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Globe and Mail Public Editor: The danger of trying – and failing – to be clever in journalism

By Sylvia Stead, for the Globe and Mail On Friday afternoon, a failed attempt to be clever in a blurb on a Facebook posting sparked the wrath of many readers. It was…
Don’t impede a reporter’s ability to explain terrorism

By Grant Buckler Last week, the Ontario Superior Court ruled that Vice News reporter Ben Makuch must hand over all communications between him and an IS fighter, Farah Mohamed Shirdon, to the RCMP.…
Coalition condemns court ruling threatening press freedoms

By Canadian Journalists for Free Expression The undersigned organizations have issued a joint letter to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale expressing alarm over the Ontario Superior Court ruling that Vice News reporter Ben Makuch must…
CBC Ombudsman: Service Dogs or Support Dogs: Getting the definition right

The complainant, Andrew Sprague, said that CBC News wrongly identified the status of an emotional support dog that was banned from an Edmonton base.
Globe and Mail public editor: Breakfast meetings with senator OK under Globe code of conduct

By Sylvia Stead, for the Globe and Mail Last week, an arbitration review of Senate expenses by former Supreme Court justice Ian Binnie cut the amount of disputed expenses owed by 14 senators.…
CBC Ombudsman: Power & Politics: Equal opportunity questioning

The complainant, Ray Gribeauval, thought the program host was pushing the Conservative party line in a story about fiscal update.
CBC Ombudsman: GMO Crops and Journalistic Balance

The complainant focused on a passing reference to crop yields from GMO seed in an interview about the reasons for the Chinese takeover of a large seed and pesticide company.
Toronto Star public editor: Secrecy and the ‘open courts’ principle

A publication ban on a stabbing victim’s name meant the Star could not report what it had already reported.
CBC general manager and editor in chief: Reviewing our commenting policy

CBC general manager and editor in chief Jennifer McGuire explains why the CBC reviewed their comment policy.
Globe and Mail public editor: Rushing a story is the No. 1 cause of errors in journalism

If there is one thing that is the root cause of most errors in journalism, it is rushing through the details.