Recent Reviews
Statement on journalist's Twitter account
The complaint involves a statement on a CBC journalist's Twitter account about gun ownership by Israelis. There was an inaccuracy in the statement, meaning a violation of CBC Journalistic Standards and Practices. ...Reports about federal Conservative government
The complaint cited reports on proposed legislation, on allegations of voting irregularities, and coverage of an MP as indications of bias against the Conservative government. I did not find violations of CBC Journalistic Standards and Practices. ...Report about government support of Canadian banks
The review concerns the accuracy and fairness of an online story about government support of Canadian banks. While there was no violation of CBC Journalistic Standards and Practices, there was room for improvement to provide background to the story. ...Alleged voting irregularities
The review follows a complaint that a CBC Television report was unfair in describing alleged voting irregularities in the 2011 federal election. I did not find a violation of policy but that the description could have been better worded. ...Amnesty International report on capital punishment
The review follows a public complaint about reports on CBC Radio and CBC.ca about an Amnesty International report on capital punishment worldwide. While there was a violation of CBC Journalistic Standards and Practices, CBC corrected the online error. ...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 the last blog post I have completed three reviews and launched one more. The first review examined a complaint about television and online reports on assistance to Canadian banks during the global economic downturn. While there was not a ...New findings released, review under way
In recent days three findings have been released. The first examined a public complaint that a CBC Television and CBC.ca report on so-called "robocalls" in the 2011 federal election was inaccurate and thus unfair. The report noted that the political ...Review findings released
There are three recent findings arising from public complaints. The first review involved a complaint about bias and inaccuracy in a CBC.ca opinion piece by former Conservative cabinet minister Stockwell Day. His article looked at complaints in the Occupy movement ...New findings released and reviews under way
Since my last post I have released three findings and launched two reviews. The first finding involved a public complaint about a CBC.ca report on the health hazards of sugar. The complainant asserted that the report headline and content were ...Findings released on three complaints
Since my last post I have completed three reviews and issued findings arising from those public complaints. The Office of the Ombudsman generally reviews complaints when the public is not satisfied with responses by CBC programmers to concerns. A review ...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.
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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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Fax: (416) 205-2825