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Star public editor: Reporters struggle to pry records out of court clerks

Kathy English, the Toronto Star's public editor, questions why journalists are being blocked in obtaining information that would have been readily available to them had they been in public court to witness the…
Ombudsman: CBC got it right covering local demonstration about Egypt

A complainant accused CBC of siding with the supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in its coverage of demonstrations in Toronto. During the height of the unrest in Egypt, she thought…
CBC ombudsman: No bias in headline about Justin Trudeau’s speaking fees

The complainant, Jon Melanson, thought the wording of a headline indicated CBC was taking the side of the Liberal party. CBC's ombudsman Esther Enkin responds that while it may have not been…
Globe public editor: With just a few words, photo cutlines have enormous impact

If done well, a photo caption can elevate the story, writes the Globe and Mail's public editor Sylvia Stead. A bad cutline, by contrast, will tell the reader something that they can…
U.S. hedge funds squeezing profitable Postmedia: Union

Faceless foreign ownership is behind newspaper publisher Postmedia's push to cut costs at Vancouver's duopoly dailies, according to the head of the union that represents workers at the Sun and Province.
Globe public editor: Does the coverage of politicians have to be equal?

For all the attention to who generates the greatest number of references, perhaps the most important question is not about whether the coverage is equal but whether it fairly explains each party’s…
Star public editor: Press council provided opportunity for greater public understanding of journalism

The Ontario Press Council was exercising its right and responsibility in holding the Toronto Star to account for its reporting on Mayor Rob Ford “crack” video, writes the newspaper's public editor Kathy English.
Opinion: The Ontario Press Council hearings left many questions unanswered

It was a hearing, not a trial, but not a good one. The press council's guidelines say "at a hearing, both sides are asked to restate their positions and present any additional…
CBC Ombudsman: Not ideal that CBC has not seen video but decision to cover Rob Ford alleged crack video story was correct

It is certainly not ideal to have been talking about a tape that no CBC reporter had seen, but given the high profile of the people involved, and how the story evolved,…
Should journalists refuse emailed statements as substitute interviews with politicians?

Journalists are fed up with canned talking points in response to questions, but are they better than nothing? Should journalists push more for phone interviews? Take the J-Source poll and tell us…