CBC News Editors' Blog

One is not surprised at the low level the Conservative Party has operated in their fund- raising letter nor at the utterly silly, inaccurate comments of Mr. Findley. The Party, by the actions of the aforesaid Findley, shows classic symptoms of paranoia and hallucination(no doubt he is hearing voices, as well).
What is troubling, behind the Findley letter, is the rise of a 1950's neo McCarthyism that must be fought vigorously.
Thank heavens we have a CBC in this country that presents our news in as unbiased a manner as possible. Thank heavens we have CBC journalists that have integrity, a quality severely lacking in Mr. Findley and his minions.

I'm interested to know the result of your investigation.

Dear Mr Cruickshank
Public cynicism is prevalent and pervasive for good reason. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. And that pretty much describes it; there are few if any ethical standards within your broadcast community or politics. You have become masters of innuendo and the pursuit of a headline. All information and little context as Dr Kissinger states.

But I take exception to your assertion that you are somehow accountable. An internal process is generally not transparent nor independent. Furthermore, changing standards and practices is not an example of accountability, disciplinary action is. I noted how you did not mention acknowledgement of responsibility in your regime of accountability.

Finally, you and your editors decide what Canadians will see and how it will be covered. It is hard to see how that can be completely non-partisan. I am more than willing to provide you with examples.

The very idea of the governing party crying poor, when it consistently draws gobs more money into its campaign coffers than even the Liberals let alone the other parties, is amusing. That as a party it can spend 30 million dollars on polls, averaging 2 per working day since coming to power, lays it out for all to see.
To then sully the only decent broadcaster on this continent is unforgivable, but the I have not forgiven the conservative party since the ex prime minister who accepts large wads of cash in brown envelopes was in office.

Mr Cruickshank's letter is excellant.

I appreciate the balanced and in-depth reporting that CBC News has provided over the years on a variety of topics. No other organization even comes close to the quality of your reportage.

However, I think you must also acknowledge that there is a valid reason why so many people have the abiding impression that your coverage suffers from bias in many cases. Even though I still watch CBC News most of the time, I am always aware that I can never take everything you say at face value, and that it is sometimes necessary to ask why you feature certain news items that other organizations do not cover in the same way. If the bias does exist, it is in your interest as a public broadcaster to do everything possible to weed it out!

Kevin Newman can certainly give Peter Mansbridge lessons in objectivity and fairness, and Evan Solomon should only be listened to through a very strong filter.

I don't who I dislike more.....the Conservative party or the Canadians that voted them to office.On second thought...perhaps both!Never give this group of *^%$#@% 's a majority..never!!!

This story was reported by CTV Duffy and was quickly swept under the rug by all media.
If the CBC is enquireing into this, will the public ever hear of its disciplinary action taken .
I think not. All any one has to do to observe the CBC Liberal bias is to watch there reporting of the political news.

What is the NAME of the reporter that is under investigation???

just askin

So what ever happened to the reporter that works for your unbiased “Publicly” funded news organisation that passed questions to a Liberal MP, so that said MP could go on a political fishing trip at a public inquiry that had nothing to do with questions that said reporter wanted asked?

Is this letter just an attempt to deflect from your reporter’s lack of judgement or the MPs or both?

As you noted "it was a Progressive Conservative government that brought (y)our organization into being."

The attack in the fundraising letter is not the action of progressive-conservatives within the new Conservative Government of Canada but rather that of the neo-conservatives who dominate it.

Ownership of buildings have been privatized, A.E.C.L is being prepared for sale. CBC being sold off would be their crowning glory.

nice response.
But we shouldn't be surprised by the Tories attacking of the media.Harper and them hate the media that won't cater to their agenda.

They will try anything when they are lacking the skills of leadership and transperancy, ethics, accountability and a multitude of others things.
These are signs of a weak organization that relies on misleading the public at every given chance.

These Cons don't need or deserve peoples money ( they have already ripped people off in so many ways as it is and wasted tonnes of money doing so.)( the attack ads and so on.)

These Tories don't care about the country , just their own pocket book and ego and those of their oil buddies and big daddy GWB.

There was a time, I believe, when the CBC could speak truth to power.

They could question the dogma of neo-liberal economics and neo-conservative politics for example. The CBC would even dare to report news critical of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians but those days are long gone.

As it turned out, 'power' spoke their version of truth to the CBC and now, the CBC is a shadow of its former self. It more resembles the corporate info-tainment industry norm - the likes of CNN and NBC.

The right wing reactionaries have been relentless in their attack on any media independent of their control - I guess they are not yet done with what's left of the CBC.

I apperciate the CBC's news shows. I recently switched from another broadcaster because I felt they seem to be supporting certain parties in their selection and presentation of political news stories.
I have yet to see CBC News treat any party unfairly.

The CBC a publicly funded institution, refuses to comprehend that it has not been elected to govern this country. Yet this is how the CBC clearly operates by orchestrating a one sided political view.
The 1.5 billion dollars the CBC recieves from hard working tax payers could be well spent somewhere else.

The Tories playing fast and loose with the truth? Say it isn't so. The Tories have a visceral hatred for that "socialist" institution, the CBC. And the right is always willing to promote and believe the myth of a "liberal" dominated media. So nothing surprising here.

Well, I guess I know now why CBC would not run a Yourview comment I posted Friday.

My post, on a question about New Years resolutions, was in response to several from Conservative sounding posters who lamented the left-wing view even being aired by CBC.

Written to be read with tongue in cheek, it suggested "right wingers" be banned from CBC to counter the posts bemoaning the presence of left wingers.

Having read your letter Mr. Cruickshank, and agreeing with most of what you say, I have to ask why CBC's same high standards to ethics, integrity and all those nice things aren't extended to the views of your reader audience who respond to CBC's solicitations for comments?

Forgive me if I've erred in understanding, but I now have a sense my right to free-speech has been run over in CBC's haste to censor anything that might prompt Conservative fundraisers to whine publicly.

If this were the first occasion of apparent censorship at CBC, apprently, to please others I'd let it go, but it certainly isn't.

I posted to another CBC Yourview forum a few weeks ago in which I slammed the Catholic church for some of its actions.

CBC actually ran my post, but it then mysteriously disappeared a few minutes later. When I sought answers from CBC I was informed that someone had complained about the content of my post and so it was erased.

Has the CPC now gained the same untouchable status as the Catholic Church?

As a supporter of the CBC I found the Finley letter extremely offensive. It appeared to me that the new Conservative Party was trying to use the paranoia of a certain segment of its supporters to discredit public broadcasting and create a push for privatization of the CBC.

While I do not always agree with the CBC's agenda, I believe that it is far less biased than the private media which reflect the prejudices and interests of the owners. I was especially disappointed by how Don Newman's "Politics" program was used to push the "unite the right" movement which destroyed the influence of traditional Canadian conservatives (the kind of Conservative that created the CBC in the first place).

In spite of my criticism of CBC support for the creation of the new Conservative Party, I want to reinterate my support for the CBC as a public broadcaster.

Ironic isn't it?

While you have Mr. Finley's attention please ask him what happened to the money that was owned by the Progressive Conservative Party at the time that the 2 parties merged. That money just disappeared and nobody in the "New" Conservative Party wants to talk about it.

Actually the letter demeans the Conservative Party of Canada much more than it does the CBC. Any party that needs to denigrate other institutions shows that it has a paucity of ideas of its own and leads one to distrust it.

In this letter CBC acknowledges the ethical issues raised by the improper feeding of questions to Liberal MPs with regards to the parliamentary investigation into the Mulroney-Schreiber affair. CBC has a legitimate complaint into the Conservatives' unfair use of its impropriety to raise political contributions. This is not the first time I've seen the Conservatives manipulate donors. When I find out about things like this, I take a break from making my own donation to them! That's my way of holding them accountable, but the problem is, it's a bit too passive/silent to make the point well. At least it saves me a bit of money, tax credits notwithstanding.

CBC seems to have quite good standards. From time to time, incidents like this tend to reinforce their importance. Best wishes as you continue to monitor them.

Almost a month ago I wrote CBC privately with regard to a documentary on Tom Harpur's book that postulates that Jesus Christ is a myth based on a recycling of the Horus deity
of ancient Egypt. While I wasn't able to view the documentary because of other time commitments, I still question whether or not CBC showed some bias in airing it. Was there a counterbalancing documentary, story, critique, etc.? If not, I would challenge CBC on this matter. Has CBC aired similar explorations into issues of historical truth with respect to non-Christian faiths' origins and beliefs?

The fact that the CBC decided to help the Liberals and wanted to make the news instead of report shows they are against the Conservatives and for the Liberals. That Mulroney will not receive a fair hearing because it is not the parlimentarians running the show it is the CBC saying how to do what for the best TV.

I notice that on every CBC show they try to slam conservaitves on the HOUR, W5, The Nature of Things on the CBC. The CBC bias is not fair to all other political parties in Canada and all those tax payers who support the CBC. You can never trust Government media, and the fact is after the Liberals made appointments to the CBC for 13 years and the Senate and the Supreme court the Liberal slant is this country has thrown us off balance.

The fact is the CBC wants to report a finding of wrong doing on Mr. Mulroneys behalf. the culture of the CBC if you want a show or want to be a host you must demonstrate a Liberal bias.

