1. The wire service is called Canadian Press. 2. Wait for details on Wyng Chow's difficulties before you pass judgment. Those who follow such things aren't surprised. 3. Bocking ought to know that the main source of pressure on news coverage isn't the political biases of the owners, it's commercial interests. Ethical owners get this. "Byline strikes" are a political ploy that doesn't impress anybody.

Geee, I guess jay only likes capital letters when the vancouver sun uses them in two inch headlines to LIE about gordon campbell fixing the bc economy...pity....

Very good article Judith. Good digging and good balance with the interviews. It's great to see the professor speaking out on this issue, one that is familiar to many Tyee many readers. I believe there is a marked decline in ethics in general so this trend in journalism fits in. Perhaps a lot of people miss it because they're too busy listening to reporters cautioning them about all those ethical divides they're uncovering in the business and democracy-setting sectors. ***Free The Press; Your vision would force journalists to be licenced. While that would certainly haul them in, it would entail developing qualifications and factors just too complicated and onerous to work out. While journalism isnt a massive occupation in terms of numbers, the scope of who can be defined as a journalist today is extremely broad, and by no means dominated by those who play the politicians. Frankly, Mike Bocking has summed up the issue quite nicely. Doctors belong to the Canadian(BC) Medical Association for a reason. It's the same for many professional groups. They have a body set up to represent them, a union or association that bargains for all on fees, etc and to have protection from unfair conditions. Journalists have this ability and most daily newspaper and larger television newsrooms are unionized. Bocking is right, journalists have the right to pull their by-lines if editors alter copy that the reporter objects to. Despite what editors who don't understand union contract language say, the action is not political, but contractual. Most such contracts carry by-line withdrawel language, which both the union and managers agreed to before signing the legal and binding agreement. If I am a union member and I take part in a strike or study session, noon hour rally or write a letter to the editor then I'm involved in political action. Standing up to changes you object to (my condolences to the publc sector and its realities here in BC.)is your right and is just as binding and just as worthy as any other contract you participate in. Besides, I'm a believer that it's the industry requiring reform. Union contracts do not stop managers from taking action against any reporter who abuses ethical guidelines, so management certainly isn't hamstrung in its ability to respond to such lapses just because workers have a union.

I think the ethical nature of Vancouver journalists is the last thing this city's media community have to worry about. I'm from the UK and can feel my brain slowly turning to sponge reading the truely dreadful standard of news that gets churned out by Canwest each day.

It seems to me that Canwest deserves most of the credit for Campbell's landslide in 01. Five years of free campaigning against the NDP really paid off. During the campaign the Liberals basically offered nothing by way of a platform except some vague talk of a new era and tax cuts. They didn't have to, the media had done such a wonderful job of vilifying the NDP. Campbell's victory was a proapganda victory nothing else.

Journalism is non-fiction writing. Non-fiction writing isn't simply about putting words into sentences and calling it a story, but it is first and foremost about UNDERSTANDING THE TOPIC and then emphasizing the details that are important, and placing less emphasis on details that are not important. Many journalists do not understand the planet around them because they are not required to have a STRONG SCIENCE BACKGROUND, and without science it is not possible to understand the planet, the plant and animal species living on the planet, or the new technological instruments that appear almost daily. With respect to government reporting: environment(eco-systems), education (brain development), healthcare(human biology) are inherently scientific subjects, yet all journalists talk about is putting money into a ministry or taking money out. The writers for magazines and journals, like "Scientific American", "Science", "Nature" are excellent, because they have large editorial panels stacked with scientists who want to put out the best non-fiction writing. Get 3 or 4 scientists on an editorial panel for a newspaper and the quality will improve overnight.

I am intrigued by Tom Fletcher's comments, who I assume is the Editor of the Maple Ridge News. Would Tom like to further inform us all by describing some of the commercial interests who have recently pressured his newspaper, and the ethical manner in which he has handled those pressures? To me, as a consumer of news, it would appear highly likely that both the business which owns the media outlet and those businesses which provide its advertising revenues would be major voices in the editorial content and behaviour of a media outlet. In the case of a government owned media outlet like the CBC there is, of course, an additional complication in the form of explicit political/policy pressure from the governing party.

Who knows what tom fletcher is trying to say: is he admitting that his paper is an opinion piece formed by his advertisers?

In the hyper-commercialized culture the citizenry has acquiesced to everything is for sale to the highest bidder.

Everything.

It'll all be rationalized after the bank deposits are confirmed.

The Alberta press loves Ralph Klein and hate the federal Liberals. The same standards are not asked of each. eg: during the last federal election a great deal was made that 10 years is long enough for any government but during the last provincial election nothing was mentioned about throwing the provincial government after 33 years. That is the annoying thing we have propagandists not journalists looking for the best ideas.

The Toronto Star can boast of always having had an Ombudsman. It also has ethics, laid down by one of its founders and known as the Atkinson Principles. Apparently integrity pays off, too, as the Toronto Star is Canada's largest daily newspaper.

