Columns

Loading posts...

CBC OMBUDSMAN: Balance and Perspective

The complainant, Jackie Thipthorpe, objected to a story about visitors at a veterinary school open house. The research project featured involved a cow with a fistula which enabled participants to reach into…
GLOBE AND MAIL PUBLIC EDITOR: The fight against ‘fake news’

Earlier this week, I received a complaint about a Globe investigation into a fake news site. The writer, who is a Canadian professor, called the article “fake news.” The Globe story labelled…
Year of reckoning looms for Canada’s newspapers

As 2018 dawns, it’s clear that Canada’s news media are in danger of lurching into the abyss unless Ottawa takes action soon. Enforcing our country’s anti-trust laws to stop the corporate consolidation…
White knights in film noir

Hildy Johnson, in her pinstripe suit and jaunty hat, enters the office of her editor, Walter Burns. She’s quitting. She won’t be dissuaded by quick-talking Walter, her former lover. She’s through with…
Canada’s top media tweeters in 2017

Daniel Dale was the most mentioned Canadian journalist, while @CBCNews led media organizations. Continue Reading Canada’s top media tweeters in 2017
CBC Ombudsman: Truth Over Time

The complainant, Mary Spensley, disputed the accuracy of a story about an LGBTQ teaching tool created by the Alberta Teachers’ Association. She was also concerned that hostile politicians were using the information…
Toronto Star Public Editor: What’s written in the stars?

Astrology is not science, so why do serious news organizations still publish daily horoscopes? Continue Reading Toronto Star Public Editor: What’s written in the stars?
The top 10 most-read stories on J-Source in 2017

It’s been a year of highs and lows for Canadian media. Continue Reading The top 10 most-read stories on J-Source in 2017
All the cuts (and a few hires) in Canadian journalism in 2017

2017 was another big year for journalism workplace restructurings, job losses and news outlet closures across Canada. However, not all news was grim this year: some journalism outlets launched new initiatives that…
Archivists and researchers raise concerns about what will happen to newspaper archives

As local community and daily newspapers close across the country, their archives – and their stories of local politics, controversy and culture – are at risk. “Community newspapers tell us a story…