The very fact that the CBC has got involved in the finding of guilt or not shows a lack of judgement, our process are respected around the world and if the CBC is going to get involved in cases if the defendent is Conservative and then report the story they made up throws our instition into a question.

Shame on the CBC. The conservatives process is fair for handling complaints and allows a complainant to apppeal to the courts so another unfair biased statement against the Conservatives the NDP has been short changed too, face it the Liberal and the CBC are in the business of trying to get people to think Liberals good NDP, Conservatives bad so they can have job security and advance themselves when they cannot get real jobs with TV stations owned by shareholders.

Why can't the media just admit it? They are biased and 90% liberal!

Stop pretending there is no bias and work hard to fix it. This is why Fox is #1 in the USA, because they bring in voices from both sides.

Your comments tend to reinforce the bias you so clearly feel the CBC would never allow themselves to express. You suggest that Mr. Finlay is destroying "public faith in the political process", well the admitted collusion of CBC with the LPOC involving an ethics committee has indeed destroyed this faith. You speak of transparency, okay... which reporter{S}, which member{s} of the Liberal party, what discipline, announced where, on the CBC radio, website, TV, your blog? What does the amount of fundraising have to do with this action, sounds biased to me and the term "whipping boy" sounds dangerously politically incorrect, better check the book. Speaking of pervasive cynicism, yes CBC does have an image problem, deserved or otherwise, perhaps that would be a good place to focus you energies as in this ever expanding information age, some people feel it is no longer justifiable to expend 1 billion tax dollars on the CBC. Thank you for keeping this most serious issue in the news and it does not bode well for your future when you mess with THE FRIENDLY GIANT, not a good demographic to irritate. Happy New Year.

The majority of your letter was self-serving, amateurish posturing, but the last statement was too much. The media has led the public debate to the bottom.

If the CBC is indeed as unbiased as John would have everyone believe, why does the Liberal party and the CBC trade employees with regularity. Why do more CBC staffers donate to the Liberal Party than the Conservatives. Why does the political and moral leanings of most every CBC story mirror that of what the Liberal Party espouses. Finally, Rex Murphy is possibly the most conservative CBC commentator, and yet his candidate for the greatest Canadian was Trudea!

On seceral occasions i have submitted points of clear biase to the ombudsman, who agreed with me and promised theat i would be getting a response from managment clearing up the issue. Never has this occured!

The comments levelled against the CBC are
despicable. This Conservative Government
seems to be of opinion that by insulting the Opposition Parties and anybody who does not agree with Mr. Harper, they will gain a majority in the next election.

Canadians may not all be Einsteins, but this type of behaviour touches alol Canadian's sense of decency.

I keep on hearing the word Democracy, it certainly is not practised in the House of Commons at the moment. Every party seems to want to score points, rather then attain concensus of opinion. Democracy is by the people for the people, not by the party for the party. It behoves Mr. Harper to realize,
he did not get a majority, therefore he did not get a mandate to push his agenda through Parliament by hook or by crook.

It is time that all politicians realized that they are mere Civil Servants, whose salary is paid for by the taxpayers. When you receive
a salaary, you're expected to fulfill the job for which you are being paid, not play games
of trying to score like a hockey match. The
last sentence goes for all Members of Parliament. irrespective of their party allegiance.

I have not seen the letter from the Conservative party fundraiser, so I cannot comment on the accusation.
I would like to say though, that I rarely listen anymore to CBC because the station seems to lean towards the FAR left and favor the NDP.
It would be nice if all journalists reported the actual non prejudicial government news rather than their interpretation of events.

Don't hold your breath while awaiting a response from a bankrupt political organization. This government is the same as the GW Bush cronies and believe in lies, deception, innuendo and plain bulls--t. The sooner we get rid of them like we did with Mulroney, the better off this country will be. The media is partly responsible as when the so-called "sponsorship scandal" was ongoing, no mention was ever made of the "public works and crown land" scandal under Mulroney and his Conservatives.; AND it was all across Canada, not just confined to one province. Keep up the good work CBC but keep the past in mind when throwing current stones.

The claiming of a liberal bias in the media seems to be standard neocon rhetoric. I just wish the Canadian Conservative party would be Canadian originals and stop using the US experience as their model. Have some class for crying out loud. I believe the party even consulted with one of the media experts that worked on republican campaigns. And for the record I don't have any use for either the Liberals or the Conservatives. Go Green!

You do not have to be a Conservative to get one of these letters. I have NEVER voted for this party federally in all my 68 years. I definitely will not be voting for them in the future. I thought it was a nasty letter to write in a season that we celebrate as good will to all people. I guess that means Conservatives only. For the life of me, I do not know how they came to have my name on their list of potential donors. I might send them a lump of coal.

Well said.

Never let the politicians push you off base the way the have done in the states, and indeed fight back when such things are said.

I am a great believer in public broadcasting, and furthermore believe that CBC is amongst the best. I know there is constant moaning and groaning from private, for profit broadcasters who also have their own particular agenda to push, and their profits to protect, but as far as I am concerned the CBC is the best source by far of Canadian news (ok, on international news, not so good any more) but the day I take my news from Lord Black or Izzy Asper's progeny is the day you can declare me brain dead and rip out my liver.

CBC. Perfect? Certainly not. But pretty good.

Well done,
dba

Well said, Mr. Cruickshank! I would love to see your response on a billboard in Ottawa.

While I'm not one to give credibility to conspiracy theories & fear-mongering, I have to say that more and more, I am wondering if the Harper government has a hidden agenda. I hesitate to simply write the Conservatives off as being merely "right-wing" or "religious nuts", but as I consider the following, I do have to wonder: given Harper's poor relationship with the media (not just CBC), given the way the Conservatives replaced potential candidates who dared disagree with party policy and now this letter rife with the language of fear & containing no substantiation, given also that Harper campaigned on having a trustworthy, corruption-free government, his lack of transparency & incommunicative ways - and now this "pity-us-the-persecuted" letter - it all makes me wonder what the heck the Conservatives are really all about & what are they really up to?

He is correct and you are not. The CBC/SRC is an NDP hotbed with the Liberals getting support for most things because "conservatism" is an anathema to most CBC'ers and The Liberals are the best way of fighting The Conservatives.
Your public broadcasting role is tainted and coloured pink !

Just like their neocon cousins south of the border, these Conservatives are unable to deal with the slightest valid criticism without attempting to shoot the messenger. That is how they do it in a police state.
This type of paranoic reaction to the CBC is not unexpected. If Harper and his drones ever achieve a majority, god help us, the most wonderful news organization in the world, our very own CBC, will cease to exist.
It is one of the the only remaining news venues that actually practices the dying art of investigative journalism, and this is something which Harper and his fascist toadies are deathly afraid of.
They get very agitated when they can't control the spin, as evidenced by their intent to control which journalists can attend press briefings. Don't want anybody asking embarrassing questions, now do we?
I've wished for years that more Canadians would appreciate and support the vital functions that the CBC performs on behalf of our country. Harper and the rest of the neocon knuckle-draggers will shut it down over my dead body.
Keep up the good work!

dear cbc

in reading your response, I find even now, your bias. You recall that it was a PROGRESSIVE (good in your mind) Conservative gov't that created the CBC, in response to a fund raising letter by the CONSERVATIVE party of Canada. As this is in response to a local riding fund raising letter, do you promote equal time to reading all local riding letters to criticize so publically (Liberal e.g ?). I do not recall seeing this in the past. Will the "5th Estate" do an in depth (years long) dig into Jean Chretien's Shawinagan hotel interfere, or Paul Martin's barely concealed involvment in Canada Steamship Line's nefarious goings on ? I think not.
In western Canada, to everyone I speak to, the CBC is considered to represent Liberal, big govt, left political bias, and in the only public forum available, from Dawson city to Kenora. A sibling of mine from Quebec found this to his dismay, when he attempted to defend the CBC in a meeting in southern Saskatchewan.
Perhaps you should instruct all your employees, now and in the future , to actually READ the manual you refer to. I would most appreciate a copy to use as reference.
In the meantime we are promoting remaking the funding of CBC into something along the line of PBS in the US, by our now somewhat responsive government, in Ottawa

thank you

T Sproule

Mr. Cruickshank is to be commended on the extremely dignified manner in which he responded to Mr. Finley's aggressively malicious remarks.

Having worked in public relations for both private companies and government agencies over the years, I know that it is not an unusual occurrence for a reporter to assist a political representative with question wording. It does not necessarily represent the company or agency for whom the reporter works corporate ideals.

If Mr. Finley had objections, he should have dealt with them in a more diplomatic manner; as it is he has made himself look a fool.

As a tired newsman (Montreal Star 1979) I recall it was common practice for ottawa journaLists to offer friendlyCCF MPs subjects to be raised at question period. Perhaps this was before the freedom of informationm acts Tory and Liberal MPs were more timid, I heard only one hostile mention of this CBC case before the fund-raising newsletter -- and nothing since. GREAT RESPONSE

Mr.Cruickshank, here is the problem with your letter, you have already admitted that this incident is in violation of CBC code of ethics, Therefore I ask you to release the name of the reporter, that was conversing with/supplying questions to the LPC. I also suggest to you that well the CBC in not partisan, this reporter could very well be. This is not adscam, this is not a complicated investigation, this should not take weeks to clear up. Will you release the information that the public is seeking.

Dear Mr, Cruikshank.

You state, " (although, as you know, it was a Progressive Conservative government that brought our organization into being.)"

