CBC Ombudsman: News on YouTube
The complainant watched a clip of the young women participating in the International Women’s Day event in the House of Commons.
By Esther Enkin, CBC Ombudsman
The complainant, Lois McQuinn, watched a clip of the young women participating in the International Women’s Day event in the House of Commons. She thought it was deceptive and made to look like a real session of the House. There was text explaining the unusual event and while it didn’t have as much information as a full news piece, it did not violate policy.
COMPLAINT
You were “livid” because you came across a CBC video posted on YouTube as “fake news”. It was a segment from the House of Commons during a special activity to mark International Women’s Day:
It portrays a “scene” in the House of Commons and is a complete piece of fake “news”. Those quickly surfing would never know it is contrived.
The video portrays a young Muslim woman speaking of her rights and Islamophobia while standing in the House of Commons – the scene also implies the house as being in session – the problem is that it is all women, it misrepresents the scene as news and as a true sitting of the House of Commons.
It is misrepresentation at best and if a clip of this is played as “news” it becomes fraudulent.
Read this story on the CBC website, where it was first published.
