Corporate welfare
Despite newspapers being longtime supporters of Fraser Institute teachings that call for reduced public spending, they are now more than happy to get in line for corporate welfare. That’s not…
Journalism
The Sins of Assange
“Assange’s arrest represents an abuse of power, highlighting not only how true journalism has now been banished in the West, but also how politicians, journalists, news agencies and think-tanks collude…
Turn Off The Propaganda Machine
This week’s cover story of the world’s leading trend analysis institute: very fitting, dead on the money, as usual. As I keep saying, turn off the state and corporate “news”.…
Books, writers, words, and competencies
I have always believed that any good, competent and credible writer can be judged (if judge people we must, and yet we do) by the books on his or her…
Good old days
Politicians, not too long ago, feared the press. Much has changed, not because corporate media owners are suffering financially, since most are not. Good journalism is available, much of it…
Who says no, when no needs to be said?
Are citizens of British Columbia protected from massive financial fraud? Frankly, we have little protection…
Political journalism
Yet more evidence that important parts of corporate media do not practice good journalism…
Taxes buy civilization
Neoliberalism has brought us extreme concentrations of wealth and power and a society governed by and for the rich. The Guardian reports America’s three wealthiest billionaires—Bezos, Gates and Buffett—have as…
Reward the wealthy, fail the needy
In 2011, Canada’s austerity driven federal government suspended, delayed or cancelled numerous Environment Canada programs, including the Action Plan on Clean Water. Stephen Harper’s administration made the choice even though…
They won; we lost
Financial elites have waged a decades-long campaign of self-interest against Canadians. They won; we lost. The most important front has been action to control mass media and reduce the influence…
A Most Worthy Initiative
Although it has almost become a cliche, knowledge is indeed power. It confers upon us the opportunity to think critically; it enables us to make informed choices, freeing us from…
Facts matter
The BC Press Gallery has been a private club, reluctant to admit new members. Emma Gilchrist, co-founder of The Narwhal and Executive Director of its predecessor Desmog Canada, had media…
Tuesday Night Journalistic Masochism
No politician has ever been removed from caucus in the history of Parliamentary politics in Canada. That is what I gather from Canadian media yesterday, The level of near hysteria…
The Leak Came From The PMO (And Other Lies Coming From Canadian Media)
This feels way too convenient to me. Every instinct in my body tells me that the Glenn Joyal leak came from either someone close to Jody Wilson-Raybould – either a…
My Last Post About SNC Lavalin (Also, I Lie Sometimes)
The worst part of this whole SNC-Lavalin faux scandal has been the polarizing effect that it has had on Canadian politics. I have never seen such a disconnect between journalism,…
My Second Podcast Appearance – The View Up Here (And Of Course Some Thoughts On SNC Fakegate)
//percolate.blogtalkradio.com/offsiteplayer?hostId=711695&episodeId=11232575 I sat down for a wide ranging chat with Canada Glen (@canadianglen) about the United We Roll convoy and the SNC Lavalin story, it is actually quite fair, and…
Introducing Political-Potshots.com (And Now For Something Completely Different)
I am so absolutely excited and proud to launch my very own website, Political Potshots! It is less a culmination of a lifelong dream, and more a step into the…
Local media is letting us down
Rule number one in The Elements of Journalism is: “journalism’s first obligation is to the truth.” Number three is “Its essence is a discipline of verification.” Keep those two in…
Breathless
Following Liberal defeat in the Nanaimo byelection, Global TV reporter Sarah MacDonald talked to Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson for the 11pm newscast. Breathlessly, she asked what is probably the worst…
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation And The Astroturf Lawnmower
Astroturfing is the practice of masking the sponsors of a message or organization (e.g., political, advertising, religious or public relations) to make it appear as though it originates from and…