The prosecution/persecution of American journalist Toni Locy, reported in the New York Times in a story excerpted below, highlights the need for shield laws for journalists and how authorities are figuratively shooting the messengers. WASHINGTON — A federal judge found a former reporter for USA Today in contempt of court on Tuesday for refusing to…
Mohamed Elmasry, national president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, has issued an odious news release regarding Maclean’s that, in my opinion, reeks of ignorance, clobbers different points of view, and is offensive in the extreme. In expressing dismay at what he sees as slurs against a religion that he says is “demonized in the public…
Val Ross was the sort of editor, and reporter, who embodied a rare mix of kindness, integrity and no-nonsense professionalism that was impressive and inspiring. The journalist and acclaimed author died Sunday four months after being diagnosed with brain cancer, age 57, far too early. She will be missed. Sandra Martin’s obituary in the Globe…
The Arab League is under criticism for a new charter aimed at stopping Arab satellite channels from offending governments in the region. League members overwhelming approved regulations to allow member states to “withdraw, freeze or not renew the work permits of media which break the regulations,” say satellite channels “should not damage social harmony, national…
Finally, a breath of fresh air amid the histrionics. Maybe. Syed Soharwardy, founder of the Calgary-based Islamic Supreme Council of Canada and founder of Muslims Against Terrorism, has concluded that his complaint to a human rights commission about the reprinting of the Danish cartoons was “beyond what I now believe should be the mandate of…
Academics, journalists and mental health experts are looking at the effects on reporters of covering traumatic events, at a weekend meeting at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont. Excerpt from a Canadian Press story: The inaugural Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma will explore treatment options and research into post-traumatic stress disorder.Forum…
Canwest is suing Vancouver-based online publication The Tyee and columnist Raif Mair for libel. At issue is a Mair column published by the Tyee on Dec. 24 that Canwest claims was defamatory and malicious. In an apology published Jan. 17, Mair acknowledged the column contained errors. The column now appears to have been removed from…
Quebecor World Inc. has obtained creditor protection in Quebec, reported CBC. The company, with Quebecor as its largest shareholder, has been struggling and recently posted a $315-million quarterly loss, cancelled a European asset sale and replaced its CEO, said the report. Some 28,000 people work for the company around the world.
A journalist who wrote about the role of women in Afghanistan, Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, remains in jail on charges of blasphemy and defaming Islam while a Council of Mullahs says he should be sentenced to death, said Reporters Without Borders. “The calls for the death penalty for Kambakhsh highlight the growing influence of fundamentalist groups…
“Where is the press?” asks Carl Pope in the Huffington Post, about media coverage of American electoral politics. “How can it be that, out of 2,679 questions asked of the candidates since January 2007 by the national press, only three questions have mentioned global warming? Great question.