To say every picture is worth a thousand words sorely underestimates the impact of photojournalism. Think the Vietnam war and what comes to mind? The photo of a girl named Phan Thi Kim Phuc running from a napalm airstrike. The photo was taken by Associated Press photographer Nick Ut in 1972. Think of the protest…
Headline presented Alex Trebek’s feelings for big winner as fact, when it was actually the columnist’s own view. Continue Reading Toronto Star Public Editor: Jeopardy! headline a case study on need to clearly label opinion content
‘As mishaps of misinformation and disasters of disinformation spread through the digital ecosystem, determining who you can trust for news and verified information is more important than ever.’ Continue Reading Toronto Star Public Editor: Who can you really trust for news?
The Star must draw clearer distinction between news and opinion. Continue Reading TORONTO STAR PUBLIC EDITOR: Readers need to distinguish news from opinion
The complainant, Mike McEwan, thought an opinion piece critical of the systematic mistreatment of Aboriginal people was expressed in a way that bordered on “hate speech.” There is a big difference between strongly-worded criticism and hate. Calling European settlers colonizers doesn’t come close. The piece was the legitimate expression of the author’s views. COMPLAINT You…
Last week a reader wondered, on Twitter, whether stories by John Ibbitson on Canada’s clandestine project to evacuate gay men from Russia to Canada “put gay Chechen refugees (or continuance of the program) at risk?” It’s an important question. Mr. Ibbitson first broke this story in early September with the news that for three months, the federal…
It’s no surprise that a column written by a woman, about a woman, attracts online attacks – but an angry minority shouldn’t shut down debate. Continue Reading Globe and Mail Public Editor: Hillary Clinton column sparks comment section ‘fight club’
An important reminder after the word appeared in the headline of a Globe column: groups of white supremacists must be called what they are. Continue Reading Globe and Mail Public Editor: ‘Alt-right’ softens the vileness of a racist movement
While most readers know that charges of ‘fake news’ are themselves fake, media groups like this one need to include the readers more in their process. Continue Reading Globe and Mail Public Editor: We must earn your trust that we’re the real deal