The Progressive Conservative name was not used until Manitoba's John Bracken became Leader in 1942.

I agree with the cbc the conservatives are playing politics and scare tactics to intimidate the cbc. good for you in standing up to these bullies. they have learned well from bush on how to smear ,and turn on the media when they have done something wrong.They are the most secretive government in history, they use the media to put out their message and then say no comment. when they are asked a question it is blame something on the other parties and never answer the question asked it is getting to be a point of riddicule for this party. keep up the non-patisan reporting if something is said oh well the truth hurts!

In January 2006 Stephen Harper remarked that Canadians need not be worried by those who warned against a radical hidden agenda of the "new" Conservatives. After all, he remarked, the media, the Senate, the Courts, the Opposition, and the civil service are all there to hold the government accountable. Interestingly nothing so characterizes the "new" Conservatives as their disdain for these same instruments of accountability and Canadian institutions or their constant preference for an American way of doing things...right down to attack ads which are the lowest common denominator they share with their neoconservative foreign mentors. So we should not be surprised to find the CBC under attack; it's all part of a not so subtle "hidden" agenda carried out by the sleight of hand by which the instruments of accountability are demeaned and called into question while diverting the people from the government's radical path. Edmund Burke would not recognize a conservative among them.

CBC media bias? What a surprise! This has been going on forever and it is high time that someone has the courage to expose it. We, the taxpayers, fund this supposedly impartial network and I, for one, would love to see it go away. Privately funded networks are not quite so biased but we all know that the media is left-leaning.

For the first time in my life, I'm afraid of my own government. I've been a critic of them and I think that anyone who criticizes them is viewed as an enemy of the state and that the full weight of government power will fall on you if you dare to have an opinion that Stephen Harper doesn't approve of personally.

I don't care if people support this government, but I do wish that everyone would rise up and demand that the government stop using its power to bully its critics. Because like never before in "Canada's New Government" - the state and the political party are one and the same.

Shameful and fearful.

In regards to the complaint by the Conservatives, when will the name of the reporter be made public? It is in the public interest and in CBC's interest as the creditability of all your reporters will remain in question until this matter is resolved. As a non-partisan I have to admit that I do find the stories you do have become rather one sided in recent years. Now I have to look elsewhere to get the full facts.

Mr. Cruickshank,

I found your letter to be condescending and pompous. To assume that the CBC is above questioning in regards to ethics is demonstratively false.

Firstly, we (Canadians and Conservatives) pay your bills. You are mandated to present news without bias.

Secondly, the CBC has an obvious history of bias against conservatives. The CBC has been fabricating the "Airbus Scandal" story for 10 years. Christina Legwand knowingly misquoted the Prime Minister to make him appear bias towards Israel.

You mentioned in your email that I am a shareholder. I hope you realise the value of the tripe you produce. If not try selling your "SHARES" of CBC, and you'll see what value exists.

With the Utmost Contempt,

Jon Taylor

Well said..

"Your denigration of our ethical standards can only contribute to the public cynicism about public life that is already far too pervasive."

I would DEARLY LOVE TO SEE A CRASS ATTEMPT by the CPC to do harm to OUR national broadcaster. I don't doubt, for a minute, what the violent reaction of the Canadian public would be. If we view the planets as satellites, working outward from the sun, the CPC and its adherents would be viewing the world from the seventh portal.

Attempting to "control" the media by managing the content? Looking at the world from the seventh portal wouldn't be too bad for a RUMP
PARTY. My friend describes them as a Scurvy, Scrofulous, and Scruffy bunch of squirrels.

Well if you are so open, why has CBC not identified the reporter who fed Rodriguez the questions? By definition, not doing so makes CBC's openness defence laughable.

Face it. One or more of your journalists were caught being biased. Name them, discipline them and move on.

Until you do, the CBC will be in violation of your own journalistic standards.

Mr. Cruickshank, your defense of reporters actions is weak.

Sincerely
Robert Zurrer
548 Dallas Rd.
Victoria, BC
V8V 1B3

I felt obliged to respond to Doug's letter by sending 50 bucks. That's my answer to CBC.

We will see how transparent the CBC is when the 5Th Estate does one of those Brian Mulroney like 10 year intensive investigation of this event.Covering such items as:

Name of reporter
Reporter' boss and knowledge of event
How common is this
What other events has the CBC intervened in
What is/was process for initiating-contact Dion and his office
Etc

Lots of those interesting things will come out in the transparent CBC.

Right!!!

Regards,John Stuart

Interesting that the Conservatives are now using the CBC as a scapegoat in preparation for an election campaign.

I think if Mr. Finley were to examine the CBC archives with an objective eye, he would see a tremendous amount of support/criticism prior to the current government's coming to power. I speak of course of the Sponsorship Scandal.

The CBC asked some very hard questions that were echoed during question period by our current Prime Minister. It would be safe to say that this only aided him in his rise to the Prime Minister's office.

For Mr. Finley to now turn the tables is hypocritical at the least and certainly without the high standards of ethics the Prime Minister has set for his party and government.

One has to wonder if the Prime Minister will now launch his own internal investigation of party ethics following this revelation?

People are people and they do make mistakes. The CBC has shown exemplary diligence in meeting the standards of its mandate through its own investigation and disciplinary processes. This is what makes it one of the premier news organization in the world. It is what keeps Canada in the fore as a model for democracy.

1. If I'm a shareholder, where can I go to sell my shares.
2. After the Lawand affair, I'd think you could try to be a little introspective and, perhaps, agree that some of your reporters have an unhealthy bias. Your leadership may the source of this.
3. The Liberals accused you of bias. You have been found guilty of bias against the Tories in the Lawand case, and I have little doubt that this case is going the same way. Save your protests; the facts speak to the bias at the CBC

If John Cruikshank thinks the CBC's complaint process is transparent, he should read the responses I get from the Ombudsman's office: they're clear as mud, and have been over the nearly three DECADES I’ve let the CBC know I’m in on their little “we’re fair and unbiased” secret. (I gave up CBC TV for Lent one year, noticed my much improved blood pressure, and never went back.) I do, however, unfortunately, still listen to CBC radio news as I like some of the daytime programs on Radio 2.

My latest particular complaint, about the regular bashing of the Conservative Party of Canada and our fine PM, got a polite, rather long response from Mr. Carlin, which entirely begged the question. In the one complaint, out of dozens, where the ombudsman—a CBC EMPLOYEE, for Pete’s sake—found the CBC to be less than perfect, NOTHING happened to inform the public that Avi Lewis had gone beyond the bounds of propriety in his interview with Ayan Hirsi Ali. Mr. Lewis—typical of the nepotism of CBC—appears to go from strength to strength: who would know that his employer thinks he’s less than perfect?

Maybe, with his rose coloured glasses, Mr. Cruikshank really does see clothes on the CBC Emperor. Mr. Cruikshank’s definitely in the minority. The CBC, which is very definitely partisan on the left of the spectrum, with some of the most shrill shills for the Liberals on our airwaves, has lost my confidence and that of most Canadians, who, BTW, don’t even bother to tune in. I don’t see the CBC having the honour to do anything about this any time soon. Mr. Cruikshank and Mr. Carlin may assert all they want that the CBC is fair and transparent. (And I’m Mother Teresa.) I’ll believe it when I actually see it.

So, the complainant is guilty, for the temerity of complaining. Oh, the hallowed CBC is maligned! The outrage!

...reminds me of a few years back when the Bush administration tried to put a muzzle on PBS, accusing that government sponsored TV network of a "liberal" bias.

We in Canada seem to be more and more adopting the American neocon values.

I have seen many comments from posters to this site that reflect dismay with CBC and consistently accuse them of bias no matter what facts a particular story contains. The CBC is regularly accused of supporting one party or another, of being either too left or too right.

The consiervative party would likely not have had the success it did in the last election if not for the CBC's intensive coverage of the sponsorship scandal and the resulting Gommery inquiry - both on French and English language television. The resulting backlash, I believe led directly to the Conservative win and in particular the sentiment in Quebec against the Liberal government.

I sincerely believe that as a public broadcaster CBC does its level best to report accurate fair stories that have Canadian interest and are told by Canadian professional journalists. Too many times I have seen other braodcasts on Canadian television stations that have many stories from CNN and I am dismayed that our own national point of view is not being reflected but instead that of another country.

This organization is ridiculous. As a Conservative myself, years and years by, I see many many bias from your organization.

Just because the CPC went through the channels does not mean they need to hush up about this.

So I am a shareholder, eh? Where do I go to sell my shares?

Good for you. The bullying continues from different levels! Hopefully the government will gain sufficient strength to move away from their condemning posture and begin to govern rationally without casting aspersions on other members of parliament or the media. We all know that CBC has high ethical standards and we appreciate it.

Keep up the good work.

Mr. Cruikshank,

I am very disappointed that you would use your position within CBC to publicly attack a political party.

The media is suppose to be unbiased. At least that is what the media keeps telling the public.

Your attack shows a political bias. With this coming so soon after a report that a CBC reporter was feeding questions to an opposing political party, it leaves the average citizen wondering where the objectivity is.

Thanks for rebutting such brazen slime from Doug Finley. His tactics have become all too common within the "new" Conservative party.

I have always preferred CBC coverage of political and other events because of the non-bias and absolutely non-partisan coverage.

