National press council advocated
News
The Ontario Human Rights Commission is calling on Parliament to force all Canadian magazines, newspapers and “media services” Web sites to join a national press council with the power to adjudicate breaches of professional standards and complaints of discrimination. Journalists warn that mandatory government regulation poses a threat to freedom of expression. Joseph Brean reports in the National Post.
Read the Ontario commission’s submission to the Canadian Human Righs Commission.
News
The Ontario Human Rights Commission is calling on Parliament to force all Canadian magazines, newspapers and “media services” Web sites to join a national press council with the power to adjudicate breaches of professional standards and complaints of discrimination. Journalists warn that mandatory government regulation poses a threat to freedom of expression. Joseph Brean reports in the National Post.
Read the Ontario commission’s submission to the Canadian Human Righs Commission.
February 19, 2009
Press councils have been long
Press councils have been long established in all provinces but Saskatchewan. They were established to deal with complaints about unfair conduct and ethics in journalism, to provide the public with a fair-minded adjudication at no cost, and to serve as a medium of understanding between the public and the press.
Canadian councils have 36 years of experience in dealing with public concern and have handled thousands of complaints. There is collaboration among all councils, through a bi-annual conference and quarterly conference calls. Press councils are expanding their external focus. For example they have sponsored forums for journalism students and the public dealing with topics such as freedom of expression, ethics, access to information and reporting youth crime. They are also exploring collaboration opportunities with groups such as the Canadian Association of Journalists
A national press council would likely add more complexity to what should be a simple and efficient process of dealing the public’s concerns. A Canada-wide body would create additional costs, particularly if mandated by parliament, and may not be as sensitive to regional differences across the country that may be relevant to a particular complaint.
Ed Kamps
Chair
Alberta Press Council