Ranbir, you will no doubt be horrified to know that Jon Ferry, the province newspaper's reactionary "columnist," who DOESN'T "BELIEVE" in global warming, is now chief editor of the Province's editorial pages...Just when we all thought the province "newspaper" couldn't possibly PANDER more to the mouth-breathing trailer park set, they found a way...of course, Mr Fletcher will no doubt be pleased as this means HE still has a chance, never mind tom, budgies and parakeets LOVE the Maple Ridge News!!

That's depressing news indeed, Lewis. (And, is it just me, or does that hideous new colour photo of Ferry look like W.C. Fields has been exhumed and had one of Rip Taylor's old wigs slapped onto him?)

Tom Fletcher has obviously never worked for the Vancouver Sun where a decision to withhold a byline by a reporter or photographer is always subject to retaliation by management. If management considered byline strikes merely a "a political ploy", they would ignore it, and they never do.

BC Mary mentions the Star's Atkinson's Principles as its ethical compass. I always understood the Atkinson Principles' main effect was to officially steer the Star's editorial policy to the left side of the spectrum. Interestingly enough, it makes the Star the only major daily in Canada with a declared bias. The rest of them prefer to show their stripes in other ways, of course.

This is a very interesting piece. Thanks. I assume that the weightiness of the Global newsroom's ethics guide is what causes their reporters to ignore its presence. I was at an event not that long ago where the Global reporter totally turned the event around, injecting her own personal biases into the televised piece. If I hadn't been there myself, I never would have believed it. From that point on, I've refused to watch Global's news coverage except when I'm following something I know a fair bit about--and that's just so I can see how much spin they put on it. On the bright side, this reporter's shoddy coverage provided me the opportunity to explain to my child why we can't believe everything we see on the 6:00 news.

Global news now has an ad on the telly, in their ever humble way, proclaiming how wonderful they are at bringing us groundbreaking news. The best part, is that the starring role goes to, who else, but Gordon Campbell, front and center, "reporting" from the North Van slide. How do we know he's reporting? Well, he's the one holding and controlling the microphone at the scene, all by himself, not a Global reporter's hands in sight, no middle man here... a subtle distinction but a revealing one...of course, maybe he's just auditioning in case his day job falls through this May.

First-rate piece, Judith. Stephen Ward is right to emphasize the importance of Ombudsmen. They must be truly independent, however, along the lines of the Washington Post's Michael Getler, who is banned from ever applying for any other position at the paper. Both the CBC and Toronto Ombudsmen--the only two we've had in Canada--are employees of the organizations they're monitoring. Their work shows it. Canadians did not accept the concept that Howard Wilson could monitor the ethics of his boss, Jean Chretien; nor should we be expected to accept the findings of less than independent Ombudsmen. By the way, The Toronto Star's Don Sellar--who most of the time served up wet noodles--is no longer employed at the paper. Tim is right in suggesting that the Atkinson principles have produced in the Toronto Star one of the most biased papers in Canada. An academic survey shows that owner intrusion in the newsroom is very heavy at the Star--higher than at the National Post. Over the years, the Star has functioned as a virtual house organ of the Liberal Party. In 1970, the Star reported the alleged "coup" being organized in Quebec that allowed Trudeau to invoke the War Measures Act and send troops into the streets of Montreal. Mike Bocking ignores the bias that comes into play at every level of a news organization, starting with the journalists he represents. Lester Markel, who worked at the New York Times for 40 years, put it this way: ""The reporter, the most objective reporter, collects fifty facts. Out of the fifty he selects twelve to include in his story (there is such a thing as space limitation). Thus he discards thirty-eight. This is Judgment Number One. "Then the reporter or editor decides which of the facts shall be the first paragraph of the story, thus emphasizing one fact above the other eleven. This is Judgment Number Two. "Then the editor decides whether the story shall be placed on Page One or Page Twelve; on Page One it will command many times the attention it would on Page Twelve. This is Judgment Number Three. "This so-called factual presentation is thus subjected to three judgments, all of them most humanly and most ungodly made." Bias starts but obviously does not end there. Aside from an Ombudsman to whom we can complain, the only protection we have as readers and citizens is to read several newspapers in different languages and with different perspectives. And, of course, to leave some time for the alternative press, including the Tyee.

No, Norman, the ONLY protection we have is to end the facist newspaper monopolies that keeps shills such as yourself in business. I have seen plenty of rightwing viewpoints aired in the Toronto Star, leftist bias or not. Can you name even ONE leftwing commentator in the National Post? If so , do they appear more than once a month. The Vancouver Sun is a disgrace to newspapers everywhere, the occasinal Stephen Hume column, once a month being the sole excreption. Palmer looks increasingly less independent. The Province "newspaper," which often promotes hate speech against the poor, and against women, now has an editorial page run by Jon Ferry, who "does not believe" in global warming. Mr ferry has not yet given his theories on flat earth theories, but we can no doubt make an EDUCATED guess. The national Post might as well as style itself, "the view from Stephen Harper's Butt," and is a disgrace to both journalism and independent thought everywhere. Your part in all of this, Mr Spector, perpetuating lies from a bully pulpit that increasingly sickens all decent Canadians, with its prepackaged, narrrow, inhumane, reactionary mindless, neoliberal boosterism. In my opinion you are a disgrace to journalism.

