CBC News Editors' Blog

Over the last few years, CBC's budget has been slashed and ravaged and hacked almost to death. I sympathize with the frustrations this causes.

It's not surprising that all divisions of CBC have been forced to improvise and scrape and patch-together.

This "involve the public" ploy, however, respresents a new low in public affairs coverage.

For some odd reason, there exists a delusion that anyone can be a teacher, anyone can be a journalist.

The net has allowed a vcoice for virtually every-one to throw in their two bits' worth -- and that dialogue is imminently desireable.

Using this grab bag, everyman approch to providing news coverage, however, is the epitome of journalistic laziness.

As a veteran of twenty years of so in the journalism proffesion, I know that unvetted junk from the general public is usually not worth the candle.

Instead of asking the public to do your job, get off your ass and out of your office and see what's happening in the real word! I pay taxes to support CBC -- I expect you guys to do your jobs, not ask the public to fill in for you.

theoretically, this could be an interesting idea... however, as most researchers and statisticians would probably tell you, its also a great way to get extremely biased views on major issues... indeed, the picture painted by the nursing homes story was somewhat exaggerated, to say the least...

I would like to see the media talk about suicide, we are isolating these people and their families further,when we continue to ignore a population of people who have lost hope in life.They are falling through the cracks in society. I have been in touch with other media and people in the U.S., The Artic and across Canada.I have wrote and spoken about my own attempts at suicde and the reasons they happened.I have stories on ourecho.com that talks about issues that need to be "Hidden No More"

Another thing I have talked about is youth role models.They are few and far between especially in Canada.I have been adding names and organizations on our Governor General's web-site Citizen's Voices, under the Youth Forum.Youth today need positive role models to show them they can achieeve something even if their life sucks right now.It can inspire them to never give up and keep trying to change the world to a kinder, gentler place for everyone. Thank-you,Charlene Smith

In response to the comments written by Aarne Martin on this issue you've stated that, "As a veteran of twenty years of so in the journalism proffesion, I know that unvetted junk from the general public is usually not worth the candle." My question is how different is using the internet to write your opinion to using a telephone to call into a radio show? Is that not a form of journalism that has existed since the CBC had a telephone in it's radio stations?

A wider voice on the 'idea' that is journalism is something that should be celebrated as we are on the precipice of the way the world speaks to each other through the relatively new invention of the World Wide Web (it was named that for a reason). We are now able to cross oceans, nationalities, and time itself in the press of a button. You can't stop humans from wanting to feel a bigger part of something and have their voices heard. I applaud the CBC for having the vision to involve the public in something that is after all, their property. Now if we could only get the countries whose governments censor the media to follow suit.

As long as the stories are investigated and proper reporting is done, I think there is some merit to reaching out to the public for ideas and responses. But opinions are not facts and there is far too much "opinion" in journalism now. I think far too often, CBC interviews people who hold opposing opinions to substitute for actually digging out the story in the vain hope that two extremes of ignorance will cancel each other out and what is left is something resembling balanced reporting.

Ah! Welcome!

I must admit I miss Mr. Burman, but best wishes to you, and may you enjoy success on behalf of the CBC.

Although I would not necessarily phrase it the same way, I tend to agree with Aarne Martin. Your "exclusive" [a damned silly concept in an organisation dedicated to public information rather than commercial profit] on violence in nursing homes is, indeed, relevant journalism. However, readers' anectdotes are simply that until they have been checked and evaluated, providing, perhaps, the raw material of journalism, but by no means actual journalism itself. Lazy indeed! Similarly, I put your pricing issue in the "it is snowing in Montreal" category, tell me something I don't know.

One of the great merits of Mr. Burman is that as far as I was concerned he had great personal credibilty given his work in Ethiopia and elsewhere. Perhaps you might introduce yourself to us....

Cheers,
dba

Just about a year ago, I forwarded a series of exclusive news tips regarding the injudicious conduct of Halton Hills Council and the professional discriminating practices of a number of our town's key administrators.

At the time, the CBC didn't even have the courtesy to follow-up with an email response, let alone any journalist investigation that could have lead to an exclusive report to help raise national awareness of our community’s plight here in ‘Metroland’s’ – Town of Halton Hills.

Even after one of the stories concluded, in a landmark Superior Court judgment that set a precedent; giving Canada’s news media the right to openly criticize governments without fear of litigation from defamation, which was reported by The Globe, The Star and two TV networks -- still no mention in any CBC report, which, in my ‘view’, contradicts CBC’s self-professed ‘commitment’ to involve its audience in its community news coverage.

