[markbarbera]

Thought it would be fun to have a spot to post the faux-pas our less-than-stellar media outlets make us suffer through.

My first entry is referencing the Hamilton Spectator - big shock. This morning's main headline read as follows:

Derailed cars cleared in time for your commute
Today, all systems GO
by Dana Brown.

The article starts with a reassuring "Commuters can breathe a sigh of relief - it's unlikely a train derailment that caused transit chaos yesterday will continue to wreak havoc today."

Well, as those who take the GO Train already know, there was no GO service to Hamilton this morning. Nor will ther be service to Hamilton this evening. In fact, I received an e-mail at 8:03PM Monday night from GO Transit that clearly stated that 'Due to a freight train derailment just east of Aldershot station, all GO Trains will begin and end at Burlington until further notice. There will be no train service for Hamilton or Aldershot until the tracks used by GO are open again. Passengers will be shuttled by GO Bus between Hamilton, Aldershot, and Burlington."

So, one has only two explanations for this very faulty headline. Either Dana Brown has a very early bedtime and he didn't stay up past 8:00 to monitor the story for updates, or the Spec goes to press before 8:00PM. Whichever explanation is applicable, it is obvious that accuracy is not big on the Spec's goals and aspirations.

As I rode my shuttle bus this morning, I unrolled by Spec and chuckled at the headline, paying inadvertant homage to the infamous 'Dewey Defeats Truman' headline that every journalism student sees in the first year of study. You know, the one they use as an example of the importance of accuracy and timeliness on front-page headlines...

Fortunately for most citizens of Hamilton, we learned early on not to rely on Hamilton news outlets to deliver accurate information in a timely manner, and today's misleading headline was more a source of humor than frustration.

[Jon Dalton]

Ha! I just saw that on the front page and wondered what was up. GO seemed to handle the situation well running two buses one from Hamilton and one from Aldershot. My train was only delayed about 10 minutes out of Burlington as a result.

[raisethehammer]

evening rush hour and there is still no trains.
If you really want to fill this section with media mess-ups, look for spelling mistakes on local streets and stuff like "east/west". So often they say "a robbery in the east end at Barton St WEST and Kenilworth" etc....its hilarious.

[DC83]

^^ haha I noticed that this mroning. I wake up, The Weather Network tells me there's no service and to expect delays. On my way down to work, I see the Spec and see 'Today, all systems GO!" ahhaha I was like "Huh!?"

It's the Spec tho... what do you expect!?

[fastcarsfreedom]

I'm sorry if I'm stating the plainly obvious--but you do realize that The Spec has a press time and television works in real time. Did you consider that at press time GO Transit may have believed it was set to operate on schedule? It's fair to blast the media for spelling errors and factual errors--but going after the paper on an issue like this is a reach. If anything it was a poor choice to lead with on A1--but I'm sure the information was accurate at press time. Did you check thespec.com?

[raisethehammer]

I'm sorry if I'm stating the plainly obvious--but you do realize that The Spec has a press time and television works in real time. Did you consider that at press time GO Transit may have believed it was set to operate on schedule? It's fair to blast the media for spelling errors and factual errors--but going after the paper on an issue like this is a reach. If anything it was a poor choice to lead with on A1--but I'm sure the information was accurate at press time. Did you check thespec.com?

yup. they had the story online until at least noon.
As far as I can tell, the Star didn't have this story...I only saw their online edition though.

[raisethehammer]

I was at the Bad Dog this morning and they had yesterdays TO Star still there.
They had an article on the train derailment and stated that "CN officials we spoke to said despite their best efforts the cleanup wouldn't be done in time for the morning commute. Shuttle buses would be available to the GO Station throughout the day and evening on Tuesday".

fastcars, you can defend a lot of things, and quite well....don't waste your efforts on the Spec. it sucks!! Those of us who live here and read it everyday know first hand.

[markbarbera]

I'm sorry if I'm stating the plainly obvious--but you do realize that The Spec has a press time and television works in real time. Did you consider that at press time GO Transit may have believed it was set to operate on schedule? It's fair to blast the media for spelling errors and factual errors--but going after the paper on an issue like this is a reach. If anything it was a poor choice to lead with on A1--but I'm sure the information was accurate at press time. Did you check thespec.com?