Mr. Quick, I'm also a regular columnist at the Globe and Mail and Le Devoir. If you'd like to reconsider your arguments in light of this information, I'd be plased to consider your remaining points.

Norman: To measure the performance of any newspaper since 28 December 2003, I've used the yardstick of those R.C.M.P. raids on the B.C. Legislature and beyond.

The media silence on the topic of organized crime mingling with government business must have been golden to somebody ... but who? Why is the media so frightened of mentioning this "radio-active" topic which may be distorting our vital electoral processes? How can they all ignore an issue which has the potential to destroy the country? And what ethical guideline has made such errors of omission so acceptable to them all?

I'm serious. If you know the answer, tell us. And could we drop the Left/Right stereotypes and simply praise the first journalist who explains in print why the public has a desperate need to know -- before any more elections -- whether or not we might be voting for criminals?

That courageous journalist could even be you, Norman Spector. And bless you, if it is.

"The Toronto Star is one of the most biased papers in Canada," offers one of the most biased columnists in Canada. Just like columnists, reporters, if they are any good, collect more facts then they use. But I would not hesitate to say that reporters are far more likely to strive to at least give honest balance to a story. A columnist's prime concern, besides a deadline and the need for a paycheque, is to prove an argument. Some have been known to actually spin their columns so that it appears an issue is fully discussed, when in fact, the horse race was decided before the columnist even sits down to write. We see it all the time in editorials and if we pay attention at all, we see it throughout the rest of the op/ed section where Norman and others ply their craftiness. There is one aspect Norman left out about the news gathering and writing process. Anything a reporter writes is run through several editors and, on some papers fact checkers, to ensure to the best of the paper's ability that the reporter hasn't missed the mark and isn't involved in a cause. When was the last time a columnist's copy was subjected to that kind of careful scrutiny?

Alan, Columnists are paid to express their opinions based on reasoned argument. We go through the same editing and fact-checking process as reporters do. Nor do we relish having our factual errors corrected by readers in letters to the editor, so we're very careful to double-check the material we file. At the Globe and Mail--which has the most balanced commentary page in Canada--columnists span the political spectrum from right to left--regularly inspiring allegations of bias from people who disagree with the view and misconstrue the role of the columnist. But Globe readers, for example, are much too intelligent to allow any columnist to get away with the distortions and dishonesty you imply, and no columnist enjoys being caught out in a letter or by another columnist or by someone who submits an op-ed from the outside. As to the Star, as readers of my press review will know, I have a very high regard for Tom Walkom and Jim Travers. Though I do not share their politics, I think they are two of the finest and most intelligent columnists in the country.

Ah yes, oh spectre of norman, the globe and mail, with the most balanced editorial pages in Canada, where I got to read John Ibbitson's opining that aging women factory workers in Asia were deleriously happy, because now, rather than being aging street prostitutes, they were now empowered by globalization to work 90 HOURS A WEEK at subsistence wages, in barb wire encompassed factories, surrounded by armed guards. My heart soared like a hawk when I read that column Norm. And then there was the COWARDLY ANONYMOUS EDITOR'S COMMENT, opining that Gordon Campbell had "NO CHOICE," but to keep the taxcut for the rich, after it was shown INARGUABLY NOT TO HAVE PAID FOR ITSELF, AFTER CAMPBELL HAD BEEN ADVISED AGAIN IT WOULD CREATE HUGE DEFICITS! WHY, THE INTEGRITY OF THIS POSITION JUST TOOK MY BREATH AWAY, NORM!

And then there's the "BALANCE" of editorial columnists in the globe, Ibbittson, and the mindless sychophantic jeffrey simpson, and his arguments three times a week why the NDP should become a corporate sell-out thirdway government, like the George Bush cowboy boot licking one of Tony Blair I presume...when we're not listening to your tainted aplogies for morally indefensible governments we get Margaret Wente, who when she's not opining on why her maid is so expensive weighs in on what awful people the poor are...and all this is "balanced" by Naomi Klein once every six months or Heather Mallick's merely weekly column? Hey Norm, how 'bout lending me $100, and I'll "balance" it by paying you back a nickle? With your idea of balance you should be delighted by my proposition. It is also exceptionally telling that you can not name so much as ONE left wing columnist who writes for the National Post, however infrequently...

Norman Spectre's idea of balance reminds me of the Vancouver Sun's claiming that the 22,600 WELL PAYING FULL time JOBS LOST by the BC liberals last year (Vancouver Sun, December 7, 2004) were "OFFSET" by roughly the same number of low paying part time jobs. When words like "offset" and "balance" are corrupted tainted and twisted, so that that they come to mean their polar opposites, when language itself, along with BASIC HUMAN DECENCY become subject to spin doctoring, revision and neo-liberal newspeak, AND THE WHIMS OF THE MARKETPLACE, when the premier's brother comments favorably in a monopoly newspaper about the premier's disastrous, ideologically driven, GENOCIDAL policies, then truly, we are lost...END THE CANWEST MONOPOLY NOW!!

