By Francis Plourde “You have two stories, one about a group of Chinese protesters for the independence of Tibet in front of the Vancouver Public Library, the other one about a stolen trash basket in …
The Death of the Reader
by Amanda Stutt Somewhere out there, the people who thought up Craigslist are sitting pretty. It’s no secret that the independent, interactive online services site dealt a blow to the lucrative classified ads sections of …
Could a news war between America and Iran become a physical war?
By Mahmood Ahmadi Afzadi Fox News says Iran should be bombed. This doesn’t surprise me, given that channel’s track record in Iraq. What worries me, however, is that the hawkish channel has just begun saying …
Testing the limits and consequences of free speech on university campuses
The new editor-in-chief at the The University of Western Ontario’s Gazette, Canada’s oldest student newspaper, is starting the school year equipped with a clean slate of ethics and a fresh approach to campus journalism. The paper, …
Rick Mercer: Political satire or PR?
Satire should make you laugh and squirm. Today, the word conjures up images of Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert or the creators of South Park, artists who are renowned for deriving hilarity and controversy out of …
When Colour Matters: Depictions of South Asians in the mainstream media
The day the RCMP foiled a large-scale plot to bomb Toronto was a day of rude awakening for Canadians. It was a day when many realized that Canada is not a neutral ground, immune to …
Social media poses digital dilemmas for journalists
In the hours following the Virginia Tech shootings in April 2007, people caught up in the tragedy turned to social networking sites, blogs, e-mails and other digital technologies to express themselves. On one particular site, …
When “sorry” seems to be the hardest word to print
By Kendyl Salcito The 21st century has heralded the advent of countless new journalism ethics societies, codes and vows. Ombudspersons have become fixtures in the newsroom; public apologies have become a mainstay in big papers …
Quebec 2007 : The new rules of campaign coverage
At the end of an election campaign, there are always questions about media coverage. Did the news favour certain candidates or parties at the expense of others? Was there too much focus on public gaffes …
The Problem with B-Roll
My shoe suddenly comes loose in the hallway. I leave it – turning back would only slow me down. I swerve right to avoid an oncoming tape cart but trip over my now-exposed loose sock …