Fiction in Journalism
For years, Rick Mofina filed newspaper stories that sounded as if they'd been torn out of paperback thrillers at the grocery store. But as of 2003 Mofina no longer has a job in journalism. It begs the question: are Canadian newspapers ready for fiction techniques or is it just a few writers' and editors' fantasy?
A few hours before dawn, police lights began flashing on the Deerfoot Trail, just west of Calgary Heraldheadquarters. Rick Mofina arrived within minutes. He got out of his blue Jetta, grabbed a notepad and headed toward a police inspector who was waiting for the medical examiner. Mofina’s tired eyes betrayed the effects of the night shift. […]
Embedding for Safety?
The vicious cycle that keeps journalists unsafe in war zones
“The 21st century is shaping up to be the most difficult period for journalists who work in war zones.” — Adnan Khan, freelance journalist, currently reporting in Afghanistan. While the debate continues to rage about whether or not embedding is good or bad, ethical or unethical, better or worse than unilateral reporting, most of the […]
Social Studies 101
Let the Sun Shine In “You’re right on time,” he says, opening the door to his second-floor apartment in Toronto’s west end. Although his scalp is bare and he’s wearing glasses, he’s nothing like the “bald-headed, squinty-eyed gnome” he described himself as over the phone. Instead, wearing a white dress shirt, navy sweater vest, khakis […]
Sex in the Newsroom
About to step into a male-dominated industry, Dana Lacey asks female journalists about their careers, their challenges and their aspirations. It all starts with one question: why aren't there more women on top?
Sorry, but there’s no crying in journalism. Sorry, but there’s no part-time position available, it’s 24/7 or nothing. Sorry, but this is a tough job, and you’re just too nice. Sorry, but… The first thing I have to say is that, while I am a female and a journalist, this is not one of those […]
Dying for Good Journalism
More reporters are being murdered than ever before. And on this issue, there’s no good news in sight.
The world’s journalists have a problem, and it’s murder. The international death toll of journalists is reported to be increasing at a staggering rate, according to an extensive report released by the International News Safety Institute (INSI) earlier this month. The INSI, a non-profit coalition of media organizations, press freedom groups, unions and humanitarian campaigners based in […]
Right Story, Wrong Questions
Kathy Gannon criticizes the international presses' coverage of Afghanistan—from military censorship to out right laziness, they've been getting their facts wrong since 9-11...
Kathy Gannon is the chief designate of the Associated Press Iran bureau, and was the AP correspondent in Pakistan and Afghanistan from 1986-2005. She has covered Afghanistan for nearly 20 years, including the seizure of power by the Taliban in 1996 and its defeat in 2001. She is the author of I is for Infidel, a book about her experiences in Afghanistan, […]
On the Record
It's easy to gripe about the quality of music journalism, but is it better than we sometimes think? Our reporters hit the Canadian Music Week festival to see how journalists and musicians feel
By Ann Ruppenstein. Camera by Jennifer Fong
Where Angels Fear to Tread
geez magazine has been tackling tough questions about Christianity since it launched in 2005. But its activist attitude may not be enough
When Will Braun attends Hope Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, he sits right at the back, where he feels most comfortable. Braun, a left-leaning activist, organic farmer, and editor of geez magazine — a quarterly launched in December 2005 — was raised in the southern Manitoba Bible Belt and felt frustrated with the insularity of the Church. “But […]
Circ Stud
Circulation expert Scott Bullock on the mag industry’s self-esteem issues, dazzling circ strategies, and breaking the glass ceiling on magazine’s business side.
Scott Bullock puts his hand to his ear and mimics a telephone conversation: “Oh, I’ve got a great idea for a magazine!” “Great, when are you planning on going to print?” “Next week!” Bullock mimes hanging up the phone. “Click,” he says, deadpan. The impromptu dramatization was sparked by our discussion about the value of […]
Defending Offence
Faced with the gruesome challenge of covering the Robert Pickton trial, editors poured their uneasy hearts out. But what do audiences want, exactly, and should they always get it?
There was considerable discussion…Guidelines were circulated…We have tried to achieve…The rationale is…We’re on new ground here…We probably have already crossed some lines…Our goal is…We chose…We have tried, though not always successfully…We have to follow our own moral compass here…Those were things I would never have imagined saying on air before…We won’t report…We will report… Hear […]
