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Toronto Star public editor: Filipino journalist Maria Ressa’s powerful defence of truth is truly inspiring

When Maria Ressa learned, via Twitter, that she was among the group of journalists Time magazine recognized as “Person of the Year” — “Guardians” in the “war on truth” — her immediate thought was sobering, indeed. Continue Reading Toronto Star public editor: Filipino journalist Maria Ressa’s powerful defence of truth is truly inspiring
The missing fact-checker: Merchants of Truth’s Achilles heel

Why the controversy surrounding Jill Abramson’s newly released book puts the spotlight squarely on the valuable research department Continue Reading The missing fact-checker: Merchants of Truth’s Achilles heel
Toronto Star Public Editor: Lessons from the eye of a global media storm

Living in the eye of a global media storm of coverage of an alleged serial killer for the past year, Karen Fraser has learned more than she ever could have imagined about today’s journalists and how they work. Continue Reading Toronto Star Public Editor: Lessons from the eye of a global media storm
CBC Ombudsperson: How much detail is enough?

The complainant, Robert Muir, says there were flaws in an article CBC Toronto published in the aftermath of flooding the city experienced last summer. He felt the article left readers with the…
Hello from CBC’s new Ombudsperson

This post was originally published on the CBC’s website on Jan. 7, 2019. This is my first day as CBC’s new Ombudsperson. I’d like to tell you a bit about how I…
In praise of academic media sluts – a new year’s resolution

Are you a media whore? Or do you worry you might be labeled one by your colleagues – if not to your face, then behind your back? In the process of delivering…
When not to publish graphic images

I regularly advocate for journalists to tell stories they see as newsworthy in the manner they see fit, because a key element of the journalistic skill set is the ability to determine…
A generation of journalists are struggling

Over the last three years, I’ve had some version of this conversation with countless young Canadian journalists. “I’m so anxious right now.” “My work laid off 15 per cent of the staff…
Seven ways to bail out the government’s journalism bailout

This story was originally published by The Logic and appears here with its permission. I anguished over whether to weigh in on last week’s $595-million government-aid package for journalism because it’s deeply…
Globe and Mail public editor: When a private school’s history goes public

A few readers, graduates of St. Michael’s College, were upset with The Globe and Mail’s coverage of their school these past two weeks. Toronto police are investigating allegations of assault and sexual…