Normman, Normman, Normman, how could you say such things? If Globe daily readers, of which I am one, write letters to the editor about factual errors then I would humbly suggest someone isn't checking those facts very stringently. But please don't tell me that editors check your opinions for fact any more than they check the facts offered up in letters to the editor. Sure, if a columnist or a letter writer toss out something beyond the pale, a good editor might craft a headline that draws readers to the controversial comment. Sorry, but I read far too many Marcus Gee columns in the Globe from 2001 through 2004 stating without reservation, that the US has every reason to invade Iraq because of the Weapons of Mass Destruction they would uncover any day now. Unabashed by readers who urged Gee to recheck his facts, the Globe's defender of all things American, kept assuring readers those WMDs were as real as the democracy that would surely follow this minor state intervention. As noted in the postings between ours, the columnists of the left at the Globe are pretty much occasional contributors, while those on the right are many and often. While we Globe readers may be "much too intelligent" to be snowed by "distortions and dishonesty," I think you understand as well as I do that facts, even when they are rock solid, are sometimes forgotten about in the passion of the cause being justified. I would suggest that an experienced and discerning news consumer would always have an ear cocked for the facts that don't make it into the final copy. It's those little spells of quiet or missing words that sometimes say more than all the facts that have been presented.

Norman Spector, thanks for the insights you provide on your own site and other writings, and for telling it like it is about the Toronto Star. Coming on here is a sure way to end up in a battle of wits with unarmed men. Yo, "allan," tell us about the independent information you had about Iraq's weapons, that the CIA, MI5 and Mossad didn't have. Then tell us what experience allows you to give advice to Norman.

Gee Tom, last time you left in a huff after losing an argument you assured us you weren't coming back. You're just like Gordon Campbell.

Fletcher your posts are as laughable as your claims to running a "newspaper." You are simply too stupid, and spoiled, LIKE NORMAN SPECTOR, to even realize how badly you have been trounced.

I don't know Mr Fletcher and my guess is that running a community newspaper is not easy. It must be also even more difficult to defend, singlehanded, (he is the only one really with a contrary point of view) the running of it amongst the "wolves" of the Tyee. But I simply do not understand how these enlightened lefties can forget their manners and resort to rudeness. If you didn't have Mr Fletcher to insult, what then? Participating in the commentary section of the Tyee should be fun. This isn't. If Mr Fletcher does not come back who will you bait and insult?

Alex Waterhouse-Hayward, my guess is that running out of things for you to complain about is not easy, especially if they are a bit to the left of your well honed RIGHTeousness. Perhaps Alex, you could go back and read Tom Fletcher's post, but get someone to remove your blinders first. Like Fletcher, you seem to have few qualms about attacking anyone on the left who challenges your point of view, but sir, you become the same hypocrite as Fletcher by immediately branding any reply as insulting, rude and preditory. Fletcher, like you, didn't post on this issue to enlighten, to ask questions or to even offer a comment on the problems of journalism. Rather, both of you posted for one reason. Having "forgot your manners", you resorted to rudeness because I obviously challenged some of your understandings. But, devoid any logical argument both of you opt for the low road. Alex, having been following The Tyee for about a year now, I see little that suggests people such as you and Fletcher are going anywhere. Frankly, I think participating in the commentary section of the Tyee is fun. I get much fun out of throwing darts at outright pomposity and people who use badly flawed logic and understanding to defend their sense of status-quo.

I do not think that I have ever shared my political views with anybody in the Tyee. My use of the term “lefty” is not deprecatory. There is no basis then to suspect that I may be of the far right, right or even the middle. Going from one comments section of the Tyee to others I see the same people, the same shrillness, rudeness (the use of caps is one example) and the idea that anybody who may have some money may be suspect until it is re-distributed. I have never met Mr. Fletcher nor do I know if he is headed in any particular direction. Is success to be measured by direction and movement? To call Mr Fletcher stupid is an insult. In a good argument such words have no room. I increasingly see the comments section (populated by the same wolves) as an area where there is no room for difference of opinion or a respect for that difference. Even if I were to agree with Mr Spector’s views (I don’t) I applaud his excellent manipulation of language (without resorting to caps and insults). He certainly can keep the wolves at bay.

Rather than repeating the arguments, I'd refer everyone to the thread under Charles Campbell's most recent column. It had its bad moments, but the the process started out with a very honest piece--as Judith's is--and ended and as an amicable and positive experience all around. Alex, if it's any consolation, I can assure you that right wing sites, too, have their share of rude ranters!

Alex W-H, you have described your political views as "soft left". Look it up and if you can't find your own quote, I'll tell you where it is. Now that might mean left of Attila or it may actually mean your a geniune lefty who has already redistributed all your excess wealth. But since you have already shot down any indication you're thrilled about sharing your wealth, I'm left thinking you're only somewhat left of those Huns. Now, I don't think I have ever referred to Tom Fletcher as "stupid," but if you can show otherwise, then I'll offer to explain myself. I seldom use caps, but acknowledge I used them once in my last post in an obviously failed effort to economize on words and still get the messages through. Alex, ya gotta watch a little closer when you're reading. It's like an experienced photographer overlooking a digital photo among a pile of film photos. Some would call it carelessness.

