Feb
8
2009
You can no longer trust The Canadian Press
Author: Robin BrowneProvocative title I know but if CP goes through with what the Globe and Mail says it’s thinking of doing that may be the case. The Globe reports that CP, Canada’s premiere news wire service, wants to change to a for-profit model after 92 years of being member supported and is seeking investors accordingly.
This is huge news because, as CP’s site says, "The Canadian Press serves almost every daily newspaper in Canada, providing reliable and relevant news, photos and graphics…it also feeds hundreds of radio and television stations with 24-hour-a-day news and information…whether Canadians are getting their news from the Internet, cable TV or news tickers on all-news television channels, there’s a good chance much of the information comes from The Canadian Press. We are truly Canada’s No. 1 source for news – in French and English."
For 92 years, CP was kept objective by the fact that its main allegiance was to its members and its main purpose was to provide them with objective news. As a for-profit operation its main allegiance will be to shareholders. The Globe article quotes CP president, Eric Morrison saying, ""We would look at a charter that would protect the editorial values and independence. Certainly, our independence is something that is valuable because we value it as journalists," Mr. Morrison said.
Are you convinced? I’m not.
