What we lose when papers give up on beat reporting
As general assignment becomes the norm in newsrooms, publishers save money while the journalism—and the readers—suffer
By Lisa Coxon When Rod Mickleburgh was a labour reporter for The Vancouver Sun in the 1970s, he worked the night shift. Because that meant no deadlines, he’d sit at his desk, call union leaders at home and have long chats. After more than a decade on the beat, Mickleburgh had the sources and the instincts to […]
‘The company does not love you’: the editorial cartoon after Roy Peterson
From his termination at The Vancouver Sun to his role in the community of illustrators, we remember the "Great Cartoonist"
By Shannon Clarke “They’re not going to like this,” thought copy editor Cheryl Parker as she walked Roy Peterson’s last cartoon through The Vancouver Sun newsroom in 2009. The caricature showed Peterson dressed as Father Time, holding a newspaper with the headline “Newspaper terminates editorial cartoonist” and a sign that read, “The End Is Nigh!” Parker took it […]
Do Rob Ford reporters have a transparency problem?
Recent Ontario Press Council hearings called out the use of anonymous sources in the coverage of Toronto's mayor, leaving readers questioning journalism’s trustworthiness
By Luc Rinaldi On a summer afternoon in August 2011, Globe and Mail investigative reporter Greg McArthur sent an email to his editor with the subject line, “Ideas.” Inside, he suggested: “A portrait of Rob Ford as a young man—who is Rob Ford, really?” Alongside freelancer Shannon Kari, McArthur called Ford’s high school classmates and hunted down yearbooks. […]
Bringing the obituary to life
“The Internet can bring an obituary to life.” It may sound like a contradiction, but this is what Barbara Stewart took away from a fourth-year course taught at the University of Victoria
“The Internet can bring an obituary to life.” It may sound like a contradiction, but this is what Barbara Stewart took away from a fourth-year course taught at the University of Victoria by The Globe and Mail’s chief obituary writer, Sandra Martin. Martin has been covering the dead beat at the Globe since 2004. Four […]
Hard to Swallow
Should there be media guidelines in Canada for reporting on and discussing eating disorders?
Aimee Moore, a 28-year-old woman from Stratford, Ontario, walks on to the stage of the Dr. Phil show in January 2008. Just before Moore came onstage, the crowd was shown a long tape of what a day in her life is like. In the tape they saw Moore gagging and vomiting into a garbage can, […]
Mixing journalism with faith
Journalism is about being fair, accurate and honest. But what about a Christian journalist? Does her faith allow her to do the same?
There aren’t enough spots for the people who have showed up to fill Lorna Dueck’s CBC studio space, which comfortably fits 50. But after more chairs are brought in and people scramble around the room, the audience is finally seated. It’s a Monday night in mid-December on the set of the independently produced Christian news […]
Put to sleep
How the fate of Dogs in Canada magazine rested on the board of the Canadian Kennel Club
Kelly Caldwell’s baby had surgery four weeks ago and is on her way to recovery. “She injured her knee and had to have two pins put in,” Caldwell says. Her baby, Dottie, is a year-and-a-half-old Boston terrier that has an appointment with the vet. “She’s going for a little bit of dog physiotherapy today,” Caldwell […]
Graphic Reporting
There's more to graphic novels than superheroes and villains
The Silver Snail comic shop on Toronto’s bustling Queen Street West is jam-packed with thick graphic novels, skinny superhero comics, and countless action figures. Wooden bookshelves line every wall and from ceiling to floor, colourful book spines fight for your eye’s attention. Scattered among the superheroes, monsters, villains, and fantasy creatures are a few non-fiction […]
Being Nardwuar
An examination of the brain beneath that plaid tam
“I just don’t know what I do,” he says. The University of British Columbia cafeteria is quiet; the tone of his nasally voice—the loudest thing in the room—is thoughtful, honest. That famous tam sits atop his head of frizzy brown hair as he munches on a sandwich similar to an Egg McMuffin. A to-go cup […]
Rookie: Sassy’s successor?
A look inside Tavi Gevinson's new website for teen girls
On teen website RookieMag.com, today’s background is a photo of Winona Ryder in Edward Scissorhands, and the title of this month’s theme, “Obsession,” is handwritten in red crayon at the top of the page. “Literally the Best Thing Ever: Degrassi” and “How to Approach the Person You Like Without Throwing Up” are typical headlines. Yesterday’s posts […]
