Category: Winter 2006

My excitement about giving a presentation on the state of Canadian media to a bunch of European journalism students cooled when I discovered I was to follow the reporter from Zimbabwe. All my criticisms of corporate concentration, CanWest Global Communications Inc., the public relations industry and Chomsky’s Propaganda Model of thought control in democratic societies… Continue reading Shooting the Messenger

“Sex does not a relationship make,” Jann Arden advises. “Dating is a tool used to weed out the wackos.” The question “So Confused” had asked Arden was whether she ought to stop looking around, now that she and her date had slept together. In the December 2005 issue of Elle Canada, the advice columnist finished… Continue reading Celebrity Takeover

Harper’s and Mother Jones have a lot in common with The Walrus. They’re idea-based magazines that have changed their business structures from non-profit organizations to foundations. They rely on charitable status for survival. Except, being Canadian-based, the Walrus had to jump over a few extra barriers to achieve its goal – barriers it may have… Continue reading The Fruits of Victory

“You have to look at polls not as a neutral, transparent measuring instrument,” says Bob Hanke, peering through his red-framed glasses. “They’re shaped by journalists who think that knowing who’s ahead and who’s going to win – the whole emphasis on prediction – is more important than actually describing what you or I think or… Continue reading Digging a Bigger Poll

Rob Roberts, the National Post‘s Toronto editor, got the news within 10 minutes. He was short-staffed – it was, after all, the day after Christmas. So he sent in what he had, two reporters and a night person. He didn’t know who was dead – if anyone – but he knew the story was big.… Continue reading Another Year, Another Epithet