If you re-read my original post, GO Transit sent e-mails out on Monday evening at 8pm saying that service to Hamilton and Aldershot was suspended until further notice. So, unless press time is before 8pm, the information was not accurate at press time. This is my beef here. The Toronto Star got it right in their paper, and the Spec did not.

[fastcarsfreedom]

I've never had a beef with The Spec and read the online version daily. In the past I've read some good arguments about poor journalism/inaccuracy at The Spectator--my point here is that attacking on this particular point is a reach. Obviously someone at the paper was given incorrect information at press time--Dewey Defeats Truman.

markbarbera--before you get all up on me about not reading your posts (I read eveyone's posts)--I'm aware of the GO email--do you have some information on what info GO passed to The Spectator AT press time? This discussion was not about information that was passed from GO to it's riders--but what information The Spectator had at press time. To the best of my knowledge neither of us is privy to that information.

It's amusing that everyone here rushes to The Star's defence (and again not considering that paper's political bias)--you all do remember that the The Spec's puppet-masters are at One Yonge Street, right? That these are the people who promised a Sunday edition when they bought the paper and never delivered?

Considering that most major metropolitan dailies in this country are reasonably similar--The Spectator is average at worst compared to it's contemporaries. Like most paper's it relies heavily on wire stories--but it's local news and sports coverage is better than average in my experience. The Windsor Star is supposedly the most-read metropolitan daily in Canada per capita, and I assure you it is no better than The Spec--in fact, it's inaccuracies and coverage of fluff stories make it worse in my eyes.

[markbarbera]

markbarbera--before you get all up on me about not reading your posts (I read eveyone's posts)--I'm aware of the GO email--do you have some information on what info GO passed to The Spectator AT press time? This discussion was not about information that was passed from GO to it's riders--but what information The Spectator had at press time. To the best of my knowledge neither of us is privy to that information.


How is it that The Star had the story right at press time and The Spec did not? And why go with a headline like that when the resumption of service was at best uncertain? Why be an apologist for poor journalism?

[raisethehammer]

fastcars, you're really losing me now. The "Stars political bias"?? what the heck are you talking about?? you mean getting their facts straight on an important story affecting thousands of commuters instead of slapping together some garbage piece and hitting the sack early like it appears the Spec always does??
I'm glad you pointed out the Specs ownership. It's one of the rare cases where a smaller company is bought out and allowed to continue operating on their own without being folded into the mega-corp. In this case, I wish the Spec was folded in the mega-corp called Torstar. I'd be happy to do without a small piece of Hamilton's history - The Spectator - and replace it with the Hamilton Star if it meant getting decent news instead of just being a puppet-rag for LIUNA and any other mobster/thugs who decide to hijack city hall.

[fastcarsfreedom]

I'm far from an apologist for poor journalism. I actually think leading with the story was a poor editorial decision given that there was some question about the resumption of service. Nonetheless, it doesn't extend beyond being a poor decision.

I'm losing you? I'm pretty sure you just advocated for replacement of The Spectator with a reskinned version of The Star? Are you actually serious? I have enormous respect for your hopes and dreams for Hamilton--but if you're willing to give up a stand-alone media outlet for a copy-cat rag from Toronto I seriously question whether or not your political motives are not outweighing your desire for a better Hamilton. The Hamilton Star? What a sickening thought. LIUNA? Thugs? What???

As for the actual Toronto Star--good for them for getting the GO story correct. Nonetheless, are you claiming that you don't realize that The Star has a strong political bias? You do realize that in large multi-paper cities it is typical for papers to have a more blatant political stance, right? You do realize the Liberal party basically prints The Star, correct?

[markbarbera]

I'm pretty sure you just advocated for replacement of The Spectator with a reskinned version of The Star?

This would be an improvement, because currently The Spec is not much more than a reskinned version of the Metro.

As for the actual Toronto Star--good for them for getting the GO story correct. Nonetheless, are you claiming that you don't realize that The Star has a strong political bias? You do realize that in large multi-paper cities it is typical for papers to have a more blatant political stance, right? You do realize the Liberal party basically prints The Star, correct?

When is the last time you read the Toronto Star? Certainly not during the last two federal elections. The paper was anything but pro-Liberal from a federal perspective. Provincially, they have been quite gentle on McGuinty, but anyone who reads the paper daily knows their political hearts and minds are with the New Democrats and not the Liberals.

