In courthouses in countless Ontario cities, journalists are routinely denied easy access to case files and exhibits because of outdated precedents and flawed interpretations of the law. Dean Jobb makes the case for better access.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper seemed to relax his controlling tendencies toward public information during last fall’s election and his tightrope walk to passing the federal budget. With American president Barack Obama’s visit Harper has returned to form…
The publishers of the science journal Nature have set up a free “science library and personal learning tool” for students. A scan of it shows that it’s also great for journalists needing to learn the basics of science topics — although, so far, it only focuses on genetics.
NewsThe Supreme Court of Canada has reserved judgment on an appeal that could create a new libel defence of “responsible journalism.” Media lawyers argued Feb. 17 that journalists who pursue important news stories of public interest should be able to defeat a libel claim if they acted fairly and professionally, even if facts turn out…
“Informed debate on matters of public interest is essential to democracy, but over-emphasis on protection of reputation in Canadian law and the resulting fear of libel action keep important information from the public.” That’s the nub of the argument to the Supreme Court of Canada by a coalition of media organizations. They’re intervening in an…
A live audio feed is available here for the landmark CRTC hearings on the future of the Internet, which will continue for several weeks from Feb. 17. The Globe and Mail is live-blogging the hearings. An excerpt of the Globe‘s intro…
For your amusement: On-air stumbles can happen to anyone. And sometimes once that word works its way into your brain, you just can’t help repeating it. That appears to be what happened with CNN reporter Zain Verjee.
The most recent issue of Journalism Studies focuses on Europe. Articles include: The Mohammed cartoons crisis in the British and Greek press, by Anna Triandafyllidou Travel journalism, by Ben Cocking Reflections on changing patterns of journalism in the new EU countries, by Epp Lauk Divisions and struggles of the Slovenian journalistic guild, by Primoz Krasovec…
It’s tough being a business journalist these days, notes David Carr. Kinda like “owning an ice cream parlor where spinach is the only flavor on the menu.”
An essential reading list of recent journalism-related studies: The State of the News Media, 2010The most recent annual report on the U.S. news media produced by the Project for Excellence in Journalism. The Credibility Gap: Canadians and Their News Media A survey-based study into the relationship between Canadians and the news media published in 2008…