Comments on: Canadian media de-Zerbified http://backofthebook.ca/2007/07/03/canadian-media-de-zerbified/1283/ Politics, tech, media, culture and more, from a Canadian point-of-view Sat, 12 May 2012 22:58:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Antonia Z http://backofthebook.ca/2007/07/03/canadian-media-de-zerbified/1283/#comment-351 Antonia Z Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:30:00 +0000 http://backofthebook.ca/2007/07/03/canadian-media-de-zerbified/#comment-351 Oh hello. I just stumbled across this while perusing the eFrank forum. <br /><br />You coulda written, you coulda called.<br /><br />Nothing nefarious. Really. It's true. When Michele Landsberg retired in 2003, I lobbied for her job. But the Star deemed me too valuable as media writer. <br /><br />Every time we changed editors after that, I lobbied again and again. <br /><br />Finally, with the redesign, and thanks to the Globe's creation of a daily living section, it was decided that we needed to beef up our lifestyle pages as well.<br /><br />They offered me the column and I grabbed it -- thrilled to never ever have to type the letters CRTC again.<br /><br />It was a losing battle Brian. I got tired of bashing my head against the wall of media concentration, tired of my own voice bouncing off that wall in a world where most readers seemed to care more about Paris Hilton and not at all about Noam Chomsky.<br /><br />As for the blog, long story short, economics. I posted more than the Star system could handle.<br /><br />Thanks for the lovely words though. <br /><br />(I did not quit for health reasons, despite taking an extended leave.) Oh hello. I just stumbled across this while perusing the eFrank forum.

You coulda written, you coulda called.

Nothing nefarious. Really. It’s true. When Michele Landsberg retired in 2003, I lobbied for her job. But the Star deemed me too valuable as media writer.

Every time we changed editors after that, I lobbied again and again.

Finally, with the redesign, and thanks to the Globe’s creation of a daily living section, it was decided that we needed to beef up our lifestyle pages as well.

They offered me the column and I grabbed it — thrilled to never ever have to type the letters CRTC again.

It was a losing battle Brian. I got tired of bashing my head against the wall of media concentration, tired of my own voice bouncing off that wall in a world where most readers seemed to care more about Paris Hilton and not at all about Noam Chomsky.

As for the blog, long story short, economics. I posted more than the Star system could handle.

Thanks for the lovely words though.

(I did not quit for health reasons, despite taking an extended leave.)

]]> By: brian brennan http://backofthebook.ca/2007/07/03/canadian-media-de-zerbified/1283/#comment-352 brian brennan Sat, 07 Jul 2007 08:49:00 +0000 http://backofthebook.ca/2007/07/03/canadian-media-de-zerbified/#comment-352 Point us to the links, Warren, so that our readers can decide for themselves.<br />I see 11 hits on the infomart.ca database where you mentioned Iran. Not one was critical of the National Post. I also see 8 references to health care. They're not critical of the Post, either. In fact, in one of them, you refer to "my pals on the Post's editorial board." http://tinyurl.com/344py5<br /><br />Warm regards,<br />Brian Point us to the links, Warren, so that our readers can decide for themselves.
I see 11 hits on the infomart.ca database where you mentioned Iran. Not one was critical of the National Post. I also see 8 references to health care. They’re not critical of the Post, either. In fact, in one of them, you refer to “my pals on the Post’s editorial board.” http://tinyurl.com/344py5

Warm regards,
Brian

]]> By: Warren K http://backofthebook.ca/2007/07/03/canadian-media-de-zerbified/1283/#comment-353 Warren K Fri, 06 Jul 2007 07:46:00 +0000 http://backofthebook.ca/2007/07/03/canadian-media-de-zerbified/#comment-353 I have criticized the Post in columns in respect of the Iran badges story, and also on its editorial position on health care and Iraq. They have permitted me to do that with equanimity.<br /><br />I have also taken on CanWest writers and editorialists for months - the Sun's Barbara Yaffe on assorted political comments, the Citizen and its Dan Gardner, and your former employer, the Herald.<br /><br />I don't pull punches, and nor does the Post ever ask me to. <br /><br />You owe them, and me, an apology. Your own bitterness towards the former ownership lingers. I have criticized the Post in columns in respect of the Iran badges story, and also on its editorial position on health care and Iraq. They have permitted me to do that with equanimity.

I have also taken on CanWest writers and editorialists for months – the Sun’s Barbara Yaffe on assorted political comments, the Citizen and its Dan Gardner, and your former employer, the Herald.

I don’t pull punches, and nor does the Post ever ask me to.

You owe them, and me, an apology. Your own bitterness towards the former ownership lingers.

]]> By: brian brennan http://backofthebook.ca/2007/07/03/canadian-media-de-zerbified/1283/#comment-354 brian brennan Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:47:00 +0000 http://backofthebook.ca/2007/07/03/canadian-media-de-zerbified/#comment-354 Hello Warren,<br /><br />Very glad to see that you are still as angry as you were back in the days when you and your high school buddies put together the Social Blemishes as Calgary's first punk band.<br /> I don't suggest for a moment that you have ever been guilty of a conflict of interest in your media-criticism column for the National Post. Far be it from me to say such a thing. I just wonder why I have never seen you taking on the Posties in one of your columns. Or perhaps I just missed those pieces. <br />Show me a link or two so I can see examples of you pointing out obvious failings in some of the CanWest coverage of the issues of the day. When you do so, I will be glad to retract my comments about you only taking on safe targets in your column.<br />Best regards,<br />Brian Hello Warren,

Very glad to see that you are still as angry as you were back in the days when you and your high school buddies put together the Social Blemishes as Calgary’s first punk band.
I don’t suggest for a moment that you have ever been guilty of a conflict of interest in your media-criticism column for the National Post. Far be it from me to say such a thing. I just wonder why I have never seen you taking on the Posties in one of your columns. Or perhaps I just missed those pieces.
Show me a link or two so I can see examples of you pointing out obvious failings in some of the CanWest coverage of the issues of the day. When you do so, I will be glad to retract my comments about you only taking on safe targets in your column.
Best regards,
Brian

]]> By: Warren K http://backofthebook.ca/2007/07/03/canadian-media-de-zerbified/1283/#comment-355 Warren K Tue, 03 Jul 2007 09:04:00 +0000 http://backofthebook.ca/2007/07/03/canadian-media-de-zerbified/#comment-355 I, like every journalist with an investment portfolio or outside interests, declare same to the newspaper for which I write. When there is a relationship that needs to be disclosed - a friendship with Justin Trudeau, a political party that I have supported - I declare those within the body of whatever I write.<br /><br />I don't write about subjects where I have a conflict, real or perceived. When needed, I disclose the possibility of a conflict. Your suggestion that I do otherwise is bullshit, sloppy writing, or both.<br /><br />Either way, piss off. I, like every journalist with an investment portfolio or outside interests, declare same to the newspaper for which I write. When there is a relationship that needs to be disclosed – a friendship with Justin Trudeau, a political party that I have supported – I declare those within the body of whatever I write.

I don’t write about subjects where I have a conflict, real or perceived. When needed, I disclose the possibility of a conflict. Your suggestion that I do otherwise is bullshit, sloppy writing, or both.

Either way, piss off.

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