The Office of the Ombudsman

Archive of Findings for December, 2011

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Essay about impact of 9/11 on Middle East politics

Dec 20, 2011 - This review concerns a CBC.ca essay on Middle East politics by CBC's Senior Washington correspondent. It found the essay fair but agreed with CBC News and the complainant it could have been labeled as "analysis" for the reader's benefit.

Impending flotilla into Gaza Strip

Dec 16, 2011 - This involved a complaint about a CBC Television report on an impending flotilla into the Gaza Strip. The review found that while the piece might have benefited from more background, it did not violate CBC Journalistic Standards and Practices.

Interview with flotilla participant

Dec 15, 2011 - This complaint arose from a June 24 segment on CBC Radio's Information Morning Nova Scotia about Israel and pending Canadian involvement in a Gaza Strip aid flotilla. The review found a policy violation of CBC Journalistic Standards and Practices.

Article about United Nations tribunal into killing of Lebanese PM

Dec 9, 2011 - A complaint about information concerning the Mossad in a CBC.ca analysis questioning the ineffectiveness of a United Nations tribunal into the killing of the Lebanese prime minister. I did not find a violation of CBC Journalistic Standards and Practices.

Commentaries on The Fisheries Broadcast

Dec 6, 2011 - A complaint that the public input segment on CBC Radio Newfoundland and Labrador's The Fisheries Broadcast was no longer using the complainant's commentary, and about remarks by its host. The review found no CBC Journalistic Standards and Practices violation.

Headlines on two CBC.ca stories

Dec 1, 2011 - This review concerns a public complaint about two headlines on CBC.ca stories October 18 and October 30, 2011. The complainant asserts the headlines betray bias. The finding is that there was no violation of CBC Journalistic Standards and Practices.

Graphic content

Nov 30, 2011 - Review: Graphic audio clip of 911 call in CBC Radio news story

Liberation Treatment

Nov 25, 2011 - Review: Report about the Liberation Treatment for multiple sclerosis

Yarmouth

Nov 24, 2011 - Review: Profile of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, ten years after 9/11

Unions

Nov 18, 2011 - Review: Discussion about unions on The Lang & O'Leary Exchange

"One-state solution"

Nov 16, 2011 - Review: Interviews about the concept of a one-state solution to help resolve issues in the Middle East

Asbestos

Nov 15, 2011 - Review: Proposed reopening of asbestos mine in Quebec

Interviews about the DSM

Nov 7, 2011 - Review: Interviews about the effort to update the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Disturbing images

Oct 28, 2011 - Review: Images of Michael Jackson presented at the trial of his physician

Identification of interviewees

Oct 27, 2011 - Review: Identification of an interviewee as a "labour analyst"

Hockey Night in Canada

Oct 26, 2011 - Review: Remarks made on Hockey Night in Canada during a discussion about fighting in the NHL

Palestinian bid for statehood

Oct 18, 2011 - Review: Interviews on The Current about the proposal to grant Palestinian statehood

Treatment of guest

Oct 13, 2011 - Review: Name-calling by business program co-host during interview

Images of human brain

Oct 12, 2011 - Review: Imagery used to promote The National's special report on brain research

Soccer dispute

Oct 7, 2011 - Review: Dispute between Canadian women's soccer team and Canadian Soccer Association

U.K. riots

Sep 22, 2011 - Review: Guest wasn't challenged in discussion about U.K. riots

Anonymous letter

Sep 21, 2011 - Review: An anonymous letter that was read aloud on CBC Radio's Mainstreet

Oil sands documentary

Sep 9, 2011 - Review: The Tipping Point: The Age of the Oil Sands

G20 summit

Sep 2, 2011 - Review: A look back at the police response to demonstrations during the G20 summit

Handling of errors

Aug 26, 2011 - Review: Six-Day War segment

Television report on hydro-fracking

Aug 22, 2011 - Review of complaint about accuracy and fairness of CBC New Brunswick television report on citizens' group policy.

Television banner content

Aug 22, 2011 - Review of superimposed description on The Lang & O'Leary Exchange.

Anders Behring Breivik

Aug 5, 2011 - Review: Characterization of alleged mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik as a "Christian fundamentalist"

Alice Walker

Aug 5, 2011 - Review: Anna Maria Tremonti's interview with author/activist Alice Walker

Lack of coverage

Jul 13, 2011 - Review: Lack of coverage of Bilderberg meeting

Vancouver riot

Jul 13, 2011 - Review: Interview about riot in Vancouver after Stanley Cup final game

Conflict of interest

Jul 5, 2011 - Review: Complaint about conflict of interest during federal election campaign

Auditor General's leaked draft report

Jun 29, 2011 - Review: CBC report about a leaked draft report by the Auditor General on G20 expenditures

Updating

Jun 29, 2011 - Review: Updating of CBC News reports

Osama bin Laden

Jun 27, 2011 - Review: Responsibility for attacks of September 11, 2001

Vote Compass

Jun 21, 2011 - Review: Vote Compass survey during federal election campaign

Conservative political rally

Jun 17, 2011 - Review: Questions at Conservative political rally during federal election campaign