There are many Canadians who would fight if Harper should try to shut the CBC down.

Happy New Year to all at CBC.

Nice try, John. But it didn't work. You didn't address the issue at hand - the reporter working closely with the Liberal party member to get specific questions asked. The lack of action in firing the reporter in question for a clear breach of your ethical standards shows clearly how valuable and demanding your ethical regime is.

CBC may be non-partisan (although a check of the members of the Board of Directors may not bear that claim out) but that only means that there are no direct ties to a specific political party. It does not mean there is no bias.

Oh look, 82% of the political donations by members of the CBC's Board Of Directors go to the Liberal party.
The CPC got 3%, the Bloc got 15%.
If the CBC's ethical and journalistic lapses were unbiased, we would expect to see an equal number of screw ups in both directions. That is clearly not the case.
Where is Christina Lawand these days?

Who cares about your little book, it's evident your reporters don't use it. You have indeed been biased against the Liberals a couple of times, and against the Conservatives and NDP multiple times.

There is something wrong when government controls the funding of a media agency.

Time to privatize the CBC.

For the CBC to claim in all sincerity that they are not bias in their programing and to a lesser extent reporting is just the height of arrogance. Someday we will have balanced programming but not before significant management changes, which we can only hope will come sooner rather than later.

This whole incident is indicative of the "News" media providing info-tainment not news. Your reporter tried to generate a story where one did not exist. Instead of doing an investigation and seeing if a story was there she went for "the sound bite" to get it on the evening news. Lets face it, the sound bite is what it is all about now. As for a bias I don't think that you can argue that a number of high profile CBC staff have a bias towards the Liberal or NDP parties. Quite a number of high profile CBC personalities are now communications directors or have some other position with Liberal MPs or the Liberal Party its self. I am not saying that is wrong but I do believe that if a reporter is covering a story and is partisan enough to take a job with a political party, at some point it does effect how the story goes to air.

Using your own words, I believe that in your defense of your organization's inaccuracy, innuendo, exaggeration and expressed malice towards the Conservative Party, your response contains inaccuracy, innuendo, exaggeration and expressed malice towards the Conservative Party.

Echoing your offer to Mr. Findlay, I would be delighted to sit down with you and watch CBC News broadcasts and political shows, so that I can point out to you the bias contained in your broadcasts. Your bias is not usually overt, but is like death by a thousand cuts...inaccuracy, innuendo and exaggeration.

Your organization's news coverage is damaging public faith in journalism and in our political process.

Loose the whining and suck it up. I think the issue here is that the CPC had taken opportunity with a "smoking gun" occasion to captialize on what Canadians of conservative leaning will say they know only too well. Pervasive and barely subtle hostility towards conservative interests of any sort. I still remember a compare and constast peice aired on the CBC a couple of years back that literally, had background video of tanks and warplanes whilst introducing us to Harper and, honest to God, Canada geese for the Liberal candidate - I think at the time it was Martin. Jon Stewart couldn't make stuff like this up.

Thank you for the clarification John -Finlay should be ashamed of himself for using cheap political tactics to generate cash for the Harper Party. I learned a lot about the CBC today and it is a breath of fresh air from all the scandal and absence of ethics we have witnessed in our Parliament this past year.
All the best in 08 and thanks again John and the CBC for standing up for Canadian values

The nerve of Mr. Finley of the Conservative Party to use, for his own political advantage, a CBC reporter's alleged coaching of Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez on the House of Commons Ethics Committee!

I am confident that the CBC's independent Ombudsman will determine conclusively after a thorough investigation that the CBC is completed free of political manipulation and bias, and that if the reporter is found to have committed an ethical journalistic indiscretion, it was clearly an innocent mistake executed with the best interests of all Canadians at heart.

As Alexander Panetta reported on the CBC website on Dec. 24, "The Conservatives already do have plenty of help sitting in their bank account."

The fact that the Conservative Party of Canada has stronger grassroots political support than the left-wing parties is precisely why it is so important for the CBC to provide an effective "counter-balance" to conservative ideology.

I would like a copy of your book so I can see where it states that you will propogate the idea of global warming with people that are not scientists. As well I would like to see in your book where it states that you will cover news stories from both sides, and not just your side. It would be really nice to see some stories covered by the cbc that trully cover both sides and not just your agenda.

I am a supporter of public broadcasting and the Conservative Party.

The code of ethics is admirable of course, but the question is how it is honoured and enforced.

I have no doubt that the present CBC lacks the people needed to provide balance and fair and thorough reporting that reflects the ground truths of Canadian society.

Speaking of transparency, I'd be very interested indeed to see just who has contributed such a wealth of monies to the Conservative Party. Perhaps the voting public might then have a clearer picture as to who the Tories really represent.

A political party can and should legitimately ask for financial help to promote its agenda by appealing to likeminded people. That would be the good way of going about it. The conservatives have chosen to arrange for a political shill to add a level of drama by screaming mistreatment and asking the faithful to respond to the perceived emergency by sending in money. It’s a sleazy version of the special worthwhile requests that third world charities often make after disasters. What next? Will the conservatives outsource their fundraising to Nigerian hucksters phishing for bank account numbers.

How you can, as a corporation, deny your obvious left wing leanings is beyond me. It has been obvious to me ever since I gained the right of franchise in 1964 by joining the Royal Canadian Navy at the age of 18 and started vigourously seeking information on the platforms of our political parties. At that time to get an unbiased view it was better to listen to the radio broadcasts from Maine and the other border states than the liberal aligned CBC.

I find Finley's letter very laughable.It is
a known fact that a great deal of conservative
supporters dispise the CBC because of tax
payer's funding.Finley and his conservative ilk should leave their money in their warchest
until an election is called,instead of spending on tv commercials smearing opposition
leaders in between elections.It will be a cold day in hell before I donate any money to
a politcal party,especially Harper and his
gang.Keep up the good work,CBC,you're the best!

Mr. Cruickshank,
Surely you wrote this letter tongue in cheek.
There isn't a person in Canada who doesn't know that the CBC is a left leaning Media that just happens to have a government funded platform to use as their soap box.
Most recent case in point.
Headline CBC News
"Harper to re-open Chalk River Reactor despite warnings from Safety Agency"
One would think that Mr. Harper on his own had passed a law to re-open the Chalk River Reactor even though there was an imminent threat of a nuclear disaster.
I do believe that their was a vote taken in Parliment, that was approved by a majority( although finding a vote count has proven to be very elusive).
How then does such a headline appear on your web site.

In closing anyone who believes that the CBC is not a left leaning, extremely biased news reporting agency would also believe that on Saturday nights we actually get Hockey Night in Canada, Not Hockey Night in Toronto.

Why is it always a self evident truth that the media has a liberal bias? Bcaue fox news says so? Fox news regulairly says that the 9/11 terrorists snuck into the USA through Canada (when they actually entereed legally on Green cards). Just because you repeat it does not make it true. Asking for an ubiased news report is naive, there is no such thing. We all have biases, admit it and move on. Can you not think critically on your own, or do you need Rupert Murdoch to hold your little hand?

Just quick word about the image you have chosen for this article. its rather offensive to see the Conservatives(or any political logo) logo imposed in the center of the CBC symbol. Please get rid of that offensive looking image, it really doesn't serve anyones interest. Its offensive.

It appears that the comments are running along party lines and it is quite striking that those who do not support the currant goverment have seemed to miss the point of both letters. The CBC did indeed breach their ethics and must therefore publicly come clean. The LPOC did willing collude with the CBC in this breach and if I was a supporter of this party I would at least disappointed with this. As for CPC fundraising, people give if they want to give,that is a personal choice,certainly none of CBC business. GO RHINOS!

Well you have helped me decide I will be donating on .a regular basis to the conservative party with hope that your funding is cut.

Test Yourself Nation:

1, How would each person here like to deliver the news?
2. Is it not standard fundraising practice to find and use a "hook" that justifies the call for money?
3. Will giving money to a political party straighten out the CBC?
4. Is the issue here based on the assumption that Mr. Rodriguez is a puppet of the CBC, and unable to think for himself?
5. If, as a reporter, I contact an MP and say "what questions will you be asking at the inquiry?", have I gone too far?
6. If, as a reporter, I contact an MP and ask "will you be looking into telecom lobbying as well?", have I gone too far?

I'll be very interested to see what side of freedom of the press the CBC comes down on. Will it defend it's own reporter, or throw them to the wolves?
I appreciate Mr, Cruickshank fulfilling his duty to come forward and respond forcefully.
In doing so, he demonstrates quite clearly that he practices what he preaches.
Many of the complaints here seem to be directed at promoting an even tighter leash on the press of this country.
But is that in our best interest?

It's encouraging to see sooooooo many people commenting on an issue.
Even more encouraging to imagine that the CBC reads all this stuff.

The CBC is a Liberal mouth piece. All you have to do is watch "Politics with Don Newman", the center piece of Liberal bias.
Newman consistently interrupts, and is rude to Conservative guests, yet fawns over any Liberal guest.
His Parliamentary Press Gallery section is well stocked with Toronto Star reporters, and CBC reporters.
I have never gotten an answer to any complaints of bias from the CBC ombudsman. It would appear the CBC is beyond reproach.
As a "stock holder", how much has the CBC spent on trying to bring down Brian Mulroney these past couple of decades?
This institution has got to be brought down now.

