Don’t drop rule against false and misleading news

February 09, 2011 Editor Journalism canadian media guildcrtcjournalism ethics

The CRTC must withdraw the proposed weakening of a regulation that bans false and misleading news from the airwaves and call a public hearing on broadcast news, says the Canadian Media Guild.

“The Commission appears to be proposing to give (broadcasters) free rein to lie and mislead the Canadian public in the guise of delivering news,” the CMG says in today’s submission to the CRTC. “This kind of loosening of the rules can be interpreted as a frontal assault on democratic debate and the notion of an informed citizenry.”

Hundreds of Canadians have submitted comments to the CRTC in opposition to the weaker regulation. Their comments reflect the concern that news and information programming will be turned into propaganda to serve corporate and political interests.

The CMG first called for a public hearing on the definition of news and news balance last October in response to the application by Sun TV News for an all-news channel. The latest CRTC proposal to weaken the rule against “false and misleading news,” and the overwhelming public response against it, further highlight the need for broader public input on how the broadcast regulator deals with news and information programming.

Media union concerned about journos in Egypt

February 04, 2011 Editor Journalism canadian media guildcwasca canadaegypt

The following statement has been posted at cmg.ca: We are deeply concerned about stories emerging this week from Egypt about beatings, detention and harassment of journalists, including our own colleagues.The events underscore how dangerous our work can be and yet how vitally important it is in order to let the world know what is going at times…

HarperCollins seeks the right morals

January 19, 2011 Editor News e-readsfreelance contractsharpercollins

Most freelancers are familiar with the concept of moral rights: the right to claim authorship of their work, and the right to not have it distorted or "folded, spindled and mutilated" in such a way that it would damage the author's reputation.US publisher HarperCollins has recently started talking about morals of another kind. The company wants to…

False or misleading news soon ok on TV, radio

January 18, 2011 Editor Journalism canadian association of journalistscrtcfox news northjournalism ethicsmichael geistsun tv news

The CRTC is proposing to loosen some of the only rules we have related to broadcast news content in Canada. The current rules say that broadcasters cannot air "any false or misleading news." Period. The change, scheduled to come into effect on September 1 of this year, would limit that prohibition to situations where the false or misleading news…

Reader’s Digest to feed MSN.ca

January 06, 2011 Editor News canadian writers groupdigitalfreelance contractsmsn.careader's digest

The Canadian Magazines blog is reporting that Reader's Digest has a deal with MSN.ca to provide lifestyle and travel content in French and English for the news website.The Canadian Writers Group, which represents writers who provide content to Reader's Digest, has made a formal inquiry to the magazine about how writers will be compensated for work…

2011 and the digital platform

January 04, 2011 Editor News digitali-padreader's digestrogers publishing

Happy 2011! You will hear nonstop about the "digital platform." Masthead published all kinds of end-of-year interviews with publishers and they're all bullish on big-D digital, of course.Reader's Digest's Tony Cioffi says: "2011 will be focused on Digital, developing products and expanding our current brands and launching new ones to support our…

More on the iPad revolution

December 17, 2010 Editor News huffington postipadmagazines

You can almost hear the panting when people write about the iPad. It's right up there with sliced bread in mid-December 2010 culture. It'll probably be over by January, so here's some more on the iPad before it's too late.The Huffington Post is reporting that the iPad will revolutionize magazines. Mark Pasetsky argues that smart celebrity magazine…

iPad apps a priority for Rogers

December 17, 2010 Editor News cross-platformipadmagazinesrogers publishing

In an interview with CARTT.ca (subscription required), new Rogers Media boss Keith Pelley says it's logical that i-Pad apps will be a priority for Rogers Publishing. "You know, the iPad or tablet is one that will significantly change publishing. People go online for information and video. They don’t necessarily go to read a full magazine. If…

And the survey says…

December 15, 2010 Editor News canadian media guildcbcfreelancer ratessurvey

American freelance business writers earn an average of $25-30,000 per year, according to an informal survey completed by 67 members of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW). The poll found that freelancers are paid between 75 cents and $1 per word, if they are paid by the word, or an average of $250 per assigment.“The…

Freelancers meet at Toronto’s historic Gladstone

December 08, 2010 Editor News andrew cashcanadian media guildcanadian writers groupeventperiodical writers association of canada

The Gladstone Hotel's Art Room turned out to be an apt spot to launch the new alliance between Canada's only agency for freelance writers and a major media union. A historic hotel -- and an age-old problem. The problem is figuring out how to give collective voice and leverage to people who are, by law and trade, independent. The solution,…