On last night's CBC National, host Diana Swain offered the broadcaster's "regret" for the Stephen Harper hit piece by Christina Lawand that was exposed by Stephen Taylor.
Stephen has the video.
Nice work!
The CBC Ombudsman is blunt in his criticism. (pdf)
So, the reporter had available a question and answer directly on the subject of the demonstrators but chose a "clip" from a different question to follow the set-up of the demonstrators. I would suggest that it's just not a "structural" problem, but a misleading use of editing. Very simply, that wasn't the question he was asked and answered. And when asked directly about the protestors, he gave a more nunaced answer that The National did not broadcast.
Background.
Despite the apology they failed to waive Lawand and make it all better. I understand the Hanna (Alberta) Herald is looking for a reporter. She might learn a thing or two there.
its a start.
Kate,
The spam filter is on "kill any semblance of url" setting.
Go over to American Thinker for an interesting post on the Thomas Hubert LPC resignation.
I wont even bother to give a url.
you can paste in a url so long as you don't try to hotlink it.
Too little, too late.
The damage to Harper's reputation has already been done. A private ctiizen would sue CBC for this kind of misrepresentation.
They are simply going to have to be more careful in their efforts to slant the news.
dmorris, et al. Come now, let's agree with RobertJ that this is a start. If we're this pessimistic, how are we going to win the larger battle? The ombudsman's report, despite pessimism around the time Stephen published his expose clip, was excellent and fair. I see it this way: Blogging community 1, CBC 0.
WE MUST DEMAND AN APOLOGY FROM LAWAND IN PERSON. She has the temerity to practice dishonest journalism against the PRIME MINISTER and hasn't got the decency to apologize in person for this display of juvenile vengeance in reporting. If the CBC is to be our source of honest reporting of the facts it had better fire the Madam from it's staff. She is our employee and she has taken us for fools.
I fully agree with Liz J. Lawand should be totally fired. This is blatant anti Harper stuff and the message needs to get to everyone at Al-Jazeera West that we the public have had it up to here with their Sh_t!
Don't be in a big hurry to castigate Lawand here. The talking heads don't usually do the edit, though they may have input. The on-air news director calls the shots...
One apology! Well as everyone else has stated it is a start. I get so pissed off when its our tax dollars funding this shame of national news. Axe the CBC and sell it off to private sector, the sooner the better. Someone should lose their job on this one.
"Media critic" (and I use that term loosely) Fat Tony Zerbisias mentioned Stephen Taylor's efforts against Lawand in a column last week (hey I was at the cottage and needed something to read, with an option for emergency toilet paper - hence the Toronto Star).
Seems Fat Tony has no argument with Taylor's findings, but sez the focus on TV media and the use of YouTube "will take some of the heat off print journalists who ... have long and unjustly been the relatively lonely targets of the flogosphere." [Concordia must be proud - Matt]
The Star also regurgitated the picture of Harper at the Empire Club(?) where the fauxtographer positioned himself so that the crown in the background would appear above the PM’s head. The story was more or less about Harper being a whites-only racist monarchist Conservative - pretty much a recycle of other Star tripe.
Oh, and one other thing:
CBC: Fake but accurate!
Well, aside from the fact that I'm POed with the CBC, and have been for decades, this apology is a giant step in the right direction.
I've never known the CBC to apologize in 30 years. Do you think the CPC might have been threatening to sue them, or something? I mean, it's one thing to misrepresent an individual or a group, and as everyone here knows they do this on a regular and ongoing basis, hourly, daily.
It's different, though--isn't it?--when you blatantly blindside the Prime Minister.
On an optimistic note: Maybe all of our letters to Vince Carlin, the CBC Ombusdman had some clout. I sincerely hope so.
An appoligy at the END of the broadcast. How many already turned off the CBC and went to bed before seeing it??!!!!
Don't be in a big hurry...? I'm sorry, but it would be completely naive to think that L.J.Lawand was not 100% responsible for the way the article was reported.She may or may not have had some input by others,(probably did) but to try and dole out blame on the basis of who did what doesn't excuse the end result of her news assignment.She may choose to take others down with her or leave on her own but she must go. Her credibility is screwed. I personally almost never watch CBC or CTV for that matter because of the misleading or outright false reporting.Until they can prove to me and countless others that the MSM is trying to clean up its act I will continue to rely on other sources (mostly bloggers) for my daily fix.
Let's be realistic. The fact there was a response is progress. Progress is usually slow so we have to look at this a positive thing. Will the CBC do more (like fire her), not likely. I know I wouldn't, or couldn't. As stated above, she has input in the piece, but is not the final word. It speaks volumes that they are listening in that they know people are watching and are not afraid of speaking out.