There is paranoia about liberal or conservative bias in the media. It unfortunately is much more of a cynical situation it is merely a stupidity bias and this whole muck up was pure unadulterated negligent stupidity.

Oh dear, oh dear. I;m learning all sorts of things on this forum (glad to have the opportunity to post about the CBC on it's website though, thanks). Can someone give me some more background on this Lawand incident?

In terms of bias, I'm curious to know if people perceive the same issues with radio as well? Certainly, here in Ottawa Radio One is by far the most popular channel, and I've always found them to do a good job at hearing from MPs and so on of all parties. We probably get more political stories than other parts of the country, and they always seem fairly objective to me. Well, Kathleen did rip into John Baird that one time, but he was being ignorant to her as well!

I had to laugh (almost out loud) at Chris from Alberta's comparison of the CBC (a fine, balanced and dedicated journalistic establishment) to Fox (a seriously wrong, BIASED, sorry sack of a network that has the tenacity to actually label itself "news" and "fair and balanced").

Are you ACTUALLY serious, or was that an intentional note of sarcasm??

To everyone else who seems to think that the only response is to cry "liberal bias" - you might want to try actually WATCHING and LISTENING to CBC once in a while...and then doing the same for Global, CTV and the Chum stations.

Canada has a wonderful and extremely reputable journalistic standard that does not falter along the lines of any of the major Canadian news networks.

The problem with this country, and much of the world, is that respect and appreciation for journalism and journalists is at an all-time low. I'd like to see how you'd all react if journalism were to cease from existing.

Until you've actually been a journalist and seen how much they go through in order to provide you with the latest news - then I say you should seriously reconsider how much you value information and your "right" to have it.

Maybe then you won't be so quick to judge what I believe to be our finest news establishment.

Good grief!

The CBC has always been tilting to the left since day one this is known by anyone with half a brain and who watches \ listens to it. However I hate to have to agree with the Conservatives the issue in question was one of interference and support by a CBC reporter to a politician during an inquiry and this is patently unacceptable as the CBC should be doing their best to report stories and not create them as they are known to do on occasion having said that I am still a big supporter of the them when looking at the big picture. I just wish they would listen or watch themselves on occasion when they opt for the dramatic moment rather than let a story unfold itself and then report on it.

The Conservative Party has lost its moral compass - this letter using the CBC as a straw dog to raise funds is just another example.

What a shame - I had some hope that Harper and the "new" Conservative party would actually do things differently.

What a fool I was....

Having watched "Politics with Don Newman",(the spin stops there) I wouldn't exactly call it biased towards Liberals and some of the comments about him interupting Conservatives , is more of a matter of time limits and trying to keep things running, because if ya watch when the Conservatives get to answer , they go on and on and try to override anyone eles chance to respond , thus disrutping any sense of fair discusssion.

Ya can tell when the party that has made major problems for people and has no way out of the corner they back themselves into , always try to capitalize on obstructing the whole time frame for discussion.

So I think its only fair for the host of the program to control the discussion and if it appears he is cutting off a member/politician, then that is his job, regardless of which politician it is.

CBC crossed the ethical line here. Canadians expect the CBC to hold the journalist accountable. You recieve large amounts of taxpayer hard earned dollars. If you are not going to hold someone accountable then give our taxdollars back. After all you state you are responsible to your shareholders!!!!!
Give democracy a chance in Canada by holding the CBC accountable. The future of our country depends on it.

First off, any idea of bias free reporting by any agency is utterly and completely impossible. There is no unbiased reporting, because of the very nature of humanity it cannot exist. We are all biased, will always be biased, and thats simply the way that it is.

We can attempt to be less biased, we can even admit our bias, know that it exists, and attempt to be fair. But unbiased? BS.

Secondly, as many have pointed out, the CBC has reported negatively on both traditional front running parties in this country. Also, as any other agency / institution . organization in the world it is made up of many people all of which who are biased, and all of which have the ability to do a good or poor job depending upon themselves, and their situations.

If one person in this case messed up, then quite clearly the CBC must do something about this. However, for the CPC to paint a picture of organized oppression / bias towards them in a bid to raise money is a tad bit too much.

However, as we are free to be brilliant, foolish, and many things in between in this country, we will all get to judge the actions of the CPC, and CBC for ourselves.

I for one will continue to listen, and watch the CBC when it suits me, and utilizing it along with a plethora of other 'news' sources to form my world view. I would recommend the same to anyone else; utilize many sources to try and get a reasonably accurate picture of the world as we write it.

All reporting organizations are as poor, as their weakest reporter / editor / anchor. As well they are as good as we feel they are. Blatant bias', agendas, etc seem to be ever increasingly the norm in this era of Media Concentration. They are beholden to their advertisers, they seem to practically run the FCC down south, and so far, the CBC, the BBC, PBS, et cetera, give us viable alternatives to cross check their reporting, spin, and corporate bias.

I too firmly believe the CBC has done an admirable job of balanced reporting. Judging by the comments from both sides it continues to serve both fairly.
My observation is the strong financial support being given the Conservative Party by Larry Asper and associates of the Global empire. They would like nothing more than to have the CBC disbanded so it could have accesss to the National Sports broadcasting contracts. Greed drives this wish as it has little to do with politics.
I feel the other Canadian networks mimic the American networks way too much. For example most US nominees in the primaries have ALL stated "Terrorists" and "Islamists" are the same thing while attepting to garner political support. This is exactly the word Kevin Weiland of Global used this morning from Lahore to describe terror concerns of the day.
Islamist is a neutral term not a derogatory one. Most Canadians likely already know this because we get balanced reporting from CBC and I don't believe I have heard that term used on the CBC yet!!!

very well put.
thankyou mr. cruickshank

Boo-hoo, the Conservatives don't like it when the reporters don't play by their rules. What a surprise. Good for CBC for sticking to its principles.

We all have biases.
I love the CBC, and I do not feel any more or less threatened by their bias as I do by any private news organization.

In a perfect world there would be no bias in the news, but the reality is, this is not a realistic expectation. One can only hope that all news organizations make an increased effort to ensure jornalistic integrity is adhered to.

You have to wonder how unbiased the CBC really is when they only allow the comments they want to be published on their website. How can a publicly funded company be allowed to have such easy censorship of the public?

Also, if the CBC is so transparent, why isn't their journalistic standards and practices book published on the CBC Website? I would have an easier time knowing which of their rules they break on a daily basis.

What a wonderful letter Mr. Cruickshank! Way to stick it to those people who believe the CBC is in anyway unfair to anyone!

After my six course dinner tonight I shall toast you and all of you're underpaid management at the CBC for what a fantastic job you are doing. Cutting down the hockey schedule to a fraction of what it used to be leaves me more time to watch countless reruns of old programs I watch again and again! I am also glad you got rid of football, too low-brow for my type. Also, rotating shows from one day to another so that I cannot figure out when the next episode will be is brilliant! Such fun!

I also wish to congratulate you on the wonderful way that you keep Conservative bias out of the CBC. The last thing we need are those people telling us, I mean you, what to do.

Imagine, people want us to actually treat the Conservatives like one of us! How drole!

I would very much like to see all e mails that have been sent on this subject instead of the cherry picked ones

I smell a neo-conservative rat behind this fund-raiser hullabaloo. The whiners about "liberal bias" intend to badger the CBC into moving even further from the middle ground. We have seen this all before in the United States where calculated cries of "liberal bias" drove much of the mainstream media into Bush-Republican hackism. It is only now starting to turn-around there. Why should Canada go through the same sorry mess? Our publicly funded newscaster has a tradition, a calling, and a duty to tell it like it is. So, push back against the conservative ideologues with their admitted plan to move public opinion in our country to the right. This includes you, Mr. Cruickshank.

I haven't read the Conservative letter but two things strike me:

1) the CBC admits its reporter breached CBC rules by feeding questions to a Liberal MP;

2) the CBC is very sensitive to accusations of bias.

Since #1 happened why is CBC sensitive?

I would have thought an apology would be in order - not a counter-attack.

I regularly visit the CBC website and I think the opinion pieces are usually biased against the Conservative government and its policies. Take Tony Berman's postings, as just one example. There are others.

It seems to me that the CBC should either admit it disagrees with conservative views and policies (and then be prepared to take the heat) or at least give people with conservative views an equal opportunity to post their opinion pieces. The CBC does neither.

I am old enough to remember when the CBC was apolitical, like the BBC.
Its anti-Conservative and anti-US biases are so wearyingly constant and evident that I hardly watch CBC any more.
Under Mr. Berman's watch, CBC has become a pale, feckless shadow of its former self.
Change begins at the top.

isn't rather interesting that the Conservatives(whom cut programs and equality from Status of Women and limited people rights to fight for their rights.--- Court Challenges program)(also the moving of the National Portrait Gallery into the private sector ) , are crying that people are against them and the Cons are attacking those that don't cater to the Conservatives agenda that sells Canada out to the Bush agenda?

I wouldn't call our PM a leader when he doesn't even beleive in keeping Canada Canada with rights and equality.
And to think the Cons are playing games with peoples lives and asking for money to mislead the people.

poor poor Conservatives crying nobody likes them when they have done so many things to tear apart this country for selfish political reasons.

We need a government that respects the people and the country.
This Conservative one isn't cutting it.

