May 6, 2005

This wasn't journalism

Arrogant BBC Presenter vs Self-righteous Candidate Last night, Britons gave Prime Minister Tony Blair an election victory and a kick in the teeth. Mr. Blair's Labour government was re-elected but their Parliamentary majority was slashed by about two-thirds while the... More...

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March 22, 2005

Judging Andy Barrie

When I read Metro Morning Host Andy Barrie had told a blogger to "leave Canada" and that the blogger’s departure would give him the satisfaction of "knowing that someone who gets his facts from Fox won't be voting in any... More...

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March 17, 2005

CBC host tells listener to "Leave Canada"

Andy Barrie, the host of CBC Radio's Metro Morning, sent an email to an unhappy listener recommending the listener (also a blogger) "Leave Canada." The blogger posted the exchange yesterday. The email was prompted by the regular Monday Morning segment... More...

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February 16, 2005

Johnathan Mistrial a lesson for 'net users

The bombshell that brought a premature end to the trial of three teens charged with killing 12 year old known only a Johnathan should serve as a warning to those who post to blogs, newsgroups and bulletin boards. The jury... More...

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February 9, 2005

NHL shocker: Players reject salary cap - again

The hearts of hockey fans undoubtedly skipped a beat as they learned that another round of secret negotiations were underway between the NHL and its players. The hope that there might be a hockey season has not evaporated yet for... More...

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January 29, 2005

Earth to Star: Do less navel-gazing

The Toronto Star has long believed that it is the New York Times of Canada. That's fair enough - there are lots of similarities: each is a local newspaper in the largest media market in their countries, each has a... More...

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January 10, 2005

CBS News fires four over 'Rathergate'

In response to a panel report that condemned CBS News for its sloppy reporting and overzealous defense of its sloppy reporting, the network has decided to fire four of those implicated in a story about George W. Bush's Air National... More...

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A Jerry Springer Moment

Call a television executive at home and threaten him - it's the Christian thing to do... at least in Britain. The BBC has had to hire private security guards to protect two of its top executives after a Christian group... More...

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January 8, 2005

Media circle the wagons

Both the Globe and Mail and the National Post have (obliquely) countenanced the Toronto Star's decision to publish a list of Canadians whom the newspaper felt it was "grimly probable" had died in the Asia Tsunami. In editorials this week... More...

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January 5, 2005

What public good was served?

Privacy law handcuffs government It is now grimly probable that the tsunami disaster in Asia 10 days ago has claimed the lives of some 150 Canadian tourists in Thailand. Today the Star is publishing the best information available to Ottawa... More...

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December 8, 2004

"Yes Men" say "No"

On Saturday I asked the Yes Men to apologize for their hurtful hoax on the people of Bhopal, India. This was the response from Yes Man Mike Bonnano: Hi Max! People are stil (sic) dying still from the effects of... More...

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December 4, 2004

"Yes Men" without remorse for hurtful hoax

The Yes Men think they are clever. They think they are combating the evils of "Corporate America" and world financial institutions with hoaxes designed to embarrass them. Oh, and did I mention they think they are clever? A quick read... More...

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December 1, 2004

A waste of air time

With the American President visiting Canada, I suppose it was inevitable that newsrooms here would waste their resources covering the American networks' coverage of the meeting. The whole annoys me nevertheless. One Toronto TV station ran footage at noon showing... More...

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September 21, 2004

Rather's Apology Lacking

CBS News Anchor Dan Rather apologized for the 'mistake' he and CBS News made in running a story based in large part on documents they cannot prove are legitimate. The network has also announced it will appoint a panel to... More...

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September 20, 2004

CBS admits to a "mistake"

After trumpeting a series of memos as new evidence George W. Bush got preferential treatment to avoid going to war in Vietnam, then saying the memos were fakes but accurate, CBS News is now admitting it made a mistake in... More...

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September 9, 2004

Has Ken Jennings finally lost...

... Or is it just a ploy to get us to watch more "Jeopardy!"? I ask this question in light of reports the seemingly invincible game show contestant lost in a show taped on Tuesday. According to the Associated Press... More...

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August 12, 2004

Media Event of the Day - August 13

Tourism Toronto will be unveiling tour packages targeted at WWE fans tomorrow. The packages will include tickets to the WWE "Summer Slam" event to be held at the Air Canada Centre on August 15 as well as passes to Ontario... More...

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August 7, 2004

Fake beheading not funny

This morning news outlets around the world began reporting the beheading Ben Vanderford of San Francisco. Al-Arabiya led the way being the first to report the beheading with Al-Jazeera and the rest of the world's media following suit. The two... More...

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August 1, 2004

Why are we paying?

The great thing about Canada is you get to pay for others' stupidity and nobody bats an eyelash. On Friday, a bunch of brainiacs decided it would be a good idea to take part in Strathmore, Alberta's version of the... More...

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July 27, 2004

Media Event of the Day - July 27

Here's something you won't want to miss. MGM Home Entertainment is hosting a free screening of the "VIP edition" of Showgirls - the most boring film in history.... More...

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July 24, 2004

They're back...

A week after they were fired by CBS execs in a contract dispute, Jorja Fox and George Eads have reached agreements with the broadcaster to bring them back.... More...

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July 16, 2004

Fired...

We may have to wait a little longer for the premier of the new season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. There are reports two stars of the the show have been fired for breach of contract. I guess we'll make... More...

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July 10, 2004

A few short pieces on Michael Moore

First, let me say that I have been known to enjoy Michael Moore's films. However, I am not fond of him. In my view he is an arrogant, I-know-better-than-you type whose films are not documentaries but stories supported by a... More...

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July 5, 2004

Is the media less ethical today?

The National Post announced on Friday that it had determined one of its reporters had been less than ethical in some of his reporting. The paper says the reporter in question (who covered health issues) fabricated names and quotes. The... More...

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June 26, 2004

Did nothing happen yesterday?

Judging by the front page of the National Post this morning, I am led to believe that nothing newsworthy happened yesterday. Their front page features a quarter-page photo of Conservative leader Stephen Harper, a (very interesting) column from Andrew Coyne,... More...

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June 19, 2004

Ever wonder what it is like to be scrummed?

Credit: Frank Gunn, The Canadian Press This fantastic photo really gives you an idea of what a media scrum is like. (There is a much larger version on the front page of today's National Post.) I just hope everyone... More...

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June 15, 2004

Debate Countdown clock on Global

Whose idea was this? Oooh, I only have 10 minutes and 51 seconds to wait for the... Leader's Debate? This isn't the Superbowl, guys.... More...

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June 1, 2004

The media can smell the fear

Every once in a while, a governing political party goes into an election full of confidence only to find itself fighting for it's life after only a few days on the campaign trail. There is no doubt that this is... More...

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May 24, 2004

Tories lead The Star's straw poll

This can't be right. Toronto Star's online readers currently have the Conservatives as their preferred government. According to their straw poll, 45% would vote Conservative, 23% for both the Liberals and the NDP, while 5% support the Greens. More than... More...

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April 1, 2004

April Squirrels?

Could this be The Star's April fools day joke? According to The Star, joggers running too quickly disturb the mating of Black Squirrels. So cops across the GTA are setting up speed traps to catch joggers running faster than 10km/h.... More...

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March 30, 2004

Now they've done it!

The National Post has ignited an international incident between Canada and Denmark over a lump of frozen rock up north. Apparently some folks in Ottawa are none to please that a Danish warship placed their flag on our island. The... More...

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