Columns

Loading posts...

How ‘fake news’ came to Winnipeg 100 years ago

This article was originally published by the Winnipeg Free Press and appears here with the editor’s permission. Thursday, Nov. 7, 1918 — 100 years ago today — was a pleasant fall day…
Globe and Mail public editor: Is it news or views?

The attacks on the media continue south of the border, but in this country, I believe readers understand the importance of fair and accurate news coverage. What a few don’t really grasp…
Toronto Star Public Editor: Trust Project aims to fight public skepticism about the news media

It is not news to tell you we are in the midst of a global crisis in media trust. While I find some consolation in the fact that recent studies tell us…
Globe and Mail Public Editor: Sensitivity and respect were primary concerns while producing The Globe’s dementia series

In covering deeply personal issues, journalism is quite different from the often one-dimensional world of social media. It uncovers how the vulnerable are treated, the problems they face and what could be…
CBC Ombudsman: Scoop or not

The complainant, Andrew Douglas, Managing Editor of Frank Magazine, was concerned that CBC News had left the false impression they had broken a story he ran first in his magazine by the…
CBC Ombudsman: Tough talk – confrontational interviews

The complainant, Laura Finsten, was appalled – as were many others – at a question put to a senior Israeli political figure regarding the number of Palestinians killed by the IDF during…
CBC Ombudsman: Twitter Turmoil

In April, a man driving a van deliberately ran into civilians on a stretch of Toronto’s Yonge Street. The complainant, Mohamed Jiavdheen, objected to a tweet describing the driver, based on an…
CBC Ombudsman: Election balance on Ontario today

The complainant, Marc Poitras, thought the host of Ontario Today behaved differently to the callers on the edition which focused on the Progressive Conservative party, during the recent provincial election. He felt…
Toronto Star Public Editor: Western media’s failure to properly cover the developing world

Conflicts, coups and catastrophes: These are the stories Canadians are most often told about the world beyond our borders. Media coverage of international affairs has long been driven by dramatic breaking news…
Globe and Mail Public Editor: When weighing anonymous voices, consider the source

Off the record, a source said; a senior government official said on background; according to an insider. How important are anonymous sources in reporting? Overuse or misuse can hurt credibility, but you…