Mr.Cruickshank

I appreciate that any news agency works hard on a story and attempts to publish or air a story with as little bias as possible. But it is common that members of the media, as any person, has their own views and biases that will get into a story. It starts out right from the choice of story and what they are going to say about it, the context and how much information. For example you highlighted a point that a Progressive Conservative government created the CBC. You chose to highlight that to make a statement against perceived bias against the CBC from modern conservatives. But you really have not put the truth into context. R.B. Bennet did create the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission in 1932. However, it was the Liberals in 1936 under William Lyon Mackenzie King that re-organized broadcasting control and created the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). The CBC's original mandate was not only to provide broadcasting to Canadians in both official languages, it also was a regulatory body for all broadcasting in Canada. (The regulatory authority would be removed after the Second World War.)

So, once again a member of the media has stretched the truth a bit to try to make a point in opposition to a specific political party. You have demonstrated that the media will leave out context to get its version of a story, one opposing a view of a party or group, to further its position. You too umbrage to comments and to try to make a historic point you made a statement that the average citizen might assume is true when in fact you have distorted the facts. Yes its human nature and maybe you can understand why some political leaders have felt that there was/is a media bias.

For reference on the real origins of the CBC see Destinies, 5th Edition, Canadian History Since Confederation by R.D. Francis, R. Jones, and D.B. Smith, ISBN 0-17-622435-1, Page 292

CBC is biased indeed. Ralph Klien did not have much use for CBC reporters. It made no difference to me what he thought but a disturbing trend was observed.
First CBC reporters are much like government employees. No matter how bad or how good you keep the job.
Second- who exactly are CBC reporters accountable to? The public? Hardly, if that were the case the CBC would not exist. It seems many are in it to set there own agenda. People such as Heather Mallik and Avi Lewis. Could they get a job in the real world? I doubt it. On second thought maybe they could as English teachers. And of course most
english teachers know everything. If you dont believe it just ask them.
Third- Yeah the Toronto Star bias. Rarely do I see CBC or the " Star " doing a report on Alberta's contribution to Canada's economic growth. If the CBC does anything for Alberta it is percieved as being " Alberta-you are good only because you have oil ". Never does it come out as " Alberta kicks butt in getting the job done ". Alberta punches well above its weight yet somehow the CBC and the " Star " portray Alberta not being in tune with Canadian values. Usually that means if you make money you must share it with the rest of the country. The CBC and the " Star " need to be reminded for money to be shared it has to be made first. Niether the " Star " nor the put food on my table.
Fourth-In the late 70's the CBC tried to portray Peter Lougheed as a " dupe of big oil " in a CBC produced drama. Lougheed sued and won an out of court settlement.
Early in this century the CBC tried to portray the opposition to Sask. medicare when started. It was in a drama that never was released. Word is that there was quite a difference between facts and CBC facts.
Also keep in mind Tommy Douglas is the patron saint of the CBC. Unbiased? - Please.
The CBC should be gotten rid of. I dont like my tax dollar supporting it.

I am not, never have been, and likely never will be the member of any political party.

What amuses me about the many anti-Conservative Party comments here is this: If these same people were to be perfectly honest with themselves, what percentage of them feel that Fox News in the U.S. is strongly biased toward the right? 75%? 85%? 99%?

And I think they'd correct in their assumption.

So why is it so impossible for them to see that CBC News is exceptionally biased toward the Liberal Party of Canada and left-leaning views in general?

I had hoped that 2008 would set a new trend of people being honest with themselves. Step #1 in that process is to accept criticism when its warranted.

Two points: 1)So much for the CBC's research! The Progressive Conservative Party did not exist in 1932 when the Conservative government of R.B. Bennett established the CRBC. And 2)the liberal, socialist and green bias of the CBC is so well known that even in the US it is a laughingstock!

I speak for many Canadian when I say that I stand behind the CBC 100%.

I normally support the Conservatives, but this time Mr. Finley has taken his contempt for the media too far. I'm afraid he has now lost my support for the next election.

A transparent and open media are required for democracy. Because the CBC is publicly funded, it is the only media I really trust to offer a story in a non-partisan way, without the "big brother" of industry vetting all the scripts.

Wow, All I can say is thank you for the entertainment. From Mr. Cruickshank’s letter, to the reader's responses, where some pertinent, others were vacuous, vain and partisan, and others just plain stupid. All entertaining.

Long has media held it’s purpose holy, and in part it is. Never is that more real for journalists than in than the continent of Africa where in several countries journalists are jailed and/or intimidated and some killed for reporting everyday events or on the corruption of government, much like in Russia and China, and others of course.

Which is why I laude your attempts at transparency even if it will not have a material effect for your reporter to have picked sides. Sadder still that there seems to be a pervasive hatred for a former prime minister held in the rank and file of some news organizations, when other Prime Ministers have been callow in their actions too (ah Jean what was all that about the BDC) and have been held not in similar disregard. It is sad to have news organizations choose to report certain stories that reflect a certain perspective over others more often than not, hence the perception of bias. Worse still when their purpose is to malign other people. Editors and journalist cannot un-marry themselves from who they are, that is what makes their reporting poignant or irrelevant, as it is their perspective on the canvas that others must interpret. How they paint it will define the readers interpretation, it’s simple n’est pas.

cont...

cont...

Propaganda for any idea, organization or government is vile and vitriolic. For Mr. Finley to feed a perspective of media bias (true or untrue) is unfortunate and impudent, However, for anyone who calls themselves a journalist to partake in such a vile endeavours, you blacken what you supposedly hold almost holy, the truth. Other journalists have died and suffered beyond your comprehension for this truth and yet some here have the luxury of whoring it out for what they opine as a loftier goals, such as their selfish needs and wants and lets not forget malice.

I would ask any reporter not to forget or not report on corporate or government corruption and/or their occasional ineptitude, as that is likely the only thing keeping them honest, but please maintain a degree or professionalism, more people might respect you in the end.

I'm happy that we have a publicly funded news service at arms length from government, corporate, and special interests groups. Despite the numerous faults of the CBC, the alternative, a Conrad Black news service sending us back into the coal mines without the canary of the CBC makes me shudder.

In all of these considerations I think it is important to remind oneself that the Conservative Party is NOT the venerable and respected Progressive Conservative Party, many of whose members cherish the CBC. The New Conservative Party is the Alliance-Reform Party, and that party has no use for a public broadcaster, bias or no bias.

What do you expect?

The CBC is an organization populated by “progressives”. They do not know anything else. As such, they do not recognize that there is any other reasonable perspective.

They cannot possibly fix what they do not acknowledge.

I applaud the CBC for defending itself. After having watched it for years, I would have to say their biases are not towards any one party, but just larger parties in general. It's been like pulling teeth to get them to have the Greens involved in debates, for example.

I really doubt they have any bias that is pro-Liberal. Because if they do, they're doing a terrible job of it. Nothing I've ever seen on CBC has had me thinking "I should vote Liberal", though there's been a couple occasions when the Tories seemed like a good idea to me. Luckily I investigated on my own about their policies, and didn't like what I saw.

The CBC can't show every side to everything ever said. I seems many commenters here are looking for that. CBC seems the best at presenting many viewpoints, not worrying about needing to cater to their advertising sponsors or corporations that their owners might also own.

Personally, it's just sad that the Tories are attacking the CBC. They want their own media network that shows only their viewpoints, and not others, and all they have is the National Post. I'd be bitter too, I guess.

They're full of money and don't need any more. They have no real substance, they merely define themselves as not-those-guys. Whenever they can have something worth talking about that doesn't involve bashing someone else, Canadians might start listening to them.

My 1st suggestion to PM Harper, directly after he was ELECTED, was; Now clean up that Bias, pile of Rubbish called the CBC. How sweet it is, to finaly see it happening.

Two point: First, in response to the comment made earlier that "This is why Fox is #1 in the USA, because they bring in voices from both sides." - I'm not surprised an Albertan made this laughable statement. (I'm from Alberta, for the record...)

Fox News is reknowned around the world for their almost comically exaggerated right-wing bias. If that's your standard of 'balance' - it's like standing on one end of a teeter-totter and insisting it's level. EVERYTHING else will look biased against that metric.

As for the Harper Conservatives - let's be honest. They campaigned on a platform of open government and the accountability that brings. Yet from the moment Harper got into office, we've had one of the most closed, paranoid, disruptive, vituperious governments ever.

This is a government that actively shuts out the press when it perceives any bias against themselves - which, much like the fellow above, will be almost any press coverage because good journalism means asking tough questions.

This is a government that has agressively begun smear campaigns against other members of parliament IN THE MEDIA.

This is a government that wants to rule, not govern by the will of the people. Of course they do not want the press challenging their goals and agenda.

When a government refuses to talk to the press - and thereby refuses to talk to the people, that empty space makes everything else look like a bias.

It's the Conservatives who create this, not the CBC.

Here’s my top two issues raised by this item.

First, reporters who choose to exclude information from their reports are more of a concern than reporters who help develop questions for an inquiry.

Second, the Conservative Party appears to believe they can gain support by spending large amounts of money on marketing.

Biased reporting is a matter of perspective. My review of reporting by different media of Conservative related matters indicates the CBC is indeed different. CBC reports often include relevant information that other media reports choose not to mention. Providing the extra information could be considered biased but I consider choosing not to provide all the relevant information to be of greater concern.

We need the diversity of information that is usually contributed by the CBC to ensure the public is aware of more information and perspectives.

