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    CBC Ombudsman: Bias by Omission

    By Esther Enkin, CBC Ombudsman The complainant, Art Toft, thought that merely reporting about the closing down of an activist group’s space because the building was being torn down was unacceptable. He believed it was biased not to mention the political positions taken by Beit Zatoun. He felt the article praised the organization. The politics…
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    Toronto Star Public Editor: This is no job for the faint of heart

    By Kathy English for the Toronto Star I would like to welcome Sophie Borwein to the ranks of us public editors tasked with the responsibility and privilege of holding news organizations to account for high journalistic standards on behalf of their readers. We are a relatively small group of public editors, readers’ editors and ombudsmen…
  • The Public Policy Forum’s report The Shattered Mirror recommended Ottawa step up to help preserve Canadian news coverage. Screenshot by J-Source.

    Don’t touch that chequebook! A second look at The Shattered Mirror

    By Madelaine Drohan Traditional media firms are undoubtedly suffering in the digital age. But does it follow that the public is being harmed? The Public Policy Forum’s recent report on the state of Canadian media conveys a great deal of information about journalistic jobs lost, newspapers shuttered and the giant sucking sound of advertising revenues…
  • Canadian Journalists for Free Expression hosted a rally outside Osgoode Hall during the appeal. "We're not facing a brave new world, but a frightening new world," CJFE executive director Tom Henheffer (left) told a small crowd. Right: Ben Makuch.

    Vice Canada’s ongoing legal case is about bigger issues in Canadian journalism

    By Kat Eschner Third-party intervenors in yesterday’s appeal by Ben Makuch and Vice Canada provided broader context into the importance and dangers of this case. Vice Canada and Ben Makuch’s lawyer Iain MacKinnon argued that forcing the national security reporter to give up records of his Kik messenger chats with alleged ISIS member Farah Mohamed…
  • Independent journalist at No DAPL protest

    Ten ways to build a new Canadian media ecosystem

    By David Beers and Robyn Smith “Ailing,” “beleaguered” and “being murdered” — according to its own headlines, 2016 was a rough year for journalism in Canada. Entering 2017, it shows no signs of recovery. Legacy media are still struggling with the digital transition. Advertising dollars are all but gone, sucked up by American web platforms…
  • The burning of Rome: Detail from the cover of E.T. Paull's The Burning of Rome sheet music. Wikicommons

    Must journalists fiddle while democracy burns?

    By Robert Sutton The broad mandate of the Public Policy Forum’s report, The Shattered Mirror, was not ultimately to defend any particular mode of news delivery, but to evaluate the risks to Canadian democracy if the delivery of news continues its current decline. Sadly, within days of the report’s Jan. 26 release, discussion has devolved to one…
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    CBC Ombudsman: Interpreting Perspectives

    By Esther Enkin, CBC Ombudsman The complainant, Hans Dekkers, thought that any discussion of the Middle East peace process must mention that the Palestinian Authority and Hamas do not recognize Israel’s right to exist, even when the article is an Opinion piece. In presenting opinion, the writer gets to frame the argument. Lack of this…