Category / Read / Law and ethics

Trespassing charges against Alex Consiglio, the Toronto Star reporter arrested in June after photographing a scuffle on a platform at Toronto Union Station, have been dropped, the Star reported Friday. 

The courts’ inconsistency on the question of anonymous sources, coupled with the absence of so-called shield laws in Canada, raises the question of whether a journalist should ever grant source anonymity, writes J-Source’s law editor Thomas Rose.

Is reporting on court cases in real-time in the public interest, or does it have the potential to do more harm than good? How does adding a real-time element change the role of a court reporter? What are the legal limitations around reporting directly from inside the courtroom? Regardless of how you slice it, court…

David Skok reflects on Nelson Mandela's impact on him, and on press freedom around the world. 

Allegations that two Canadian citizens planned to explode homemade devices similar to the kind used in the Boston marathon bombing during Canada Day celebrations at the B.C. legislature in Victoria is shocking.  Does that justify the actions of journalists who entered the apartment of the two suspects this week, rummaged through their private belongings, took…

Toronto police arrested a Toronto Star reporter, put him in a headlock and handcuffed him for taking pictures after a GO Transit officer was injured in a scuffle at Union Station, the Star reports. Canadian Journalists for Free Expression is calling for an investigation.

Its been a week since the Toronto Star and Gawker went public with allegations concerning Mayor Rob  Ford mixing with self identified criminals and possibly smoking crack cocaine.  The mayor has denied the allegations dismissing them as part of a larger vendetta against him.  Given the seriousness of the allegations and the damage they are…

Quebec is the latest jurisdiction to issue a protocol on the use of electronic devices by reporters and lawyers inside a courtroom, sparking some heated but predictable responses.  Is this a violation of a citizen's right to stay informed?  Does it impinge freedom of expression?  Does it tarnish the principle of a fair and open…

As of Monday, no one will be able to email, tweet or text from inside Quebec courtrooms without the consent of the judge. The move runs contrary to recent changes made in Ontario, B.C., Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, where the courts sanctioned the use of electronic devices by lawyers and journalists during court proceedings.

Earlier this week, National Revenue minister Gail Shea threatened the CBC with legal action, but the media organization has refused to reveal the names thus far. On Friday, the CRA commissioner tried a different tact, issuing an open letter addressed to CBC president and CEO Hubert Lacroix.