My email was not addressed to anybody in particular and should not be taken personally. I do read the posts and a Mr Swift did write of Mr. Fletcher, "You are simply too stupid, and spoiled, LIKE NORMAN SPECTOR, to even realize how badly you have been trounced." In my books that's doubly insulting. And yes at my age I do everything in moderation. So,yes, I did write that I was and am from the "soft left."

Budd Campbell, you asked a real question somewhere up there. Thank you. Commercial pressures on private sector news organizations happen every day. They want the favourable stuff in, and the negative stuff out. It's part of the cost of doing business, and the alternative is to have state media, like the CBC following Paul Martin from photo op to photo op in Asia. As I said, ethical owners get this, and they know that bowing to commercial pressure is short-term gain for long-term pain from loss of credibility. So you put your line in the sand and stand up to it when you have to. It's a lot tougher than dealing with anonymous insults, but it can be done, if the owners have integrity and a long-term vision.

Budd Campbell and Tom Fletcher write like twins. Interesting.

Gee, mr hayseed, maybe it has something to do with the uncampaigned on taxcut for the rich scum LIKE you got so gordon picton could attack disabled children...how's the tainted money???

Oh don't worry Norman, I ALWAYS ADMIRED the way you constantly attempted to shout down progressive viewpoints on the New VI's interactive news shows, until SOMEONE PUT THE FIX IN, and the shows were cancelled, and I don't care that you can't write WORTH SPIT, and are too COWARDLY to respond to a direct question, and Tom Fletcher, just because you constantly defend a government that uses manufactured crises to assault disabled children only makes me love you all the more...perhaps we could get together and torture some little old ladies sometime...

say it ain't so, I think you're onto something. Both Campbell and Fletcher take cheap shots at the CBC, the later wrapped in a seemingly engrained bitterness that this quality national news agency is so popular and, I might add, accurate compared to some of the trained seal stuff we see in the local ad wraps. I notice both also get into the strong ethical practices that just ooze off the pages of papers like the Maple Ridge News. That the editor of such a newspaper would tromp into The Tyee ranting about how much he hates unions, the NDP and, apparently, anyone to the left of Norman Spector, says far more about ethics and fairness than all the self-serving bunk this tag-team is engaging in. Shalow, shallow, shallow.

Why is Norman Spector lurking around a discussion board? Doesn't he teach or something?

Norman Spector, the Globe and Mail might be interested to know that after months of protest, the reporters at the Vancouver Courier were told last week they would be filing stories to the Vancouver Sun twice a week. These stories will be used as filler for the Westcoast section or used as ideas for Sun writers to borrow for one of their "exclusive" stories. Apparently CanWest Global finds nothing wrong with this demand, even though they're competing in the same market, because with "convergence" they're all just one big happy family.

Dear Convergence Aversion; Those Courier stories will be great for CanWest's new super-secret free commuter tabloid in Vancouver. Oops. That would be CanWest's formerly secret commuter tabloid etc. See the d'board at www.jeffgaulin.com for more...

Actually, the writing in the Courier is superior to that of the Sun. There's Allan Garr's and Barry Link"s columns, and other features, as contrasted with the Sun's best -Stephen Hume, once a month or less.

I'd be interested to know, Mr. Spector, to which survey you refer when you say: "An academic survey shows that owner intrusion in the newsroom is very heavy at the Star--higher than at the National Post. Over the years, the Star has functioned as a virtual house organ of the Liberal Party."

Lewis Swift, I live in a trailer park and so, after reading your comment, I checked to see if I could breath through my nose and I'm happy to report that I can. "Mouth-breathing trailer park set, eh." That kind of stuff just might diminish your credibility as a humanist. If all the world's resources were fairly divided each of us would be getting a trailer only, probably something like mine, which I'm tickled pink to have.

well, gitchy, gitchy gooo, now you can join rightwing province newspaper trailer park posters, poverty is an index of neither right OR leftwing virtue, how we treat the poor IS. You're outta your league sonny...and what kind of smug, moronic handle is truman Green? Are you the Forest Gump of the green party, ie, life is just like a bowl of chocolates...only that's NOT chocalate in the chocolates, it's hairsplittin' closet gordon campbell supporter BS, go home sonny...

Very funny, Mr,,,,, No, I'm about as left as left gets. My mom named me after Truman Bradley, a war-time correspondent. My dad's name was Mr Green. I kinda like it. I didn't claim virtue because of my abode, although, I suspect it does represent a certain lack of greed as well as money. I think you, too, might have rebelled a bit at being referred to as a "trailer park mouth breather" yourself, as Lewis Swift described us mobile dwellers. Oh yeah, and what exactly is "gitchy, gitchy gooo?" Isn't that baby talk? Are you really making fun of my name? You might want to reconsider that. It's not hugely mature. I think Lewis Swift can speak for himself, though--unless you ARE Louis Swift, Mr. ,,,,,,,Now THAT's a funny name. And what league is that--the one that I'm "outta?" Couldn't you just admit it's not nice to make fun of peoples' homes, instead of compounding it by laughing at their names? Not too Swift, eh! So, lets see...My name is a "smug and moronic handle." Are you sure you're not a mouth-br...Oh never mind.