To date Canadians have proven to be difficult, but not impossible, to manipulate by political marketing. Gains made by attempts to form public opinion, rather than informing the public, have been small and short lived. However, the gains have been real and, because of our multi-party system with a first-past-the-post method of choosing the winner, small short-term gains can mean significant differences in the election results.

We all know of cases where well-crafted and well-timed manipulative marketing campaigns have succeeded. It is curious that there are still so many people willing to have their opinion formed by manipulative messages. When this type of attempt to control information and perception is done in other societies we call it propaganda.

I hope that Canadians will increasingly want to be better informed. When it becomes clear that slick marketing and careful control of information will not succeed in influencing public opinion the attempts to win elections through such methods will be dropped. Then political parties may deserve to gain some respect and popularity.

1) If the CBC gave out the reporter's name, who would be willing to bet that the Conservatives and their supporters would very closely examine all the work of that reporter and take things out of context?

2) The Christina Lewand report was dealt with by the CBC. Nice to see Conservative supporters tearing that one up and constantly bringing it up.

3) Nice to see the Conservative attack ads taking comments of Dion out of context for their own advantage. So much for being ethical.

4) The CBC will most likely never repeat what the government says without checking it out. If they were to repeat everything the government said without checking it, CBC would simply become a PR arm of the government rather than a balanced organization.

5) When Conservatives are challenged about what they say, they attack the person and organization by distracting to other issues.

6) CBC reporting has been favourable and unfavourable to all parties over the years. Claiming "Liberal Bias" is simply false.

7) It's always interesting to hear Conservative misleadings that the Progressive Conservatives, and its history, are not part of the Conservative Party of Canada. All this time I thought the Reform/Alliance merged with the Progressive Conservatives.

Interesting how this event has provoked such violent hatred from so many. I had to laugh right out loud at the sheer viciousness of some. This is Canada, right? We're supposed to be more tolerant, more accepting of each other's differences than our cousins to the south, right? That's the fable, anyway.

As a Canadian of aboriginal descent, I see the same kind of far-right hatred towards First Nations continues to this day as well, so I am not so surprised they continue their vendetta against the CBC. What does surprise and appal me is the brutishness of their attitudes. They've no other idea in their heads except to punish the CBC, and to remake it in their own image perhaps.

What also surprises me about these people is that they see themselves as the figurative norm that the CBC should be measured against. I find that concept truly frightening. They are most definitely NOT my norm, coming as they do from the far right of the political spectrum.

To me, as one who is not part of the mainstream political culture, I see the CBC represents coverage of news somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, being neither socialist nor neo-con. Of course the neo-cons would see the CBC as being more "progressive" than they are - but then again so are almost everybody else who do not belong to the narrow end of the spectrum.

I have no desire to see the CBC become more like the US news agencies (Fox is the frequent example given). Those agencies are so very far to the right I find them downright creepy.

Please, people. Govern your viciousness and hatreds. Learn to respect other people even when you do not agree with their politics. Respect also that those of us who do not share the narrow end of the bell curve with you are all, by definition, more progressive than you are, and that you are not the norm by which we wish to measure institutions like the CBC.

I support the CBC in this event. We need the CBC to balance out the far ends of the spectrum.

I recall when you could watch/listen to CBC and be assured that you were getting the whole story. Of course, that may not have been true as the availability of other news sources, which I find many times at odds with the CBC's version, was limited. I am and always have been a liberal supporter yet I find it hard to say that you are not bias. Your reporters are so blatantly left leaning that I find that I tune in to CBC less and less. If asked 10 years ago should CBC be supported my answer would have been an unqualified yes. Today I am not so sure. The CBC has become a voice for one segment of the population and has alienated the remainder. As I said I am a liberal, but I am not so blind or so senile that I can't recognize a bias whether it be political, social or on green agendas when I see it. Start being an news organization again and leave social engineering to others.

Hell, try living in Western Canada & all you get is poluted neo-con news. Is there a newspaper in Western Canada that isn't in the pocket of Harper? The media in the West is just Harper's secretary. By the way, more CBC reporters have run for the Conservatives than any other party.

National Security is and should be the primary concern of the feds. This said, transparency of these issues should only exist to a certain extent. Its true that secrecy makes rogue leaders but knowing we have an honest, trustworthy leader who's not out to trick us and is actually overseen by another (unlike Mr.Bush), shouldn't be overridden by an irrational fear of his becoming an extremist like Hussein. That's what I perceive the problem is. Fear of extremism. Fear of a theocracy. That's the next step for an extreme rightest, but instead of accusing him of doing things he hasn't why not give him a chance to lead as a moderate. We have a leader who knows democracy and that it isn't awarded. We live in this North American democracy because we earned it.
I'm in agreement with his media bias too.
By not disclosing EVERYTHING, to be interpreted by each media person differently, is that a bad thing? The main objective of the media is to sell stories, to cover it the best way the person can. Contrary to popular belief, people in the media carry baggage too.

Weren't the federal Tories caught not long ago producing fake "news" stories read by hired actors posing as journalists? These "news" stories were sent to sympathetic television stations (you can guess who) who in turn broadcast them without saying they were actually political statements rather than news.

People who live in glass houses...

wow, this is probably the most infuriating series of comments i've yet seen on the cbc site... which is saying a lot.

it seems like everybody is really keen to diagnose media bias against the views they personally hold. i.e. right-wingers point at the cbc and see it as biased towards the left. left-wingers point at fox and see it as biased towards the right.

here's the thing: they're BOTH right. of course CBC is biased towards the left. if you don't believe it, click on over to the podcasts section and subscribe to something as seemingly apolitical as the entertainment show "Q". almost every interview somehow veers into the championing of liberal views at some point.

and FOX? give me a break. bill o'reilly's "no spin zone" is so far to the right that i can't even imagine someone being as obtuse as the commenter above who referred to it as fair and balanced.

i'd be willing to bet that 90% or more of the people defending CBC's supposed "unbiased" journalism on this comment board are politically progressive, or at least anti-rightwing. and those condemning the cbc are on the conservative side of the spectrum.

it's so obvious.... of course you're not going to perceive it as biased, if you agree with the side it's presenting! and of course you'll perceive it as biased if you disagree with the side it's presenting.

contrary to how it may seem from this comment, i do love the cbc, and yes i am pretty far left politically. but i don't kid myself. when i read/listen/watch the cbc, i'm fully aware that i'm getting "news" that's tailored to my worldview. that's why i also take in news from elsewhere, read political blogs on both sides, and try to listen to debate or panel shows as much as possible.

seems like most of the people commenting here don't want unbiased news, they want news that supports their own political bias.

I didn't see any conservatives on this website complaining when the CBC was covering the shenanigans of the Liberals during the Gomery Inquiry, day after day, night after night for the better part of 2005. I imagine they were downright thrilled, as a matter of fact.

And for the previous poster who thinks Fox News in the states is fair and balanced: just because they keep telling you that they present both sides of the story, doesn't make it true, unless you call Bill O'Reilly shouting and cutting off the microphones of any and all who disagree with him "fair and balanced," of course.

I read with great interest, Mr. Cruickshank's indigant response regarding the fundraising letter. I watch CBC News every morning - but I stop watching CBC at the drop of a Writ. CBC may strive to be objective and present all Parties, candidates and issues fairly, but, as the saying goes, you can't be perfect at everything. I would be very interested in the results of the internal investigation and sincerely hope same are published on the internet.

Interesting comments about Fox News being "known around the world for their extreme right-wing bias". According to a study by the Centre for Media and Public Opinion at George Mason University in the US (www dot cmpa dot com slash releases slash 07_12_21_Election_Study dot pdf), it was found that Fox's coverage was "perfectly balanced", while others were biased. Apparently, you're dead wrong.

As for documented left-leaning media bias in general, may I point you to American studies (which are almost certainly reflected in Canada the same way) from Harvard and from Journalism dot org (THE INVISIBLE PRIMARY—INVISIBLE NO LONGER) and from MSNBC that clearly indicate left-bias in the media and monetary support of left-leaning politicians by a vast majority of journalists (over 80% of American journalists give money to the Democrats).

Here's an even simpler test...you hear every day in the news about "right-wing" this or that...when was the last time any Canadian political party or group was referred to as "left-wing"? If there is a right, there's a left...but it is never mentioned...because the leftists consider themselves centrists. Bias, pure and simple.

This is being cross-posted at another blog as proof-of-submission.

I for one am puzzled as to why can not anyone give a question to another to pose in an investigation of facts. In the case of which the CBC is alleged to have helped form some questions in the Mulroney/Scrieber affair, the CBC has been forced to seek cover only because the Harper governement has bared fangs which they can do because they can pull finances or employment. I support all questions especially "good" questions to expose corruption and applaud the question. Keep going and investigate everything. Investigate the DUD SUBS....who got commisions on that!!! There just has to be some great incentives to buy those pink elephants.

So who is the reporter?

"The CBC is non-partisan."

What a joke!!!

Fascinating comments.

Bias certainly exists institutionally, within CBC.

It will always exist in all mass media. The Fifth Estate is extremely powerful. As long as we understand the existence of bias and the power of the media we are OK.

The one thing we should be careful of is the power of the media to effect politics, through its bias. In this way, the media whispering questions into the ear of an opposition party and they both conspire to then pose the questions, sullies our democracy. In this way, a taxpayer funded media agency deciding on picking political winners and political losers and supporting their views also sullies democracy.

