The headline, published in the newspaper and online this week, reported on yet another victim of the terrible toll of Toronto’s deadly streets: “Elderly pedestrian killed at crosswalk,” it stated. Peter Pellier, a longtime Star reader from Oakville then posed a valid question to me about why the headline labelled the victim as “elderly.” It…
Readers, do we understand each other? As consumers of news and information, do you have a clear sense of the how and why of journalism and its role in a democracy? I would like to believe a clear understanding does exist between journalists and our audiences. But according to a fascinating report released this week,…
Two greatly admired and creative people died by suicide this week: On Tuesday, designer Kate Spade, known for her colourful handbags and clothing, and today, chef, traveller and television personality Anthony Bourdain, who opened our eyes to the great and offbeat tastes and cuisines of the world. These tragedies offer an opportunity to speak openly about…
We all need to be news wise during an election campaign. Democracy depends on informed voters, and to be fully informed, voters depend largely on the media for news and information. Within the increasingly complex media ecosystem, it is the journalist’s job to provide citizens with fair and accurate information they need to make educated…
Shareholders in cannabis firms are anxious about their investments, the profits and the coverage of them. It is seen as riskier than most investments because there is no historical data to track and because it is likely, in an emerging market, that there will be some great successes and some spectacular failures. In fact, according…
The Globe and Mail wasn’t the first media outlet to report the number killed in Toronto’s Monday van rampage. It wasn’t first to report the name of the suspect or the first to report on a Facebook page purportedly operated by Alek Minassian that referred to dark online forums used by trolls and violent misogynists.…
Not enough time or not enough confidence? Why don’t women write more letters to the editor? Public Editor Kathy English wants to know. Continue Reading Toronto Star Public Editor: Where are the voices of women on the letters page?
Today’s digital-driven world demands new media literacy skills to create understanding of powerful platforms. Continue Reading Toronto Star Public Editor: Digital media literacy matters to all
There is some good news about the bad news about global trust in journalism: In Canada, trust in journalists has risen significantly, as has trust in traditional media overall. According to the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer released this week, 61 per cent of Canadians trust journalism – defined as traditional and online-only media. That’s a substantial increase…
A number of readers were angry and upset by a headline and story online about the Winnipeg murder trial of the man charged with killing Tina Fontaine. Canadians were outraged by the death of this 15-year-old and the trial is a difficult one to follow. The story from the Canadian Press from that day’s testimony…