Norman Spector, I thought I left you raving about how dreadful it was that we have a tax-payer funded national network like the CBC? Is this your own big idea or is it just a coincidence that your bosses over at Canwest concur. Aren't you busy doing your CBCWatch shift? Otherwise, welcome to Tyee postings. Incidentally, some of us aren't so easily impressed by your fake even-handed ASPIRations. Thanks for running us through the numbers in your "this is how a reporter" works section,though, Norm. So...lets see..."The reporter, the most objective reporter collects fifty facts....Out of fifty he collects twelve..." I 'would a thought' he would have collected the twelve BEFORE he collected the fifty. Are you sure, Norm? "Then the editor decides whether the story shall be placed on page one or page two..." No! Really, Norm? And, oh yeah--we should "leave some time to read the alternate press, including the Tyee," eh? Thanks for telling us all this stuff, Norm. We would have NEVER known, otherwise! So the Atkinson principles made the Toronto Star "one of the most biased papers in Canada." And how did these principles accomplish this? "Aside from an Ombudsman to whom we can complain, the only protection we have as readers and citizens is to read several newspapers in different languages and with different perspectives..." Uh... there might be another way to go, Norm: Boycott Canwest.

Chris, For a report on the academic survey, see Stuart Soroka and Patrick Fournier, “With media ownership, size does matter: Who's afraid of big bad media concentration? Journalists. And the rest of us should be …” Globe and Mail, February 12, 2003. Truman, I'm also a regular columnist at the Globe and Mail and Le Devoir.

Norm, I know that. And you're also an immensely knowledgeable man. So come on, eh. You know darn well that CanWest's media empire is subverting journalistic diversity in the BC market.

There MAY be some hope after all for you, green, you appear to have a mild gift for logic...with all due respect your name, it sounds, especially in a politically charged context somewhat jejeune, naive, and as well suggests you are BC green party supporter, which would be your privelege if that is the case, perhaps you should adopt a kick ass monoicker, like LEWIS SWIFT...I understand the handle is now up for grabs, although it's not much use on the TYEE, as it's automatically blocked now by the tyee's computer settings, oh well, lots more non de plumes where that one came from, RIGHT, Norman ? Heh, heh. Seems that Mr Beers cannot tolerate criticism of the BC judiciary, or the repeated assertion that a "government" that replaces THE ADVOCATE FOR MURDERED AND SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN IN BC WITH THE CORONER'S OFFICE TO PAY FOR AN UN-CAMPAIGNED-UPON TAXCUT ARE NO MORE THAN POND SCUM -HOPE YOU GET TO READ THIS POST BEFORE BEERS WETS HIS PANTS AND DELETES IT....

TESTING

Hi Lewis. You're totally forgiven. I got a bit out of line on another topic myself, so I know how it can be done. Incidentally, if you look at McLintock's story re. Basi and Virk, you'll see where I thanked you for your comments. Anyway...it's great we've got Norman Spector to, as Nixon, said, "kick around now," eh. Personally, I suspect he's considering 'fessing up that, "Yeah, maybe Canwest is going a bit too far." He'd be the most respected man in journalism for coming out like that. I'd give two Canada Pension cheques to see the looks on the faces of the Brothers Asper. Imagine how the story might play, eh: "Aspers' glee over Jerusalem Post acquisition tempered by Spector betrayal. Fulford asked for comment while doing "Asper lecture series" on his day off, said to be considering similar move. Frum on way to Canada to give Spector a serious talking to--said to be bringing American buds, Golberg and Pearl, with whom he did the quintessential Bushian book. Coyne at a loss for words on new Stromboulopolous show. Graham saddened by "Norman's sudden duplicity." Lapointe complaining over being forced to do commercials for the Sun on Global. Fistfight breaks out at editorial board meeting over McNulty's "Spector's Confession Sparks Faustian Collapse" article. Ferry gives Thompson job back. Todd refuses to do, "One more god.....ed God article."

Thank you, Truman. I enjoyed your fantasy about Spector buit frankly don't believe he has the cojones for such a feat. It would certainly be nice to have something happen to blow Canwest's disgusting, and dangerous monopoly out of the water. There is a media conference, complete with pork barrelling senators who can't talk too much, as it might inyerupt their $200 dinners. (They have left open just YHE VERY SHORT TIME from 4:30 pm to dinner time, (on Monday, I believe) for the public to voice their concerns, most of the rest of the input will be media shills- beers is on a 2:30 pm today I believe.) See the lead article on the Tyee home page. If you live in the lower mainland, and can manage it, you might consider going...

,,,,,,,, Please report in, here at the Tyee, after you've attended the Senate Committee Hearings on the Media. OK?

I work at a small, corporate-owned newspaper in a small town, and I've got to echo Tom Fletcher's comments about where the editorial influence comes from. Head office is far, far away and our advertisers are just a few doors down the road. We have controversial issues out here (fish farming, industrial logging and fishing) and we are very, very careful with what we write about those issues. It was an eye-opener when I first began to work here: in the main, the ads are what drive the newspaper, not the news. A sorry economic fact.