By the way, I am glad that other Bob differentiated himself as "different Bob". I was thinking Bob had a meds problem with what appeared to be two very distinct personalities. Was a bit confusing from time to time. :)
Imagine how this would have been handled by the CBC if, instead of the CBC being castigated by an ombudsman, it had been the PMO's office, or the Conservative Party that had been censured. It would have been the lead-off item on the news.
The point is simply this: journalism assumes a posture of self-righteousness, holding all others to either impossibly high standards. But they are unable or unwilling to apply the same rigor when it comes to themselves.
Because of this, a powerful CBC poses a danger to Canada; the more powerful it is, the bigger the danger.
At the very least, it should be for-profit, so that there is a semblence of accountability to someone or something other than the Great Socialist Ideal.
Here's more of an absolving reply that was furnished a couple of days ago from Jonathan Whitten, Executive Producer of THE NATIONAL.
http://jojourn.blogspot.com/2006/08/reply-from-cbc.html
Translation: "Nothing to see here, folks."
The mainstream media are garbage, and this is nothing new from the CBC. Just a little more blatant, that's all.
Speaking of protesters, La Presse tried to cover up that hezbollah flags were carried and waved at a major demonstration that included the filthy likes of Gilles Duceppe, Andre Boisclair, and some NDP-wingnuts.
I encourage you and others to participate in the Mediocre Media carnival:http://centrerion.blogspot.com/2006/04/carnivals-we-host.html
What's needed is for a few committed folks to start a blog exposing CBC bias and propaganda, just like the extremely well done "Biased BBC" blog at www.biased-bbc.blogspot.com.
(As an aside, the folks running that blog regularly note the people from the BBC checking them out, via verifying the Beeb DNS numbers. The blog IS having an impact!)
Dave
CBCWatch.ca
A slap on the wrist for Lawand? Not likely, a promotion will surely follow. Perhaps our new GG?
She needs to Apologies in person , and not have a regret statement on a publically funded broadcast. If I have no say at all ( which I don't because it does not look like CBC is leaving anytime soon ) , then my tax dollars need to be spent on doing honest journalizm , not Fear and Smearmongering campaigns.
It's really a waste of tax dollars. The CBC should , and must go .
I'd love for the CBC to be privatized...only problem is who would want to buy the lumbering money pit? Maybe they could turn the CBC builing at 205 Wellington into an entire block of condos and make some money that way (wonder what those digs cost a month in rent?)
For those who can manage to see a silver lining in this dark cloud,I congratulate you!To me,it appears different.
The CBC has been caught red-handed editing and airing a biased(where was the mention of protestors meeting with McKay?)story that,clearly,misrepresented our Prime Minister's position and actions concerning a very important and emotional subject for many Canadians.They then get away with a half-assed,sort-of apology at the END of a broadcast?On to fight bravely for the left another day!
A step in the right direction?Cripes....you guys are FAR too easy to appease!
Doowleb, Well said. No wonder Liberals are loathe to privatize the CBC. Where else do the Liberals get a free 24/7 smear campaign against anything conservative? Is it any wonder journalists have been rewarded with Senate and GG posts by the Libs?
The internet community has forced the CBC to acknowledge what is essentially manipulation of news.
Priceless!
That information is now out there for the whole world to know.
CBC news cannot be trusted for accurate news presentation, therefore the suspicion will haunt every presentation.
Paul Hunter, Ayellah, Neil, Carol, Evan, Harry, Heather and all the rest at CBC, need to know that every time they face a camera, Canadians via the internet are watching and listening with increased skepticism as to the accuracy of their particular presentation.
Good work Kate, Stephen Taylor and those who wrote or emailed their concern to the CBC ivory tower regarding the manipulation.
Internet media watch has come of age.
Now let's focus on CTV and Global TV, they as well, suffer from the same affliction as regards to conservatism and Harper in particular.
As an aside: Bill O'Reilly, FOX TV, only a week or so ago named the CBC as liars in response to a Canadian letter writer, regarding a story (hatchet job) they did on him , some while ago.
I hope that everyone that wrote the CBC Ombudsman, took the time to say thanks for his work. I thought he did a good job.
That having been said, yes and apology would be appropriate. It was a lie, it was deliberate and it inflames hatred against our people during a time of war. (Geez!! Written like that, it almost sounds treasonous)
Regards,
Pat
CBC:
"Caught Being Corrupt"
I'm with Canadian Observer. Lawand's deliberate attempt to smear the Prime Minister is in itself a signifigant news story because of the extent in which it damages the objective reliablity of the "State Broadcaster." ("Sate Broadcaster" ...Doesn't that just sound positively revolting.)
the best thing ever written on CBCpravda ever.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/canada2020/essay-gibbins.html
Cdn Observer: "Cripes....you guys are FAR too easy to appease!"