We must be very careful to ensure our media does not become an organ of a political party.

We never want to hear the following question: Is the CBC the propaganda arm of the Liberal Party of Canada; or is the Liberal Party of Canada the political wing of the CBC?

Tomm

Well reading all these posts talking about how the CBC has a bias towards the left almost makes me change my mind about my decision to give up on it. I have tired of the way it no longer seems to have the courage to do anything except parrot the party line of the rest of the corporately owned main stream media!

For example - despite continula nagginf from me (and boy can I NAG!!) it took months to discuss TILMA, and still has little to say about that particular little dance with fascism. It does not cover the SPP, but then why should it? We're only talking about the giveaway of the nation of Canada? It does not cover Railgate. As far as I know it did not report the Railgate break in at Bill Tieleman's office, and apparently has two completely different versions of what news gets read on the air depending on what time of day one is listening. Early morning - the whole story - later on corporately whitewashed pap.

As for the corporately owned mainstream meadi, Regressive Conservatives will complain about a "liberal" media bias until the cows come home, but eventually it gets a little hard to hide that the same corporate funders who support them politically own almost all of the media. Sometimes 2 plus 2 actually does equal 4.

There are only two sources of unbiased political news left in Canada. CPAC and Mike Duffy Live on CTV. The email I received from John Cruickshank on Jan 22 assured me that there would be a "detailed outcome ...to the public at large". I guess this it, LOL.

The bias in your news organization has been clear for a long time, esp. in relation to American politics. This morning I heard your correspondent, commenting on the Republican debate last night, refer to Mitt Romney as a "moneyed Morman." Imagine if a candidate had been called a "rich Jew." What possible relevance does Romney's religion have to do with his candidacy? And is there something wrong with having earned money in a successful business career? Your correspondent is engaging in smear tacticts one would expect from an unethical political opponent. Next your correspondent said something to the effect that "the American people are not ready for another Republican President." Really? The latest MSN poll shows McCain leading Clinton in a head to head contest. Who runs your American news division - the New York Times?

That Conservative party supporters could conceivably call anyone else biased or arrogant is utterly laughable. Further, the notion that privately owned and run media organisations are better balanced in their reporting and perspective is absurd in the extreme. Our current PM is the most incredibly arrogant person in government. About the only person he can look good against is GWB! The fact that he hates the media is well known. The fact that he hates CBC even more is readily apparent. I, BTW, am not a supporter of the Liberal party, but I am an enthusiastic supporter of an independent, publicly funded broadcaster. It should be absolutely against the laws of the land for any government to interfere with CBC funding. Fox News unbiased.......purleeeease! Witness the many thousands of Americans who turn to the CBC for a balanced and world wide view of the news. Please lets keep an independent and well respected public broadcaster out of the hands of the control freaks in the PMO. Yes we must keep all such organisations on their toes and examine their actions to ensure integrity, that however, does not mean that every time there is a slight slip we sart braying for blood.
Keep up the great work guys!

It is impossible to share a "fact" or opinion without the bias of point-of-view. The history of mankind is a series of interpretations.

What is dangerous are the places/times in history where a despot or similar tampered with free speech.

The idea of a national government funding a free-speaking media IS democracy defined.

I don't like when people say bad things about me either but you won't find me holding a pity party. I have more important priorites and responsibilities.

If you have a problem with the CBC's "bias", I would recommend you send an angry email and complain or talk to an appropriate governing body in order to have your complaint heard. It's an effective tool open to you anytime.

Personally, I'm laughing at the bias in all of these comments! The CBC has the right to defend the integrity of their organization, much like ANY other organization would. I won't lie, I'm a liberal, ergo my opinion is also subject to the evils of "BIAS" *gasp* but think logically... would you let anybody call everyone you know liars and spin doctors because of one person's actions?

No. (If you answered yes... then best of luck to you establishing any sort of social connections in life)

The fact is that the Conservatives are the ones who are in power. When the liberals were in power, the media hounded them too. It's called keeping a political party "accountable". I know it's a foreign concept these days, but I for one feel blessed having the CBC rather than having to get my information from stations like CNN or Fox News.

imho:

I dunno, maybe the minority-Cons need money for Steve H.'s lavish $12,000/month coiffing and astrological counselling services. What better way to raise money than by creating another overblown non-crisis, manipulating gullible ideological adherents out of their money? And/Or maybe we taxpayers are still paying for this over-priced service.

We, the Canadian Electorate are the leaders of this country. Most of us are non-partisan, fair-minded, non-conservative types. Parliament and the CBC inform us about current affairs and concerns. If representing that non-Con majority viewpoint is considered biased that's too bad; majority rules; you have heard about democracy haven't you?

Intimidation and stifling dissent has negative electoral consequences for the intimidators. I think Steve H. is very bitter because we wouldn't give him majority rule like Mulroney got years ago. We're a lot smarter and wiser now.

Though biased, CBC employees can still represent things fairly; unlike the minority-Cons whose recent vicious attacks on other non-partisan civil servants (like Linda Keen and the RHGG Michaele Jean) suggests a gross inability to govern in the Canadian way: fairly, respectfully, and inclusively. I've watched, in astonished annoyance, Don Newman self-censuring his comments, saying that he didn't want a lawsuit.

Lao Tzu advised: "one should not attack where one has no enemy". The control-freak, self-serving behaviour of the minority-Cons is creating non-Con converts country-wide. I'm for Danny Wilson's ABC campaign, promoting the Liberal and Green Parties; forget the NPD who behave like Steve H.'s cheerleaders, helping to bully their Liberal counterparts at every opportunity. Get a clue Jack, the Liberals aren't "in power" now. And the polls are giving 20/20, asking manipulative questions imho.

Leenie J.
Independent Non-Partisan Voter CC:SA

I do not think there is any doubt the CBC is firmly in the Liberal corner. The CBC has had a rather obvious bias for the Liberals for as long as I can remember. That is a fact that cannot be disputed, the CBC will report anything to discredit the Conservatives but will over look every Liberal gaff other than the most obvious and even then the report is watered down. The recent colusion of the CBC with the Liberals to dicredit the Conservative party that was admitted to by the Liberals is just a horrible situation that proves to Canada the CBC supports the Liberals. Even the thursday at issue panel are by far and away Liberal supporters and go out of they're way to show they're clear Liberal colors. The CBC will have to do a lot of work and probably clean house to shake the perception of them not being in one political corner. In my opinion the bias is shameful and the bias cheats people of the real political stories. I don't blame the Conservatives for making the accusation, if I was a Conservative MP I would not offer a CBC reporter the time of day let alone an interview. Maybe just maybe once the CBC starts pointing out weaknesses of the Liberals as often and with the venom in which they attact the Conservatives us Canadians can start to listen to what the CBC has to say. Until then.. the CBC is just the same old Liberal supporting CBC.

Scott
ns

I have yet to see CBC News treat any party unfairly.

You Must be a liberal
Or you are Just stupid.

either way they are the same thing

If there was ever any doubt about the CBC's bias, just look at their top 3 stories from the past week...

1) the Cadman affair
2) the continuing saga of Carl
Schreiber
3) NAFTA gate...bla, bla, bla,
who cares!

Not exactly world news, but it is "cbc world" news, and A.S.S.from Toronto and all his friends are welcome to it.

I am very intersted in this subject I have read your comment with interest.. But when I tried to acsess "comments on this story by other news media" it was not avaiable as was the "Letter sent by Conservative finday person in a fundraiser.. I would like to read both of these items to fully inofrm myself .. How can I acess them? RVSP please

Mr. Cruikshank's satisfaction with the ethical rectitude of his people does not fit the facts. CBC News cannot claim to be unbiased, dedicated, professional or even very well educated.
Educated journalists, for example, know that "media" is a plural noun. The singular is "medium." Radio is a medium, the press is a medium. The two of them together are media.
Nor is any journalist unbiased, least of all CBC journalists. But professional journalists are generally able to provide balanced reportage. Too often the CBC fails to do this.
Mr. Cruikshank could learn from PBS and NPR in the United States, who do provide balanced coverage. Not "unbiased" - there's no such thing - but balanced. "The News Hour" presents both the liberal views of Mark Shields and the conservative voice of David Brooks.
There was a time when CBC news was balanced and responsible. That was before the 30-somethings in management decided that good grammar and factual reporting were not "cool" enough to attract "today's young audience" (read "semi-educated sybarites to whom Paris Hilton is a culture heroine").
There's nothing wrong with youth, except of course that it's wasted on the young. But sophomore journalists like the Stroumboulopouloi (plural of Stroumboulopoulos) should stay in the mail room until they learn (1) to put together a literate sentence and (2) the difference between "debate" and "invective."

Bias is a matter of relativity. If you agree with me you are not biased, if you disagree with me there is the evidence of your bias.

I do not find CBC biased with respect to Political Parties. It seems to me that CBC is prepared to ask hard questions of any Party and especially of the Party in power, whom so ever that may be.

I find CBC to have a bias in favor of feminist politics. I would ask that as a response CBC provide a graph with two lines, the axis are seniority and number (of employees). The graphs should be populated with “journalists” (not support workers), one curve for male another curve for female. If I am correct, the graphs will show that in recent years the CBC has been employing females at a much higher rate than males. I cite this fact as proof of bias.