The Toronto Star is one of the few remaining left-leaning papers. Most printed media bias is directed right of the political spectrum these days. But I was not talking about media bias in this thread, I was bemoaning the lack of journalistic quality in the Spec, and the GO headline from Tuesday's paper was a prime example of it.

[go_leafs_go02]

I noticed that too, checked both the Spec and the Star at the same time numerous times on Monday evening, and noticed that. It affected me cause I went to Toronto last night, but I was heading inbound to Toronto around the evening rush hour, so there was little or no delay.

Considering every media source said that Go trains would be on hold until furthur notice, and that the Spec was the only site to say that it was all good, I find that laughable, and that issue isn't minor either at all. I was at the Hamilton Go Centre, and they need those big boards you see at Union Station that are graphically changed around. There was little idea about the tieups around Aldershot, I had known, but I had to clarify with the driver to make sure that the bus I was on was actually going to Burlington to meet the train. It wasn't confusing to me, but I think if you would read the Spec and figure out your travel plans for yesterday, it would be a tad confusing for some.

I don't read the Spec anyways most of the time, find it pretty bland and disinteresting. I'll usually go with the National Post, or even just keep tabs on London with the Free Press Online there.

[DC83]

^^ You should take the QEW Express (Bus) to Toronto, man!
It takes like 1/2 the time (bet 45-55 mins), there's no transferring to a train AND you get your own personal comfortable chair (complete with personal light & climate control)!

Back in the day it was a pain as the terminal used to be at Dundas/Bay area. Now it's right across from Union in a beautiful terminal.

[raisethehammer]

This would be an improvement, because currently The Spec is not much more than a reskinned version of the Metro.



When is the last time you read the Toronto Star? Certainly not during the last two federal elections. The paper was anything but pro-Liberal from a federal perspective. Provincially, they have been quite gentle on McGuinty, but anyone who reads the paper daily knows their political hearts and minds are with the New Democrats and not the Liberals.

The Toronto Star is one of the few remaining left-leaning papers. Most printed media bias is directed right of the political spectrum these days. But I was not talking about media bias in this thread, I was bemoaning the lack of journalistic quality in the Spec, and the GO headline from Tuesday's paper was a prime example of it.


yea, I'm at a loss for that "Liberal TO Star" comment. One of their main politics writers seems to do nothing but slam them week after week. She gets interviewed on CBC as part of their 'At Issue' panel and does a great job of exposing the stupidity going on in that party....she doesn't come across as a fan of any particular party, but really takes jabs at the Liberals.

Fastcars, you're reminding me of folks from years ago who used to listen to talk radio wonks like Bill Carrol or Charles Adler and actually believe them when they'd try to paint the CBC or some other outlet as left-wing wackos.
The radio guys are simply trying to draw listeners. Anyone who wants to know what's really going on in Canada and have government mismanagement, waste and corruption exposed should be tuning into the CBC.
The days of pandering to a certain political party have long since left the station. Take a wild step into the 21st Century and quite looking at life through 1980's glasses.

[go_leafs_go02]

^^ You should take the QEW Express (Bus) to Toronto, man!
It takes like 1/2 the time (bet 45-55 mins), there's no transferring to a train AND you get your own personal comfortable chair (complete with personal light & climate control)!

Back in the day it was a pain as the terminal used to be at Dundas/Bay area. Now it's right across from Union in a beautiful terminal.
haha..oh i know all about the Go express bus, usually how i take it, I was bored, had plenty of time, and like taking the train better, get some different scenery anyways. I took it on the way back.

I like the terminal there for sure, although connections from the Union Station to the Bus terminal seems a bit odd, first time I walked through there I wasn't sure if it was the right place to be, since you are walking right along the train tracks.

Just was spicing it up, and since my train arrived at 4:57 PM on a tuesday afternoon in Toronto, i wanted to fully experience Union Station at that time. and WOW..it is ever hectic and busy! I loved it though!

[fastcarsfreedom]

The CBC for better or for worse has always been relatively proud of it's left-lean. I have a hard time believing anyone worth their weight at the CBC would claim otherwise. These are the people that spend public dollars to push their agenda--my only beef with the CBC has been their public funding source...otherwise they can do/say whatever they please...but spare me any lectures about their clarity and impartiality.

A left-lean in the media is not quaint notion--in fact, it's alive and well. Balancing that there are other media outlets that lean right of centre. Amazing how some folks get excitied about a political slant at The National Post or Fox News Channel when it is merely the mirror image of what has existed at media outlets throughout the history of journalism.

