Risking her life, Montreal reporter writes alternative narrative of Rwandan genocide
In a new book published just before this week’s 24th anniversary of the start of the Rwandan genocide, Montreal-based freelance broadcast and print reporter Judi Rever is challenging the dominant narrative of the genocide, despite threats she says she’s received meant to silence her. The oft-told story of the genocide is that for about 100 days […]
Users deserve more blame in Facebook data-mining scandal
With the outrage and fury about the recent revelations around Cambridge Analytica’s breach of Facebook data, some calming is in order, with a view to putting the blame where it belongs: on subscribers. This is not first time Facebook has been breached. It seems that users are sufficiently addicted to social media to risk being hacked, […]
What Canadian media and government can learn from Black Panther movie
The fact that Black Panther has grossed over $1-billion at the box office reflects the deep yearning among racialized communities to see themselves positively portrayed in the media. “Those of us who are not white have considerably more trouble not only finding representation of ourselves in mass media and other arenas of public life, but […]
Free press, without government subsidy, is the best solution
Re: “Support for Canadian journalism shouldn’t come in the form of a cheque,” (The Hill Times, March 7, p. 8). Bravo! Your stance on government support is laudable, especially the concluding paragraph: “People can tout free speech, but the government doesn’t have to fund your right to say anything. And the same goes for the media. […]
Government support for Canadian journalism shouldn’t come in the form of a cheque
The Liberals’ third federal budget followed through on rumours the financial plan would include support for the media. In the days leading up to the budget, The Toronto Star said the feds were going to be doling out $50-million to community media projects, which came to pass when the document was tabled on Feb. 27. […]
Former Senator Bert ‘Determination’ Brown dies
Former Conservative Alberta Senator Bert Brown died at the age of 79, the CBC reported Feb. 14. “Saddened to hear about the passing of Bert Brown, a proud Albertan and Canadian. I admired and respected Bert and his passion for public service—always striving to make a positive difference. Thoughts are with his family and many […]
Kinsella’s ‘affidavits’ column prompts speculation, PM, party leaders asked about sexual conduct as #MeToo hits the Hill
In response to some criticism that he fanned the flames of Ottawa’s rumour mill in a column he penned featuring a sensational story of a “very powerful” politician who used affidavits to silence victims, Warren Kinsella says his assertions are true and he received so much reaction from people because they’ve heard “similar allegations.” “I […]
‘I loved her to bits,’ Rosaleen Dickson knew how to tell a story
Rosaleen Dickson, who helped her son Ross Dickson start The Hill Times back in 1989 and was the editor of The Shawville Equity for more than 30 years, died last week at the age of 96 in Ottawa. I loved her to bits. She could be a tyrant but always had time for people who needed […]
The Post: a brilliant reminder of what democracy looks like
Of all the things the Steven Spielberg Pentagon Papers drama The Post is, a period piece isn’t one of them. Yes, it’s set in 1971. Yes, there are shots of hot metal typesetting and everyone’s smoking their heads off. Newsrooms were noisy and at Georgetown dinner parties, the women, including Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, peeled off in a […]
Hold the last rites, Scheer’s got a pulse
OTTAWA—Compared to our southern neighbours, we are blessed these days to have predictable patterns in our national politics. One of those familiar routines is to have columnists and others write the obituary of the opposition leader of the day. If the Conservatives lead the official Opposition, it is almost certain such pronouncements will appear not […]
