Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Tilting at Windmills?

Lately I have come across a bit of flack that some of my fellow bloggers are receiving in response to their efforts to expose MSM inaccuracies. Dave from Plattytalk has been especially diligent in trying to ferret out the truth from both CTV and CBC. Since media accountability is one of my personal missions, I feel the need to explain our apparent obsession, and why we are not just "whiners".

When I first exposed the lack of credibility behind the CTV report about the YWCA 'study', I naively expected that MSM would somehow step in and correct the inaccuracies in some fashion. The Toronto Sun was even alerted to this development, but as far as I know, the story didn't get picked up.

Many fellow bloggers stepped in by referencing the story, and several followed up with CTV and the YWCA. Dave went as far as to alert the CRTC which then forwarded the information onto the CSBC.

I began to realize that exposing the lack of substance in a media report is like picking a scab or boil. You can't just leave it festering or else the infection worsens. I started sending out emails to the YWCA, CTV and just yesterday to the CSBC. I don't intend to give this up. I want to hear the YWCA say that they deliberately mislead the reporter with the study results, by means of a press release stating the facts.

We are working on behalf of Canadians for sure, but also for the good of the media itself. Accountability and transparency are healthy and essential components of a democratic society. If the media does nothing to work towards that goal, it will lose the confidence of the consumer.

Just like the Liberal party, MSM may need a time-out to reassess its priorities.


UPDATE: H/T to Spiderman's Web for pointing out another blatant one-sided story; this time about same-sex marriage. It seems that according to the special interests groups that CTV interviewed, again "most Canadians" feel the issue should be put to rest. Who are these "Most Canadians"???

Was anyone out there included in a survey on this? Maybe it was the same group that wrote the YWCA report.

To contact CTV, try this first: newsonline@ctv.ca
Please let me know if you get any response. Thanks.

16 comments:

Platty said...

Thanks for the plug Joanne, I'm still waiting for my reply from the Executive Producer at the National, but I have been assured by the Ombudsman, there is one coming.

I agree with you 100% that there needs to be some accountability shown here by Jenny Robinson and the YWCA, I'm sure she is hoping that this will all go away, and it will, if someone doesn't hold her feet to the fire.

So let's get that bonfire going.

I will be posting more on this later today or tommorrow, damn work keeps getting in the way of my blogging. :-)

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Platty, maybe we could ask Jack Layton to push for a publicly-funded National Blogging System. (N-B.S.)

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Thanks, Vicki. You're doing very well, BTW. Good suggestions about posting the addresses. I'll try to get something together for you soon on that. Can't say I'm getting a huge response yet, but I'll give them a few days.

Anonymous said...

Here is the Lorrie Goldstein that vicki mentioned
http://torontosun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Goldstein_Lorrie/2006/03/26/1506287.html

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Thanks, Seanm. Yes, I remember reading that report. Lorrie Goldstein rightly points out that there was no unbiased national poll; yet the report seems to suggest that.

The study says, "Canadians agree that universal child care is a necessity". O.K. What Canadians? How many?

I am getting so sick of those lame statements.

And BTW, "most Canadians agree" that we should end funding to these special interest groups. Let me make up a study and prove it to you!

Joanne (True Blue) said...

I just realized that my comment in the main post about the Sun not picking up on this story may have been misinterpreted. I was referring to the misleading CTV report about the study; not the study itself. In fact, I asked Lorrie Goldstein to please let me know if he was going to follow up on this, and he sent me back an email saying he would contact me if he decided to do so. Haven't heard from him since.

However, many thanks to Vicki and Sean for your input!

Sara said...

I need Jens number from ctv,, I've got a big beef! They quoted me and I never talked to them!

Sara said...

never mind it wasn't ctv it was the canadian press! I know exactly who did it..

Zac said...

"Most Canadians" means most Canadians.

Canadians are progressive. Only the "God Squad" and social conservatives don't support same sex marriage.

Most conservatives would figure that out if they expanded their circle of friends actually spoke with people outside their party to gauge the thoughts of "most Canadians"

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Well Zac, there are people even in your party who do not agree with SSM, and some have even sacrificed their political careers because of it.

I do think that people are indeed getting sick to death of this issue, but there are strong feelings on both sides, and I really don't think it's going to go away no matter what politicians decide.

Zac said...

I don't expect the issue to go away either. In fact it seems to be an issue which has taken on a life of its own.

I'm aware that many within my own party are against SSM. They're entitled to their opinions if they like, but I feel that they would be best off in your party instead. (being in government is a good time to bolt to the cons)

Mostly people who disagree with SSM are on the extreme right or are very religious.

Plus keep in mind, there are some in your party who support it, such as your sexy Enviro minister Rosa Ambrose.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Well, I'll let you decide how sexy Rona is.

Jim Prentice is another one (pro-SSM; not necessarily sexy). On the other hand, that is rather presumptive of me. Maybe you do find Mr. Prentice sexy in the context of the current discussion. ;>)

Zac said...

Ouch a gay joke...

Us Libs should launch a full campaign to get Rona to cross the floor. In fact we'll take Helena Guergis too. You can keep Prentice.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

LOL! Sorry, Zak. Couldn't resist. It was just sitting there gift-wrapped on a platter...

I'll trade our Rona Ambrose for your Dan McTeague or Joe Comuzzi.

Zac said...

McTeague, he's yours!

I'll even throw in Tom Wappal and Paul Szabo.

It's a one day only Liberal sale! All social conservatives must go!

Comuzzi we'll have to hold on to. With a tan like that, on a man from nothern ontario, you have know he's dedicated.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Deal, Zak! Now get back to your studying!!