BC Mary. I think ,,,, will do a much better job of reporting back, but I went down to the hearings today. Mr. Beers and Mr. C. Campbell presented their case, largely echoing all the concerns about convergence and cross ownership as expressed in tyee columns and postings. They also discussed possible government financial sponsorship models, and what new anti-trust legislation might be introduced. The senators were very congratulatory regarding the new online media venture. Chair, Senator Fraser and Senator Carney appeared very interested and sympathetic; Senator Tkachuk basically did his job and once commented that "I know noone likes a monopoly," but I, at least, couldn't read his true feelings. Another Senator, whose name I didn't get, thought everything was pretty hunky dorry in the BC media, saying that he's forever travelling around the world and that our media is better than just about anywhere else on earth with the possible exception of France--sort of a "what seems to be the problem?" attitude. Mr. Beers, with admirable restraint, suggested that he might not be getting the whole picture by flitting into and out of town once in a while. I couldn't stay for the public submissions. Although, I'm doing a private Canwest boycott, I just might sneak out in the morning to see what Sun and Province reporters have to say. I'm pretty sure that was Ian Mulgrew sitting a few seats away from me. Norman Spector didn't show--unless he was incognito--a distinct possibility. I was too shy to say hi to Dave Beers at the hearing, but I "ran into him" on Hastings a few blocks away and introduced myself. Then it was down to the skytrain--back to the much cleaner air of Newton, BC. My only disappointment was not being able to glare at Senator Ann Cools (she wasn't there) for the way she insulted our Svend Robinson at the hearings on hate crimes last year. Oh, and also--being a carpenter I was very impressed by the curved, solid wood--suspiciously teak--seating arrangements.

thanks Greg B. for the insight. kudos

Truman, I will not lie to you, as a disabled person in Bc, I fear public exposure and government harassment, so I tend to stay out of the limelight as far as my physical presence goes...this may disappoint you, and I'm sorry if it does. I don't BS people, and I can only hope my postings helped increase attendance. Thanks for your excellent reporting. I have been assaulted more than once as it is for expressing loudly in public exactly what I think of the Bc liars...at least I'm honest when asked...if I had posted saying, "go, but I'm not going," I don't think it would have been very effective...hope you're not too disillusioned...as you may have noticed, self restraint is not my specialty, and I probably would have been thrown out for creating a disturbace, anyway...

,,,,,,,I really appreciate the effort you made to get people out to the hearings. Your notice was definitely what got me to go. All the best. Incidentally, Senator Fraser wondered aloud if the Canwest papers would report the hearings. I checked out the Sun and Province today and I couldn't find a peep. I might have missed something, though. Did anyone else read anything?

Thanks for the info., Mr. Spector; I'll follow that up. As one good turn deserves...I Highly recommend the recently released book, 'True Lies' by Anthony Lappe and Stephen Marshall. They're two of the engines behind Guerrilla News Network and http://GNN.TV There's quite a lot of excellent information on the effects media concentration has had on the quality, and quantity of "hard" news in the U.S. As our Canadian laws on media concentration are much more lax, witness Victoria, arguing for tighter concentration seems rash. I'll read your source with great interest, and more than a little skepticism.

In this era of tabloid journalism where we get inuendo and accusations instead of investigative jounralism and factual information, taking about Journalism Ethics is like discussing Military Intelligence, it is a complete oxymoron.

Thanks, truman.

Truman Green, many thanks indeed for attending the Senate Hearings on the Media and for providing us with a summary of how the Senators accepted what was said.

I saw no mention of the Hearings in the Vancouver Sun, TC or Province ... I wonder if the Senators noticed THAT. Come to think of it, I didn't see a mention of it in The Tyee either; or Salt Spring News, or haveyouhadenoughyet or vivelecanada.ca ...

What was your final assessment of the Travelling Road Show?

BC Mary, I can't really say what happened between 8 am and 2 pm, when I arrived, but at least by then the attendance was very sparse. Mr. Beers and Mr. Campbell certainly didn't pull any punches in their presentations, each making it clear that they were quite disgusted by the current media monopoly. It is possible that a larger crowd showed up for the public submissions, although I doubt it because they were to start at 4:30, and by 3:45, or so, when I left, a big crowd had yet to materialize. I was quite disappointed by this, but this event was not well publicized. Apparently the Sun and Province didn't even mention it beforehand. Throngs of disenchanted, grumbling protestors would have had a much greater impact on the senators. I had fantasized "standing room only" and lineups around the block, like a Windows 98 debut. My final assessment: Everyone did their best, but because of the small attendance it may have been a missed opportunity. I tend to think most of our elected and appointed officials are very aware of CanWest's monopoly in BC, but I doubt if there's much political will to confront it. Perhaps it's up to the people to demand more diversity. I believe it's a civil rights issue, but I suspect few would agree. Undoubtedly the senators will take note of the lack of reporting in the three big dailies and the National Post--unless their articles are yet to appear.

The Tyee's report is under Media Check.