March for Life rally

Jun 15, 2011 - Review: Coverage of the March for Life rally in Ottawa

Harsh language

Jun 13, 2011 - Review: Use of harsh language of the business world

Coalition issue

Jun 8, 2011 - Review: Analysis of coalition issue during federal election campaign

Report from Libya

Jun 1, 2011 - Review: Reference to Israel in report from Libya

Election Reality Check

Jun 1, 2011 - Review: Reality Check on whether opposition parties were forcing the election

Coverage of Prime Minister

May 31, 2011 - Review: The quality of prime ministerial coverage

Government loan to cookware manufacturer

May 13, 2011 - Review: Report about PEI government loan to local cookware manufacturer

Nuclear safety

May 13, 2011 - Review: Quirks & Quarks interview about nuclear safety

Beauty pageant organizer

May 12, 2011 - Review: Report about a complaint made about a beauty pageant organizer

Homeopathy

May 11, 2011 - Review: Marketplace program about homeopathy

Sexual assault case

May 2, 2011 - Review: Reporting of military background of doctor accused of sexual assault

Wolfe Island wind energy project

May 2, 2011 - Review: The Current's documentary about a wind energy project on Wolfe Island

"Exclusive" news reports

Apr 29, 2011 - Review: Use of the term "exclusive" in describing CBC news reports

UN Security Council

Apr 28, 2011 - Review: Reports about Canada's unsuccessful bid for a seat on the UN Security Council

Privacy in the digital age

Apr 28, 2011 - Review: Discussion on The Sunday Edition about privacy in the digital age

Moving companies

Apr 27, 2011 - Review: Complaint from a moving company about CBC reports on practices by the Better Business Bureau to rate moving companies

Correction of error

Apr 26, 2011 - Review: Correction of error about Conservative Party bloggers

Artist as arts reporter

Apr 21, 2011 - Review: Potential conflict of interest in use of artist as arts reporter

Use of the word "terrorist"

Apr 15, 2011 - Review: The terms used to describe those in violent conflict

2007 Venezuelan referendum

Apr 15, 2011 - Review: Radio reports about 2007 Venezuelan referendum campaign and vote

Kevin O'Leary

Apr 14, 2011 - Review: Three complaints about Kevin O'Leary, co-host of The Lang & O'Leary Exchange

Proving Causality in Cancer

Apr 11, 2011 - Review: Proving Causality in Cancer (The Current, January 3, 2011)

Income trust issue

Apr 8, 2011 - Review: Coverage of the income trust issue by CBC News

Point-of-view documentaries

Apr 7, 2011 - Review: Complaint from Mike Fegelman, Executive Director, HonestReporting Canada, about the documentary Budrus: The Village that Didn't Give Up

Brian Mulroney: The Unauthorized Chapter

Mar 24, 2011 - Review: Fifth Estate documentary, Brian Mulroney: The Unauthorized Chapter

Story headline

Mar 18, 2011 - Review: Complainant asserted story did not support headline

Green Party of Nova Scotia

Mar 16, 2011 - Review: Coverage of the Green Party of Nova Scotia, 2009 provincial election

The Lies That Led To War

Mar 11, 2011 - Review: The Fifth Estate report The Lies That Led To War

Rape conviction of former Israeli president

Mar 10, 2011 - Review: CBC Radio reports about rape conviction of former Israeli president Moshe Katsav

Israeli air raid on ships bound for Gaza

Mar 4, 2011 - Review: CBC Radio reports on Israeli air raid on ships bound for Gaza

Disrespectful language

Mar 2, 2011 - Review: Use of the term "Indian giver"

Oil sands tailings pond

Mar 1, 2011 - Review: Reports about the environmental condition of an oil sands tailings pond

Handling of erroneous remarks

Feb 25, 2011 - Review: The handling of erroneous remarks on Power & Politics

Middle East peace talks

Feb 24, 2011 - Review: Report about Middle East peace talks, August 2010

Health warning labels on cigarette packages

Feb 17, 2011 - Review: Complaint from Dimitri Soudas, Director of Communications, Office of the Prime Minister, about a report on The National concerning health warning labels on cigarette packages

Remembrance Day

Feb 11, 2011 - Review: Comments made during CBC's Remembrance Day program

"Betrayal"

Feb 11, 2011 - Review: "Betrayal" - Linden MacIntyre's personal essay on childhood abuse victims in Nova Scotia

Public forum on Canada and Aboriginal People

Feb 9, 2011 - Review: The Sunday Edition's public forum, "Canada and the Aboriginal People: Can We Finally Get It Right?"

Wendy Cukier

Feb 2, 2011 - Review: Appearance of Wendy Cukier in interview about federal hiring policies

Report on a New Brunswick workplace

Jan 7, 2011 - Review: Complaint from Ed Hennessey of Safety First - SFC Ltd. about a CBC report on a New Brunswick workplace

Index of Findings from the Ombudsman