Nonetheless, I will say again, whoever decided to lead The Spec with the story that proved to be inaccurate ought to be embarassed. Nonetheless, it alone is not an indicator of poor jounalism or pandering to "thugs" but merely a poor editorial decision.

[raisethehammer]

The CBC for better or for worse has always been relatively proud of it's left-lean. I have a hard time believing anyone worth their weight at the CBC would claim otherwise. These are the people that spend public dollars to push their agenda--my only beef with the CBC has been their public funding source...otherwise they can do/say whatever they please...but spare me any lectures about their clarity and impartiality.

A left-lean in the media is not quaint notion--in fact, it's alive and well. Balancing that there are other media outlets that lean right of centre. Amazing how some folks get excitied about a political slant at The National Post or Fox News Channel when it is merely the mirror image of what has existed at media outlets throughout the history of journalism.

Nonetheless, I will say again, whoever decided to lead The Spec with the story that proved to be inaccurate ought to be embarassed. Nonetheless, it alone is not an indicator of poor jounalism or pandering to "thugs" but merely a poor editorial decision.


I'm sorry, but you sound 55 years old.
I would respectfully ask you to watch the National at 10pm on CBC for 2 weeks and let me know what you honestly think.
I'm not aware of any other media outlets on TV or radio that are as blatant in their bias as FOX. They aren't balancing anything...they've crossed the line from journalism into fearmongering, puppet-talk and corporations controlling the message.
I'm not sure if you call them right-leaning or left or what...but in terms of plain old ignorance and refusal to deal with facts, they are on an island.
I don't even consider them a media outlet...FOX has done nothing but ruin TV with 'reality' shows (at least there's more reality in them than in their 'news' casts) glowing hockey pucks, stupid robots on their NFL coverage etc.....
I won't mind if you don't take up my offer, but I'd really be curious to see you watch the National for 2 weeks with no pre-conceived ideas.
I never used to watch it...once I did I was hooked. It's good old fashioned Canadian news.

[markbarbera]

The CBC for better or for worse has always been relatively proud of it's left-lean. I have a hard time believing anyone worth their weight at the CBC would claim otherwise. These are the people that spend public dollars to push their agenda--my only beef with the CBC has been their public funding source...otherwise they can do/say whatever they please...but spare me any lectures about their clarity and impartiality.


Your opinion on the CBC may have been true in the past, but a left-leaning bias can no longer be claimed against them today. Do me a favour, go to CBC.ca/news (http://ww.cbc.ca/news) and look at today's headlines. Show me a Liberal-positive headline. In fact, there are two stories that are quite unfriendly to the Liberals among the top national headlines for today. The Liberal love affair came to an end shortly after former Tory Perrin Beatty had a go at the top reigns of the CBC a number of years back.

Personally, I think Canada is much better served with the CBC and have no problem whatsoever with public dollars going towards the network. The only 'agenda' they push is to live up to their mandate (http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/about/mandate.shtml). Their in-depth reporting and investigative programs have done a great service to this nation, and they set the standard for journalistic integrity for all other Canadian news agencies to strive for. Sadly, few actually do meet the standard, regardless of their political slant (The left-leaning CITY-TV leaves as much to be desired as the right-wing CTV as far as news coverage goes. Any news station that has to lead a big news story with a bright flash and an electronic guitar twang is not intersted in telling it like it is)

It is kinda funny to read fastcars accusing RTH as being a smug leftist with a sense of superiority. The irony certainly is not lost on me.

[raisethehammer]

Yea, CBC news just gives you the news. Watching CNN is like a Hollywood production. Scary music with images of Muslims beating each other with sticks and bowing down in unison during prayer. It's hilarious, except so many brain-dead consumers watch it and actually think they are getting a better understanding of the world. No, you're getting what the advertisers and the US government want you to get.
these days it's plain to see government control in a far greater measure at CNN and FOX than CBC.
Some recent news stories that weren't covered by corporate media in Canada or US (you can go research these online yourself) Note: some of these stories were done by CBC :

- Monsanto killing a news story on tainted milk by a local FOX station in Florida
- WMD in Iraq and what the IAEE said repeatedly to the US government about their non-existence (a few weeks ago a quiet news story out of the US stated that, oops, there actually never was any - no shite).
- RCMP corruption
- Health Canada's "smart check" symbol in grocery stores...CBC uncovered the fact that food companies pay off 'smart choice' in order to get them to sign on their label even though much healthier options sit on the same shelves.
- "Wipe Israel off the map" controversy from Iran. The 3 words - "wipe" "Israel" and "map" were never used in that infamous speech....if you watch CNN/FOX that's all you know about that speech. BBC and other large international news agencies have since issued apology stories stating that they simply picked up the story from US media outlets, but should have verified the facts before doing so.