Neville was a conservative too (as noted in SDA previously). This journalism integrity issue is mountainously worse than just an unfair portrayal. It was a deliberate and willful misrepresentation of the country's leadership during a time of war. The red shade of treason is hard to ignore. Anything less than a resignation is the very least to expect by the Canadian taxpaying public.
I hope other commentors here have a capacity to re-think their complimentary and concilliatory remarks. If not, they'll just be a bunch of Neville's being sucked in by some sugary words fed by government funded radical leftwing propagandists. Sorry isn't enough...real change is a start.
...people are still watching the CBC..??!??!??
It was a lame apology. Save a billion. CBC is biased and I for one am tired of being forced to pay for biased news coverage.
another typical cbcpravda headline.
Harris lied over and over again, lawyer tells Ipperwash inquiry
they always put things they dont like in quotation marks making them look madeup . but stuff they like or people they hate(mike harris) they headline them like statements.
sell CBC to Fox.
The apology should have come no later in the newscast than when the original story ran. That would have been fair and proper.
It's telling that Exec. Prod. Jonathan Whitten, still defended the story despite the "direct prohibition" on switching answers to questions.
"A step in the right direction? Cripes....you guys are FAR too easy to appease!"
Canadian Observer: Who's appeased? Not me! I'll continue to write to the CBC and the ombudsman when the CBC oversteps its bounds--well, sometimes, otherwise it would be a full-time job, wouldn't it?, and who's got the time?
What I am saying, is that I've been on CBC watch for over 25 years and to my knowledge, I've never heard an onscreen apology or seen one in writing, for that matter.
'Bummer that the apology was at the end of the newscast: typcial CBC move. Silver lining here? They know that most of Canada isn't watching--at the end of the news, and there's also the niggling doubt in their minds as to whether much of Canada was watching in the first place.
They must know that they've lost pretty much any credibility they may ever have had, and we can keep reminding them. I will! I promise, Canadian Observer!
Canadian Observer & Martin B.: Thanks for your comments. I'm writing to the Ombudsman to thank him for his ruling and to now ask that he have C. Lawand apologize as well, because what she/CBC did is tantamount to a treasonous act in a time of war.
I'll remind him that Canada is at war, something the CBC seems to be unaware of.
Done....now move on to the next thing.
If she does it again then there is now a track record.
Do the victory lap and focus on the next stuff, no benefit to picking at it.
Hey Kate, after your own little "Death to Jews" misquotation yesterday I find it awfully hypocritical for you to be casting stones.
Only took them 16 days. Congrats to Stephen Taylor, and all others who worked to shed light on this outrageous example of taxpayer funded media bias.
When I first checked the apology video @ S.T., I was impressed to get anything from CBC. But after reading the Ombudsman's report and conclusions, I think I was too hasty.
She gave the impression, by twisting the facts, that the P.M. is an arrogant, war monger, and is wrong to think he represents the views of most Canadians, a scenario she set up.
What kind of apology is this? She tried to make him look bad, got caught, and we all get a little pat? She clearly left the impression Harper is sadly mistaken in counting his supporters even the likes of Gerry Schwartz.
Carlin concludes with the admission that she was wrong, but it can be expected that certain emotional issues will stir up charges of biased reporting from certain partisan groups.
Apparently his "normal listening and viewing has not picked up on any concerted effort to mischaracterize the P.M.'s views." For that we can be gratefull. I suppose.
This is only one of a thousand reasons why the CBC has to go. Flush the CBC, the sooner the better. We have to move away from collectivism in Canada and the CBC being the Pravda of Canada would be a great start.
truly she should be kicking horseturds down the road if CBCpravda had any kohones at all.
latest from CBCpravda.
Iran hedging on uranium enrichment in nuclear talks: report
actually Iran told the world to get stuffed.
deal or no deal? no deal!!!!
Fire Lawand
Hire Green Helmet Guy . . he's looking for work after being "outed" in Lebanon
I think we now need a Christina Lawand Watch, where any coverage she does is carefully watched, minisculely dissected and ananlysed, and the least misstep reported immediately to the CBC by a great many of us.
Along with a Christina Lawand Watch we'll need her coverage posted, maybe under Reader Tips here.
I'm throwing this out as a way to move forward here, a la "Do the victory lap and focus on the next stuff, no benefit to picking at it" posted by 'Stephen.' CL and the CBC need to know that they're not off the hook, not by a long shot.
I didn't find the clip very genuine at all. The reporter has the same smirk that the news anchor guy has all the time.
they are simply bowing to the powers that be, as they must for their very survival...pigs at the trough