J-Topics

UBC Indigenous Reporting class examines health and healing in Aboriginal communities

May 01, 2012 - Posted by Belinda Alzner

Duncan McCue and a class of University of British Columbia journalism graduate students have produced eight feature stories that show there is more to Aboriginal communities than problem people and discouraging statistics. As Belinda Alzner explains, these students found there are solutions within these communities, too.

A journalist’s guide to reporting on indigenous cultures

Nov 30, 2011 - Posted by Belinda Alzner

Duncan McCue, a UBC journalism professor and reporter for CBC’s The National has launched a website to help journalists report about Aboriginal communities. Belinda Alzner spoke with McCue about why he created the website, some challenges journalists face, and how the resource can help journalists and editors work together to overcome them. And with Attawapiskat making headlines, the guide is as timely as it is useful.

'Too Asian?' Why I don't accept the apology by Maclean's

Dec 03, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

Its editors clearly don't get what everyone is upset about. As a child of Hong Kong immigrants, let me explain. By Vivian Luk.

Guide for Western journalists covering Islam

Oct 01, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

Do you know what Jihad means? The difference between "Muslim" and "Arab"? Michigan State University's School of Journalism has published a manual of best practices for journalists covering Islam...

Citytv reporter leaves Toronto due to lack of accessibility

Sep 08, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

Citytv reporter Tara Weber, who uses a wheelchair to get around, is leaving Toronto for Calgary, says the city makes it too hard to get around and do her job...

North Saskactchewan radio gets government support

Aug 23, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

The Federal government has announced funding for the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation to produce radio programming in English, Cree and Dene for communities in Northern Saskatchewan...

Report: Covering disadvantaged neighbourhoods

Jun 15, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

Residents of Toronto’s poorest neighbourhoods sometimes accuse the media of only reporting bad news. Is this true? And if it is true, does this matter? A new study in the Canadian Journal of Urban Research analyzes the impact local news coverage has on 13 troubled communities where social services are inadequate and poverty is rising. Study author April Lindgren reports...

Bridging the divide: covering Sri Lanka one story at a time

Mar 16, 2009 - Posted by Regan Ray

Journalists try to get inside communities and tell their stories, writes Toronto Star immigration reporter Lesley Ciarula Taylor, but sometimes an us-and-them attitude still prevails. Taylor, who covered a recent Tamil rally in Toronto, explains how important it is for reporters to understand the intricacies of the communities they cover.

A media failure? Reporter defends Ipperwash coverage

Nov 10, 2008 - Posted by Regan Ray

After being publicly blasted for the media's failure to report on Aboriginal issues, the Toronto Star's Peter Edwards defends the work of mainstream media and reflects on his dozen years covering the tragedy at Ipperwash.

Interviewing tips from the Media Diversity Institute

May 12, 2008 - Posted by Abby Goodrum

The Media Diversity Institute (MDI) has prepared these tip sheets for interviews that require extra care on the part of a journalist. The three links below provide useful help and ideas for the following situations: interviewing people with disabilities, interviewing people from other groups and interviewing victims of human rights abuses.
MDI - Interviewing people with disabilities
MDI - Interviewing people from other groups (PDF)
MDI - Interviewing victims of traumatic human rights abuses