I could go on all night, but won't....the point is, don't be a brain-dead consumer. Learn to think and do a tiny bit of research to find a little more truth out there. I know nobody wants to read through 5,000 page government documents to find out what really happened on 9-11 or anything else, but a bit of quick research at libraries or online with documented, certified sources will help you undestand a lot more about what goes on.

By the way, kudos to CBC for recently taking the feds to task for the corruption that exists and has existed for years in Health Canada and other agencies that are supposedly there for our benefit. I hear Global complaining about the price of gas every night...because people will tune in to hear it over and over.

[highwater]

- Monsanto killing a news story on tainted milk by a local FOX station in Florida


And when Fox was sued over the story, they freely admitted that they lie and distort the news, but that the First Amendment gives them the right:

http://www.projectcensored.org/Publications/2005/11.html

There's fair and balanced for you.

RTH, I'm afraid you're not going to win fastcars over with your list. It's just further evidence of "reality's well-known liberal bias".;)

[raisethehammer]

highwater...I actually don't agree with the "reality's liberal bias" theory.
I subscribe to much more conservative values, than liberal.
let me clarify, true conservative values...not this new brand of conservatism that's just as corporately bought-out as the big bad liberal parties always were.
They're really no different now other than in speech. Actions are virtually identical.
I'm a fan of people simply researching and finding facts. Not walking around like stupid robots repeating word for word what wolf blitzer said on his tv show.
Common sense is what we need more of...not political allegiance.

[fastcarsfreedom]

I'm a regular viewer of The National, have been for years. You assumed from my criticism of CBC that I didn't watch--an incorrect assumption.

And for the record, I'm not 55--you're off by a quarter-century or so--and no, I'm not 80 either.

[raisethehammer]

I'm a regular viewer of The National, have been for years. You assumed from my criticism of CBC that I didn't watch--an incorrect assumption.

And for the record, I'm not 55--you're off by a quarter-century or so--and no, I'm not 80 either.


haha....thanks for the clarification. An 80 year old on here would be cool!

I must ask this question then - if you're a regular viewer, where do you get this "Liberal party favouritism" stuff? I love watching them rip apart the morons running the Libs and their feeble attempts to bring on an election, only to cave in and not go down that road since they know they'll get whipped etc....

[DC83]

- Health Canada's "smart check" symbol in grocery stores...CBC uncovered the fact that food companies pay off 'smart choice' in order to get them to sign on their label even though much healthier options sit on the same shelves.

That was a great story! I actually watched that myself. Luckily I'm not one of those gullible consumers who believes everything the ads tell me. I actually read the nutritional facts table rather than looking for a green "check mark" that a company BOUGHT rather than achieved.

CBC has great news stories. It's a shame the network itself is sucking. I pretty much get all my info from cbc.ca or CBC Newsworld. IMO, no one else is reliable... ESPECIALLY US networks!

[highwater]

highwater...I actually don't agree with the "reality's liberal bias" theory.
I subscribe to much more conservative values, than liberal.
let me clarify, true conservative values...not this new brand of conservatism that's just as corporately bought-out as the big bad liberal parties always were.
They're really no different now other than in speech. Actions are virtually identical.
I'm a fan of people simply researching and finding facts. Not walking around like stupid robots repeating word for word what wolf blitzer said on his tv show.
Common sense is what we need more of...not political allegiance.

The running gag about reality having a 'liberal bias' refers precisely to the phenomenon you are talking about, where people who have done the research and fact finding you refer to, are then accused of being left wing (or elitist!) by those who ascribe to the 'new brand of conservatism', since the facts, and common sense, often run counter to their vested interests

[fastcarsfreedom]

This is one of the better discussion we've had on this Forum in a long-time.

I have been busy with work for a couple of days and have been unable to properly respond--so I will attempt to cover the bases while still being concise.

