Category / Law and ethics

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Star appeals $1.5m libel award

NewsThe Toronto Star is appealing a northern Ontario jury’s $1.475 million libel award –one of the highest in Canadian history – over an article describing a wealthy local businessman’s plans to expand…
Anatomy of a libel

FeatureWhen a Toronto broker sues a national newspaper for libel, no one leaves the room smiling. Mary Findlater explores the case of Mark McQueen versus the National Post in the Ryerson Review…
Libel-tourism suffers setback in Canada

CommentaryThe Supreme Court of Canada has denied leave to appeal from the Ontario Court of Appeal decision in the case of Bangoura v. Washington Post. The decision finally decides that Bangoura’s Internet-libel…
New Brunswick’s amateur journalist

FeatureCharles LeBlanc fights for bloggers to share press privileges– and rights. Vanessa Green, writing in the King’s Journalism Review, explores how the Internet is changing the definition of journalist.
Reporters off hook for shielding steriod-use source

NewsTwo San Francisco Chronicle reporters have been cleared of contempt of court for refusing to name a source who leaked secret grand jury testimony about steroid use by major league baseball players.…
Criminal Code publication bans

Quick Reference The Criminal Code of Canada bans the publication or broadcast of certain information as a criminal case proceeds through the courts, including the identities of some witnesses and pre-trial evidence…
The perils of anonymous sources

CommentaryIn the wake of the Maher Arar case, Toronto Star columnist Kelly Toughill looks at the pitfalls reporters and editors face when using anonymous sources. Respected news outlets printed false allegations about…
The long arms of the law

FeatureA recent British libel ruling could change things for media outlets and the people who sue them – and not just over there. Canadian journalist and their legal advisors are taking a…
Priest can be named at Cornwall inquiry

NewsAn Ontario Court of Appeal judge has refused to ban publication of the identity of a priest, acquitted of sexual abuse, when he’s named at a public inquiry examining how authorities responded…
Journalists off hook if ban breached

NewsJournalists who inadvertently violate a publication ban imposed on a court case have not committed a crime, Ontario’s top court says in a January 2007 ruling. Media outlets are ultimately responsible for…