When it comes to fearlessly challenging orthodoxies, Canada’s journos pale in comparison with their foreign peers
The search for truth can never be achieved while hiding behind the skirts of the status quo
(Welcome to The Rewrite’s weekly roundup of some of journalism’s better “learning moments.” Please send along any feedback and sign up with a free or - if you are in the mood - paid subscription and share)
If the quest for objectivity in journalism is to be cast aside by a generation of revolutionary newshounds searching for “truth,” that should at least mean the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Which is why The Rewrite’s attention has been drawn to the matter of a Haida elder’s class action lawsuit against a Roman Catholic priest, Marcin Mironiuk, and his employer. The man of the cloth is alleged to have used strong language to question the accuracy of claims concerning the tragic deaths of children at residential schools.
Details can be found here and here and involve Sphenia Jones, who was, appallingly, sent far from home to the Edmonton residential school operated by the United Church of Canada.
While the Catholics long ago apologized for Father Mironiuk’s words (the accuracy of the translation appears to be an issue) the case also raises the question of “denialism” when it comes to reporting on the deaths of children while attending residential schools.
For instance, if this case is successful, will the door be open for lawsuits against journalists such as Terry Glavin whose reporting challenged the industry to question the mass graves narrative it so enthusiastically spread beginning in 2021?
But what caught the eye last week was how no one - at least at the time of writing - in legacy media had picked up on the work done by The Catholic Register.
Its story brought into question Elder Jones’s recollection of a fellow student dying after being beaten by a nun, noting the poor girl’s death certificate showed meningitis as the cause of death, her body had been returned for burial and that the United Church of Canada has never had nuns.
The search for Truth continues.
Speaking of Roman Catholics, the clubby nature of Parliament Hill’s institutions was on full display when Joyce Napier was appointed Canada’s ambassador to the Vatican.
A long time journalist and foreign correspondent with a distinguished career at Radio Canada, Napier was CTV’s parliamentary bureau chief until given the heave-ho last June in one of Bell’s frequent journalism purges.
Her spouse is former CBC commentator Neil MacDonald, whose view on faith https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/andrew-scheer-leadership-1.4136808 is that it “confers licence to discriminate, bully, marginalize and deprive someone of liberty.”
No doubt the couple will enjoy Rome and Napier’s job explaining to officials there why no one in our government agrees with the Vatican about anything.
And of course there was cynicism. The appointment prompted one hard-boiled critic to wryly observe that “journalism isn’t a profession anymore - it’s a job application.”
Canadian media’s nervousness regarding challenges to accepted narratives was again front and centre when AstraZeneca discontinued its Covid vaccine.
This post on X best illustrates consumer frustration with the coverage.
I would not go so far as to share the poster’s characterization (others such as The Guardian took the Canadian approach) but there was definitely a contrast worth noting.
While on the topic, the New York Times has again set itself apart from the pack by fearlessly - as it has done with transgender youth issues - committing journalism by investigating Covid vaccine side effects. The Rewrite is confident this work will not be replicated by legacy media in Canada where there is scant evidence similar courage exists.
Speaking of the New York Times, take a deep bow in the direction of the Big Apple where Toronto’s Katie Engelhart has won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. Her article in the New York Times magazine told the story of how dementia impacts its victims’ wishes as they slip beneath the waves of cognitive decline.
Ms. Engelhart is the daughter of lawyer Ken Engelhart, formerly head of regulatory affairs at Rogers and absolutely one of the best in that business.
Meanwhile, irony draped over World Press Freedom Day in Canada, where most newsrooms now depend financially on the man they are expected to hold to account - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Rudyard Griffiths of The Hub which, along with The Line, Blacklock’s Reporter and Western Standard, refuses to take government favours, estimates that more than 50% of salaries in text-based newsrooms are now subsidized. In Quebec, thanks to the provincial government’s largesse, it’s an even higher percentage.
How strange it was, then, to see those writing the cheques upon which journos now depend celebrating their “freedom.”
It was a pretty fat pitch and at least one wag just had to swing for the fences.
While one has to admire the passion with which people approach the craft of news-gathering, it’s worth wondering if a group of American academics has sent the right message.
Fifty nine tenured journalism professors from American universities wrote to the New York Times. They implored it to review its reporting of the “gender-based violence” (aka widespread rape) involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 invasion of Israel and the massacre and hostage-taking of civilians by Gaza-based Hamas warriors.
It’s one thing to promote good journalism and I have no doubt they actually believe they are doing so. But The Rewrite thinks these boffins would have better protected their reputations as advocates for even handedness had they also asked why so many news websites still contain reports of the “bombing” of a Gaza hospital by Israel.
Those initial Oct. 17, 2023, reports have been extensively scrutinized and determined to have been inaccurate. There was no evidence to suggest Israel was responsible, as alleged by Hamas (the comparative credibility given to a terrorist organization versus a liberal democracy will make for an engaging discussion on another day).
So we await the letter from journalism profs asking Bellmedia why, six months later, CTV, for instance, still hasn’t corrected its Oct. 17 report about “hundreds” dying from Israeli bombs in a “massacre?” Too much to ask that a news organization demanding taxpayer subsidies remove or update a post to indicate the allegations by Hamas were proven to be without basis? Like, they know it was. And the public knows they know. So why are they continuing to undermine public faith in journalism by leaving it up?
Speaking of Bell, most folks know by now that it cut about 4,800 jobs this past winter to ensure it was keeping its shareholders in the style to which they have become accustomed. The 10% or so of those that were involved in the news business got all the attention from the news business because …. well, apparently the news business thinks people care more about it than other businesses.
So, while we all knew Bellmedia was short of staff, times appear to be very tough indeed at TSN. The Rewrite is a big fan of Canadian sports so was checking out the TSN website section dedicated to the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).
The licensed broadcaster’s efforts there appear to consist of posting CEBL media releases. This is a whole new approach to journalism on the part of TSN/Bellmedia. The CEBL is great - it’s long past time Canada had its own domestic sports leagues like grownup countries do. And, given that TSN has some sort of brokered arrangement with the league to show its games, one would think it would at least show a little respect for its CEBL partners and assign one of its staff to rewrite the news releases.
Can’t wait for the day when Bellmedia’s political coverage consists of CPC, LPC and NDP news releases. That’ll really keep those shareholders onside.
As a final note, we were deeply saddened by the news last week that Rex Murphy died. Two years ago, I was invited to Toronto where I received an award from the Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and Businesses of Canada for advancing the cause of freedom of speech.
While that was lovely, the highlight of my evening was that my rides to and from the event were shared with Rex, who was the star of the show (Pierre Poilievre, my former paper boy, was there too). So, for an hour and a half, he was my prisoner. He was kind, curious to hear my story, sad that he had been fired (and almost fired) as many times as he had been and every bit as personable as you might imagine him to be.
His command of the language was immense, but his true beauty was that he always wrote, or spoke, for and on behalf of the reader - the working men and women of Canada. So many reporters and commentators - particularly in Parliamentary and Legislature press galleries - write for each other. Or themselves.
Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Murphy. We have the watch.
Those crusty old editors that were around when I was a cub must be spinning in their graves. Legacy media are just going through the motions.
"So many reporters and commentators - particularly in Parliamentary and Legislature press galleries - write for each other. Or themselves."
Unfortunately that is true too often.