I suspect, and the limited views posted on “Your Views” pages suggest, CBC has ignored or stepped on too many of its ground roots community activist/potential community correspondents to realize the full potential of its community input. Certainly, I won’t be wasting anymore of my time doing it.

Chief Administrator of the nonprofit community newsgroup; The Halton Herald.ca,
Al Kirouac

Comments a bit vitriolic these days. Who are they afraid of? Hearing or reporting on items that are closer to home? Peeling away the veil on ignorance? As a species we are normally self interested. It is how we survive. We also have the ability to rise to uncommon intuitive understanding. You will get the blasé, the benign and sometimes the intellect with a balance of emotion. Facts without feelings do not sway others. Facts with emotive is always a getter. It appeals to our common interests.

You never know from where the gem may come. Usually it is from the least likely source.

The CBC's new section "your view" has been a big success, but what i would really like to see is someone take a very serious look at the younger generations opinions and views. The decisions made today really affect the generation of tomorrow. Just because we do not have gray hair, does not mean our opinions and views are any less worthy.

A recent poll showed that many Canadians thought the recent tax cuts announced by Flahery was a good idea. I do not understand why no one has ever mentioned that people in the $30,000 to $45,000 bracket will receive only $300 from the tax reduction and the reduction of 1 point of the GST. This amounts to $1.65 a day. Also, in some cases, anyone receiving a GST rebate will have that portion or part of it taken back. They lost money on the last GST reduction.
Now a new study shows that the rich are even richer through tax cuts.
When are these inequities going to get a good airing?
If I missed any discussion on this subject, I apologize.

In conjunction with other recent stories and regarding another 'Elections Canada faces climbing legal bill from Tory lawsuit' - Gkeb McGregor, Canwest News Service:

"I wish these blasted politicians would stop fighting elections in our courts!"...and you can quote me on that.

imho,

You at CBC and politicians are public servant employees answerable to us, The Taxpaying Canadian Electorate, the True Leader of this country. Dion, Duceppe, Steve H., Layton, May, et alii are leaders of political parties and ideologies. This “new” idea of yours should be the flagship element of your company, not some backwater 2nd thought as it appears to be.

For it to work, go in-depth (like how much are all Steve H.'s panels, commissions, polling, etc., costing us?) and keep out government interference, especially from the present minority-Cons who received only 24% support but who have tried to hijack and wrestle 76% of our opposing opinions to the ground (check Elections Canada).

We recognize the vicious, petulant tone set in Parliament by the amateurish, self-serving ultra-political hubris of Steve H. and his minority-Cons doesn't represent the views of most Canadians. We want to know what other Canadians are saying and experiencing! Unfiltered and honestly.

If CBC's live talk tv show (that featured Canadian issues; hosts: Avi Lewis (orig.); Sharon Lewis and Carol Off) featuring Canadian and “expert” opinions hadn't been quashed, your current effort might seem more credible to me. Taking that show off the air was a very regressive move.

Rex Murphy's X-Country Check Up is one of CBC's better (radio) shows; but only when the host is allowed to present real issues important to all Canadians. I like that Checkup is live and airs honestly and in real-time what other Canadians are really thinking. Rex Murphy is a cordial, respectful host.

Steve Paiken's "Agenda" (tvo) and cpac are also good alternatives for occasional live and online participation.

Leenie J., Independent non-partisan Voter-x

Touting the 'Your View' section of the CBC web as a way for the public to 'Tell their own stories' seems a bit flawed when only journalists from the CBC are allowed to choose the topics of discussion.

It is, of course, a subtle form of censorship used to make the viewing public tow a nice civil media line.

For instance, nothing was made of the fact that Canadians spent billions of tax dollars funding technological development at McDonald Dettweiler Associates only to have that strategic technology sold to a foreign corporation. The storyline from the CBC was all about the robotic arm while nothing was mentioned regarding RADARSATs 1 and 2. The second of which was only launched 6 weeks prior to the fire sale. With all the national worries regarding arctic sovereignty and the monitoring of our environment one would think that the loss of this heavily publicly funded technology would have at very least caused some CBC journalists sleepy eyelids to flicker even momentarily. Nothing. Nothing at all except some nostalgia piece about an over rated robot arm. Are you all unionized and playing golf over there or what?