The Wentegate affair and much of the traditional media’s reaction to it really tell us something about the mainstream media. Margaret Wente, who is documented to be a serial-plagiarist has already gotten defended by a few mainstream journalists (Jesse Brown with Maclean’s, Terence Corcoran and Dan Delmar of the National
Continue readingTag: Journalism
Northern Insight: Journalists slow to criticize colleague
Reader contributions at mainstream media sites are occasionally unreadable, occasionally delightful. Here’s one of the latter type from the Globe & Mail after Margaret Wente defended herself on charges of plagiarism raised by an independent media critic: “Margaret, you would have done yourself and the Globe a favour had you
Continue readingCanadian Progressive: The Mouse That Roared: Imagining an internet safe haven for journalists, whistleblowers and activists in Iceland
The Mouse That Roared is a documentary-in-the-making film by Judith Ehrlich, the award-winning director of “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”, which earned a Peabody, and was nominated for an Academy award for best documentary. The film centers around Icelandic parliamentarian Birgitta Jónsdóttir’s efforts fights
Continue readingCanadian Progressive: U.S. pressuring Bradley Manning to implicate Julian Assange (VIDEO)
Julian Assange‘s U.S. attorney, Michael Ratner, claims that the U.S. is getting tougher with Bradley Manning hoping to pressure him to testify against the WikiLeaks founder. He tells The Real News Network: They would want him to testify or roll over against Julian. And it’s not me making that up.
Continue readingeaves.ca: Why Banning Anonymous Comments is Bad for Postmedia and Bad for Society
Last night I discovered that my local newspaper – the Vancouver Sun – was going to require users log in with Facebook to comment. It turns out that this will be true of all Postmedia newspapers. I’m stunned that a newspaper ownership would make such a move. Even more so
Continue readingCanadian Progressive: Watergate Journalist Carl Bernstein Spoke at Event Supporting Iranian ‘Terrorist’ Group
Written by Justin Elliott | ProPublica On a Saturday afternoon last February, journalist Carl Bernstein got up on stage at the grand ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan and delivered a speech questioning the listing of an obscure Iranian group called the Mujahadin-e Khalq (MEK) on the U.S. government list of officially designated foreign
Continue readingNorthern Insight: In sheep’s clothing
Bob Mackin has an interesting piece in The Tyee about a newspaper tycoon and BC Liberal abettor. David Black’s bluster was about about oil refining but the part of Mackin’s story that caught my eye involved one-time Province newspaper publisher Paddy Sherman. In 1958, Sherman was both a news reporter
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay Said Canada Should Bring Omar Khadr Home
Surely this has got to be the ultimate Tale of Two Nazanins. Better still, Of Denial And The Tale of Two Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKays. The brand new wife of Conservative Defence Minister Peter MacKay is fuming. She accuses a journalist baiting her to criticize the Harper Government on the Omar
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Until Friday the 13th to become a rabble.ca member
I believe in independent and progressive Canadian journalism. The kind that’s free from corporate control and manipulation. I believe wholeheartedly. So do you. Let’s go Rabble then. This just received from rabble.ca, via email: “rabble’s annual membership campaign is coming to an end – extended to Friday this week. Sign
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Anderson Cooper: “The Fact Is, I’m Gay”
A couple of years ago, a friend swore to me that the CNN’s Anderson Cooper was gay. And that it was a matter of time before he came out. I argued that Cooper would be gay only after he’d publicly confirmed that he was gay. The essence of the conversation
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Friends caring for friends
Bill Good mounted a defence of Christy Clark today following release of David Basi’s accusations that Premier Christy Clark was very much involved in the corrupt sale of BC Rail and was leaking confidential information to fixers involved in the deal. Good was joined by Keith Baldrey who wondered even
Continue readingNorthern Insight: The Schultz Theory, Applied
Alex Tsakumis’ release of Dave Basi’s 2003 memo to file was an interesting test for British Columbia’s corporate media. The results were mixed. NW’s Bill Good managed to do 3½ hours without noting the stench surrounding his pal Premier Photo Op. No surprise there since he’s been consistent in saying
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Concentrated media ownership dangerous
Numerous times in past decades, politicians studied media ownership in Canada. Despite expressions of concern, concentration has increased and, with Conservatives determined to end CBC’s meaningful role, the situation will be worse. In Britain, the Leveson Inquiry began a year ago to examine the culture, practices and ethics of the
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: The Sky Is Pink: New Josh Fox Video On Fracking Controversies in New York (and Much More)
Gasland director Josh Fox is back with a must-watch new short video taking a look at the controversy in New York where Governor Andrew Cuomo is considering plans to lift the state's moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for unconventional gas. But it's much more than just a local story. Fox
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Fixing Canada’s Democracy, Part 74 of 877
I spent 3 hours in the House of Commons from midnight to 3am this morning watching the contemptuous debauchery of the Conservative government squash democracy in ramming through Bill C-38. Several weeks ago I also spent some time in the BC legislature watching that version of embarrassing contempt. Beyond a
Continue readingFrom Orangutan: Dear travelers to Montreal,
As the nightly demonstrations that snake their way through the city continue, often picking up thousands along the way and cheered on by onlookers from balconies, windows, and outdoor patios, I hope you understand that these marches are peaceful, joyous, and filled with the same festive spirit that is unique to
Continue readingFrom Orangutan: Dear travelers to Montreal,
As the nightly demonstrations that snake their way through the city continue, often picking up thousands along the way and cheered on by onlookers from balconies, windows, and outdoor patios, I hope you understand that these marches are peaceful, joyous, and filled with the same festive spirit that is unique to
Continue readingFrom Orangutan: Dear travelers to Montreal,
As the nightly demonstrations that snake their way through the city continue, often picking up thousands along the way and cheered on by onlookers from balconies, windows, and outdoor patios, I hope you understand that these marches are peaceful, joyous, and filled with the same festive spirit that is unique to Montreal and unparalleled in North America. I hope that you can look beyond the countless negative stories produced by mainstream media outlets that mischaracterize this city as, among other things, violent and dangerous. Montreal is neither violent nor dangerous. I hope that you can see clearly through the if-it-doesn’t-bleed-it-doesn’t-lead journalistic strategy and discover that the rare abandon of the aggressive few is minute compared to the extraordinary coming together of the gentle masses. People of varying ages and from diverse backgrounds coalesce at these nocturnal happenings. Some bang utensils, pots, and pans (a nod to the practice of our Chilean counterparts undergoing a similar period of change), and all are armed—no, not with weapons—but with the determination to make the world a better place. If you choose to march with us (and we welcome you with open hearts), it will quickly occur to you that all these well-meaning human beings wouldn’t be out on the streets of our enchanting neighborhoods if they didn’t already take for granted that Montreal is a safe and friendly town for citizens and travelers alike, no matter where you decide to go and even after the sun sets. This is Montreal. Come and see for yourself. You’ll be witnessing an historic moment in the process.
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Add to your bookmarks
Keep your eyes on 2010 Gold Rush – News and Views on Vancouver 2010 (And Beyond) From Bob Mackin. On Twitter, follow hashtag #LiquorLeaks as Bob reports on Liberal friends maneuvering to take over the province’s lucrative liquor distribution system. Don’t expect corporate media to follow this story. They will
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: How Dare You Drones Resist?!
It is truly stunning to see how the elites react when people dare speak out against “austerity” – that is, to squeeze even more profits out of workers, students, and citizens in general. Almost as appalling is the way that the corporate media (and often the CBC) follow the party
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