Well, I had a long and as far as I could see earlier post encouraging people to come out in droves, but it was censored, WHY I have no idea. Thanks again for your excellent reporting Truman. Campbell and Beers undoubtedly did a good job, save in one respect. They did not do enough to encourage people to come out in large numbers. Threy should have started earlier and liasoned with other groups. Perhaps they feared too much contact with the rabble...I can remember the sixties when hundreds of peolple at the very LEAST would have come out to such an event, FORCING THE MEDIA TO COVER AT LEAST SOME OF THE ISSUES, but apparently the Canadian middle class, what's left of them, would rather wait until they are banging pots and pans in the streets, like the Argentinian FORMER middle class....

There's a good report in the Westender--more knowledgeable and positive than my effort above.

Also read Dee Hon's report in the Tyee's sister publication Terminal City (may or may not be available online???) about Paul Wilcock's (the MASTER of praising by faint damnation) about how "market forces" will fix all the problems with media monopoly in BC that have led to BC not having an official opposition....

There is also a good report in the latest issue of Kevin Potvin's The Republic of East Vancouver. Potvin said he saw less than 9 nonmedia persons during the several hours he spent there one day. Potvin also contends, not innaccurately that the main reasons for such conferences, is that they allow the government to PRETEND to be concerned, the senate subcommittee gets to make their powerless, deliberately impotent reccomendations, a beautiful, but never read binder gets published and the whole farce is performed again twenty years later fot the next generation, just as a simailar futile exercise was made twenty years ago. Potvin also notes that Senator Useless aka Pat Carney (last time I saw her she was shilling her latest book on a BC ferry I wonder if she talked to Hahn personally for the favor) was one of the attending senators and that Brian Mulroney, that great Canadian Quisling, "squeezed her in under a rarely used provision allowing him to appoint extra senators, which he needed to ensure the Senate would pass the Free Trade Agreement -the crowning achievement of his traitourous career." A sentiment with which I can only concur heartily. I still cannot help but wonder wht Mr Beers made so very little effort to boost attendance at this conference, publishing the article about it something like a mere three days before the conference. Perhaps Beers did not want to share the limelight with the rabble as he certainly went out his way to censor, my in this instance not very inflamatory posts...comments to the hoi-polloi from Mount Olympus, Mr Beers???

Hmm, the Tyee report on the conference seems a trifle buried as well...is it even on the home page, or was it just quickly archived under media....of course you can just censor these two posts...or have someone respond who MIGHT be an editor....oh, those damn capitals again....

,,,,,,,: Wrong acronym Carney was brought in as an extra Senator in 1990 not to pass the FTA, but the GST. Besides, Carney's one of the few senators there with some media chops as a former newspaper columnist in the Province (pre-tabloid). Oh, and about censorship: it's the web. If you don't like what Beers is doing, go start your own web paper. It's a lot easier that starting up your own newspaper, at least.

Sorry, I've already invested too much time building up this online newspaper, as well as defending it from rightwing thugs, as Lewis Swift, Ben Quick, fly, susanah moodie, Marie Antoinette, and of course your ever faithfull correspondent ,,,,,,. I am large, I contain multitudes, I am the esemplastic essence of the INELUCTABLE MODALITY OF THE RISIBLE, and by my lights, YOU owe me...Ever see that movie Hombre, with Paul Newman as the tough "lower class native guy" people couldn't wait to get rid of until other less ethical tough guys came along and they needed his COURAGE (see also McMartin's Wizard of Oz allegory)...you should: it defines our relationship...."tim," of course the Tyee is also in debt to other courageous posters as well...

And Carney's name should be spelled "carnie," for the ineffectual senate media and parliamentary CIRCUS, she has helped facilitate, as if helping Mulroney, one of the few Canadian prime ministers to become RICH while in office, wasn't enough.

Wow. That said it all, didn't it?

You bet, timmy. And TIMMY, there's no front page link for the VERY IMPORTANT Wayne Streliof article, except the one archived under views. Perhaps more important matters than my use of capitals should concern you -like doing YOUR JOB properly, hmmmm?

Um...I don't work here.

Then why not screw off, you posing little whiner?

Because someone's got to correct your consistent inability to get facts straight. Lately you're 0 for 3. On top of the Carney thing (which I suppose I should forgive since you got it from a published source, but it's still incorrect), you don't realize that Mulroney was already rich before he got into federal politics in the 1980s, and you misidentified me as working for the Tyee. The puerile insults and deranged ranting under multiple names I can overlook, but at least look up a thing or two before you spew.

Ah, forget I said that. It's really not worth it.

Were there a complete dictionary of phraseology, "supercillious twit," would have your picture in bold living color right next to it, Timmy. And you deliberately tried to have me misidentify you. Senator Pet Carney, has always been one of Canada's most useless and self-serving senators, and from what I understand the competition's pretty stiff. And Mulroney had unending plum, low maintenance jobs from the private sector once he'd finished selling out Canada -easily enough to make him wealthy as a direct result of his disgusting corporate pimping while PM. Wake up, Timmy. And grab a little honesty. You could use it.

Ps. Speaking of "ethical vertigo," Timmy...

When does this guy's medicine kick in? Cripes.

WHen will gordon campbell quit drinking..and when does the uncampaigned taxcut for the rich that was going to jump start the BC economy kick in? I must have missed your many intelligent, diverse and fluidly reasoned posts...johnny...have another drink with gordo...