believes guidelines. That’s how it works at The Ubys- they are one of the most significant things “Because the publications that are sey too, Bucci says, who notes he didn’t a student can gain from working on the connected to the program are usually have a strong interest in journalism until newspaper. done by a specific class, it’s the learning recently, after four years of working on “It’s not enough to just be on the objectives that impose restrictions,” he the campus newspaper. paper. Editors are looking for a specific says. “There are certain types of formats “Some people will become more type of writing,” he says, explaining that that the students are going for and there- interested in it because of working here,” a student’s clips show if a reporter can fore certain types of stories that they’re he says. “When I first stepped in here I handle news or feature writing. covering.” thought there was no way I would be a Woodward agrees that campus news- At Kwantlen, Lam says The Runner journalist, but now I’m actually consider- paper clips can get a journalism applicant has brought a new-found connection ing it as a career option.” a long way. between the students and the university. Bucci says this is because The Ubys- “Clips of mine from The Ubyssey – I The school has been known for having a sey puts students to work on their first was still sending them to jobs even after dispassionate student body because when day in the newsroom like a real newspa- I interned at The Province,” he says. “I it was a college it was primarily a uni- per would. was proud of them and I’m still proud of versity feeder school and many students “I’ve gone from real hack-job col- them.” LJR

!"##$%&'%(%#)*+(&%,-./#012-13#4565# !"#$"%"&'()%#"*+,-&./0+/1&2343& 56 Envision the Future. Langara College provides University-Transfer, Career, and Continuing Studies programs and courses to more than 19,000 students annually. Our progressive programming adapts to the changing needs of our community to provide quality education that is both current and relevant.

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