Recent Reviews
Robotics competition
The review concerns a complaint about inaccuracy and the narrow focus in a CBC Radio Ottawa item on a robotics competition. I did not find a violation of CBC Journalistic Standards and Practices, but there was room for improvement. ...Offensive language
This review arises from the use of language that offended a listener of CBC Radio. I did not find a violation of CBC Journalistic Standards and Practices, although I noted the importance of exercising restraint in broadcast. ...Pursuit of the right to die
This review involved a complaint that a CBC.ca feature on the pursuit of the right to die was biased in favour of one perspective and used terms that were not accurate. There were no violations of CBC Journalistic Standards and ...MV Mavi Marmara video
This review involves a complaint that CBC News did not use a relevant video chronicling the Israeli attack on the MV Mavi Marmara during the flotilla to the Gaza in 2010. I did not find a violation of policy. ...Political analysis of Giffords shooting
This review concerns a CBC Television report on The National following the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords of the U.S. Congress. There was an error in the report, but correct information was subsequently presented. Its analytical thrust was within policy. ...Our Commitment
The CBC belongs to the people of Canada. As the public broadcaster, the CBC plays a unique role in Canadian journalism. At the CBC information is a public service. The Ombudsman is here to ensure CBC upholds its standards and practices to provide you with information programming of the highest quality.
We recognize your right to accuracy, fairness and integrity in CBC's journalism. And we recognize your right to hold CBC accountable for the quality of its information programming.
To help meet the commitment to excellence - and to help you the citizen exercise your rights - the CBC established the Office of the Ombudsman as an independent institution within the Corporation. The Ombudsman has a mandate to represent listeners, viewers and readers within the CBC, a mandate to address your concerns about the quality of CBC journalism.
The Office of the CBC Ombudsman represents the public to ensure CBC upholds its information standards and practices.
Ombudsman Blog
Reviews released and under way
Since my last post I have released five findings and launched two new reviews. The first finding involved a complaint CBC Television reports on The National concerning the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords, the member of Congress, in which six died ...CBC News response to finding
Jennifer McGuire, the editor in chief of CBC News, has today issued a statement on my recent finding involving the organization's Victoria legislative reporter. Her statement and reader comments are at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/01/31/f-vp-mcguire-ombudsman-bc-legislature.html ...Reviews released and under way
In the last week I have released three findings and agreed to conduct two reviews. The first finding concerned a complaint that Early Edition, a CBC Radio British Columbia program, did not accurately describe a report calling for reforms to ...Reviews released and under way
Since my last post I have released five findings and launched six reviews. Findings are typically posted a day or two after they have been distributed simultaneously to the complainant and to CBC News. A few days later they are ...Reviews released and under way
Since my last post I've released two reviews and launched two others. The first review concerned a CBC Television documentary, Scout's Honour, seen on the fifth estate in October. The central complaint was that the program did not make a ...Journalistic Standards and Practices
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices are its journalistic values. They provide the policy framework within which CBC journalism seeks to meet expectations and obligations.
The Ombudsman's task is to determine whether a program or report has complied with these standards and practices.
Find out more about our standards and practices.
Make a Complaint »
To make a public complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman, you can use our standard form by clicking here, or you can write to us at the address below.
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Kirk LaPointe
Ombudsman
CBC
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Toronto, Ontario M5W 1E6
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Fax: (416) 205-2825