It is utterly amazing to me that anyone can be deluded into thinking that any media outlet delivers "just the news" without any bias. All media--all sources--all viewers--all people for that matter, have biases. The idea that CBC delivers "just the news" is utterly ridiculous--although publically supported, their news operation goes through the same assignment/editorial process that any private broadcaster does. Indeed Perrin Beatty may have made his changes (utlimately to try to coax the beast into the direction of being self-supporting) but the long-entrenched bureaucracy hasn't changed.

I don't deny that CBC does some excellent public affairs/news work. You point to the Smart Check story--which is a good example--but again I could list dozens of equally compelling consumer affairs stories here done by any number of broadcasters running the gammut from BBC to ABC to local affiliate stations--everyone does consumer affairs reporting. (Did you know that many programs similar to Smart Check rely on self-governance by private industry? In truth the government doesn't have anywhere close to the resources necessary to administer such programs on it's own).

In truth--CBC's reporting has historically had a pro-left bend, and I cannot fathom a CBC supporter denying this. I applaud the network (The National in particular) for it's focus on foreign affairs reporting--however, it continues to report the news with the same undertones it always has--anti-American, pro-liberal (notice the lack of capitalization), suspicious of the military, suspicious of law enforcement and gleeful of any news it can report about Brian Mulroney. There are somewhat balanced brightspots--Rex Murphy is one, but otherwise it's just as filtered, just as selective and just as biased as CTV, Global, TQS, TVA or any other private broadcaster in this country--private broadcasters who must be profitable to survive, who do not operate on welfare and who have to apply for, and defend, their broadcasting licenses.

I note that you mention CBC's pursuit of "corruption" in the RCMP--fair enough--some of what had gone on bureaucratically absolutely should have been exposed to the light of day. On the flipside, they endlessly ran the Vancouver International taser footage without balance whatsoever, have turned the focus on the Mayerthorpe killings from the perpatrator to the RCMP itself and have a made a point of questioning officer/departmental actions in every subsequent RCMP death since--as well as every taser deployment in Canada. This past fall The National also attempted to create a scandal surrounding the Canada Border Services Agency--where no scandal in fact existed. And of course, Sheila Fraser ought to have her own chair at the anchor desk--they LOVE the Auditor General.

Quote
don't be a brain-dead consumer

This is an old tried/true refrain that is basically the equal of calling someone on the left a hippie. It's essentially a bold (and incorrect) assumption--in fact I'd argue it takes an impressive amount of gall--because essentially the inference is that anyone who disagrees with you is stupid. I was raised by parents who are decidedly more liberal in their viewpoints than I am--in fact I am responsible for my own viewpoints and beliefs. When I was younger I would literally come home from school or hockey practice and read the newspaper, watch the news, listen to my parents' discussions about news and world affairs. I made my own decisions about my beliefs--and Andrew Coyne is no more guilty of "brainwashing" me than David Suzuki.

I should clarify RTH--I never accused the CBC of capital "L" liberal bias. I only wish I shared your enthusiasm when it comes to the notion that the Liberals would be 'whipped' at election time--however, I've developed a reasonably deep mistrust of the Canadian electorate.

[raisethehammer]

fastcars, you're right...this is a great discussion.
I clearly don't agree with your attempt to paint the BBC or CBC in the same light as the private broadcasters. I admit there are biases everywhere in life, but you don't have to look too hard to see the incredible nonsense being spewed out on CNN or FOX.

and just to clarify, I wasn't calling YOU a "braindead consumer" Lol.
I was merely making that statement in a general sense...too many people are.
I chuckle at the number of times I've had a chat with someone about some issue and they have no original ideas or thoughts. All they can do is repeat Wolf Blitzer or some newspaper writer etc.... I look at news stories as a possible story for me to look into further. I watch The Agenda on TVO regularly (Hamilton-boy Paikin!) and go to their website to follow up on various stories and look up different research links if I'm interested in learning more.
I don't just walk around saying "Steve Paikin said xxx".

Anyhow, just wanted to clarify that. I can tell just from reading you on this forum that you are certainly not 'brain dead' in any respect!
:cheers:

[the dude]

i think that by having 'embedded' reporters in afghanistan the cbc has gotten over its supposed suspicion of the military. they're pretty much on board now.

personally, i'm much more of a cbc radio fan than tv. cbctv has become somewhat perverted over the years. cbc radio is the real deal and has excellent programming from morning 'til night. i look forward to their return to the hammer.

