Category / Commentary

Loading posts...

The Unknowable Country: Why journalists need more access to BC’s mining data

B.C. is one of the country's biggest mineral producers. But compared to Americans, British Columbians have very little information about the safety of that activity. And that means journalists, activists and citizens…
Star public editor: Hack Attack a must-read for journalists

Journalist Nick Davies’ new book is a primer on great reporting and a morality tale about unethical journalism.
Public editor: Why some words have accents in the Globe and others don’t

The Globe’s policy is to use accents on French names and words but not on words in other languages. The belief is that Canadian editors should know the correct accents for French…
5 books to whet journalism students’ appetites

Once you earn that hard-won job, you will be too busy doing journalism to read or even think deeply about capital-J journalism. Books Editor Dan Rowe recommends five books that may or…
Media Musings: Does a journalism education still matter?

The strongest case for a journalism education is that media companies in the vast majority of cases still ask for journalism graduates from college or university programs, writes columnist Joe Banks.
CBC ombudsman: On loaded language

Loaded language is fair game in an interview when both sides are presented, writes CBC ombudsman Esther Enkin.
Public editor quiz: Are you smarter than a Star journalist?

Do you know the answers to the following facts of geography, history, civics and science? Or would you double-check to make sure you are right?
CBC ombudsman: No bias here, just human error

A complainant was puzzled and concerned when an online story out of Gaza had no details at all about the information in the headline. He rejected the explanation that this was human…
Star public editor: Disturbing images of James Foley’s beheading spark global debate

Where is the line between news value and shock value in communicating the horror of James Foley's beheading by Islamic militants?
CBC ombudsman: Make sure viewers know what they are seeing an unverified video

It would be useful for CBC News to think about ways to help members of the public understand the process used, and give context that enables them to assess what they are…