As The Globe and Mail’s long-time Ottawa bureau chief eyes retirement this summer, colleagues and political operatives reflect on the fear, respect, and relentless reporting that defined his career.
Former colleagues, politicos, and panellists mourn ‘trusted voices gone silent’ following CPAC’s cancellation of both its English and French-language prime-time news programs and double-digit staff layoffs.
The Parliamentary Press Gallery wrote to the PM last month, inviting him to return to the National Press Theatre to speak with reporters.
The Hill Times’ deputy editor Tessie Sanci said the repeated interruptions and demands for her to stop recording ‘made it hard for all of us in the room to do our jobs.’
Elly Alboim’s career included time at the CBC, Earnscliffe Strategies, and Carleton University’s School of Journalism, in addition to once being a senior adviser to then-Liberal prime minister Paul Martin. Alboim died on Feb. 8 at the age of 78.
Part of an embargoed advisory for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent foreign travel was published online by Conservative MP Shuvaloy Majumdar two days after being distributed to the press gallery. Reporters say identifying the leaker is essential to protecting the gallery’s credibility.
When asked by the CBC about the floor-crossing Conservatives, Leader Pierre Poilievre framed the issue as ‘a problem of [Mark] Carney’s leadership,’ accusing the prime minister of ‘trying to manipulate his way through backroom deals to get that majority.’
The petition aimed squarely at Postmedia’s American majority stake has garnered more than 5,000 signatures, but could have far-reaching impacts for many outlets operating in Canada.
The Conservatives may be more accessible after the election, but don’t bank on them softening their stance on defunding the CBC, says communications strategist Dan Mader.
Navigating media politics is more challenging than strategically worthwhile, and sometimes fairness means equal disappointment, says former PMO comms director Cameron Ahmad.
Global Affairs Canada says it ended live trade briefings because leaks could threaten the final deal, but the department says it has ‘no reason to believe’ that the Canada-Indonesia trade pact was actually affected after reporting by The Hill Times.
The Conservatives’ decision breaks with foundational precedent ‘to observe and ask questions,’ says World Press Freedom Canada’s Heather Bakken.
CTV News dismissed two staff over altering a soundbite from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, which the union says it’s looking into. Meanwhile, Poilievre says the Hill media is ‘largely state funded or has indirect reasons to suck up to the federal government.’
Google awaits the CRTC go-ahead for $100-million-a-year Canadian media fund as news outlets call for urgent access to cash.
CIBC said it is skeptical about Global News’ parent firm Corus’ ability to pay down and refinance its debts.
The press gallery dinner was once one of the most important nights in political Ottawa. Not anymore, say some veteran Hill reporters. But there is hope.
The Parliamentary Press Gallery says it does not weigh in on ‘who is and is not eligible to hold a press conference on Parliament Hill.’
Conservative pundit Yaroslav Baran says ‘it is a legitimate policy perspective to say that if we want to protect the integrity of a free press, there’s got to be a better business case then state subsidies to news organizations.’
The NPT hosted its last press conference on March 16, 2020. Initially shuttered in part due to physical distancing concerns, it remains closed because of accessibility issues.
Dan Fonda, who spent nearly three decades with the go-to public broadcaster for politicos, journos and voters across Canada, is retiring in August.
As news stories about China’s attempts to influence Canada’s elections continue to make national headlines, The Globe and Mail’s recent decision to publish one of its anonymous sources as an op-ed was an effort to add transparency to its reporting, says Randy Boswell.
It’s still an open question if relying chiefly on social media to communicate one’s message is enough for an opposition leader to win an election, says Innovative Research president Greg Lyle.
Plus, former Conservative Party deputy leader Lisa Raitt appointed to CBC’s appointment advisory committee, and the Parliamentary Press Gallery bans a member from certain shared spaces for 90 days.