[fastcarsfreedom]

thedude--"perverted"? At least you admit that they're biased and you love it.

The National Post is biased and I love it.

[raisethehammer]

National Post...I'm not sure what their bias is (i've only read it a couple of times) but one of them must be having horrible writers who can't string a sentence together.
That thing is like VIEW magazine (again, based on the few times I've read one).
I guess like could be worse in Hamilton if we were to only have VIEW or the TO Sun or some other tabloid like that. haha.

[jeremy_haak]

I'm losing you? I'm pretty sure you just advocated for replacement of The Spectator with a reskinned version of The Star?
Torstar is more than just the Toronto Star. They also own the Kitchener Record, and a variety of other properties. Most interesting is that they own a 20% of CTVglobemedia, which publishes their biggest competitor, the Globe and Mail.

[fastcarsfreedom]

RTH--I don't follow--are you saying the National Post has poor writers? I sincerely don't follow your thought in that post. VIEW? Are you talking about the arts/entertainment tabloid that is distrubuted free, that I used to spend late nights at Tally Ho reading?

For the record, the National Post takes a mostly right-of-centre view on political issues, the military, Canada-U.S. relations, trade, monetary policy, etc. Conrad Black founded it, and after Southam's dissolution it came under the ownership of Canwest-Global--controlled by the notoriously Liberal (capital L) Asper family--however, to their credit, they have left the Post's editorial positions alone. I distinctly recall some member of the intellgientsia predicting the paper's demise because it's political viewpoints were "Un-Canadian"--I have held fast to that quote since to illustrate my own feelings of political isolation in this country.

As stated, Torstar also picked up the K-W Record when Southam was dissolved, and they also control most of the weekly publications around the Golden Horseshoe through their Metroland division. One of their most profitable holdings is the Harlequin Romance operation...no kidding. Torstar, Osprey and SunMedia pretty much divided up Southam's dailies in Ontario.

[raisethehammer]

the few times I've seen one laying around at a cafe and read it I've been stunned at the poor writing. It's like a high school newspaper. Yes, VIEW is the A&E mag in Hamilton you would have been reading at Tally Ho.
I don't recall reading anything that seemed overtly biased, but again, I've only read it a few times....I probably don't recall much of the content because I was too busy trying to make sense of the friggin sentences. Let's put it this way, the writing was so bad that I've never had a desire to pay a cent for one or pick one up in a cafe to read again.

[highwater]

VERY interesting panel discussion coming up in April at the AGH:


LOCAL MEDIA: Voice of the Few or Mouthpiece for the Masses?

T.N.T. again brings together an expert panel of speakers to engage in discussion about current issues. The city of Hamilton has one major newspaper, several alternative papers, a half-dozen community weeklies, one network television station, one cable television station, and seven radio stations. Yet many feel their voices are not heard and that local issues do not receive the depth of coverage needed. What role should local media play in the community?

Terry Cooke will chair a panel including respected representatives from several media corporations on local and national fronts, as well as independent speakers from the worlds of arts and media, including confirmed participants Mike Katrycz, News Director, CHCH News, Ted Kennedy, Chief of Staff, CBC English Radio, Dave Kuruk, Founder and Editor of H Magazine, Tor Lukasik-Foss, artist and columnist, Ryan McGreal, Editor of www.raisethehammer.org, and Jim Poling, Managing Editor, News, The Hamilton Spectator.

Date & Time: Thursday, April 17, 7:00 pm
(optional exhibition tour at 6:00 pm included with T.N.T. ticket)

Price: AGH Members $10.00 | Students/Seniors $12.00 | Non-Members $15.00



Pre-registration is recommended. Reserve your attendance by purchasing tickets on-line, or by calling Laurie at 905-527-6610, ext. 272 or Tina at ext. 250.

NEW MEMBERS: Thursday, April 17 is also New Members Night!
In addition to attending our T.N.T. event, New Members will also be treated to a unique vault tour at 6:00 pm. To participate in this tour, please contact Tina at 905-527-6610, ext. 250 or tinae@artgalleryofhamilton.com.

[raisethehammer]

if anyone is free, tune into CBC. The Fifth Estate is doing an absolutely bang-up job and exposing the corruption in the US government over the unecessary Iraq war.
If you miss it, log on and try to obtain a copy of the show.
Interviews with ambassadors, CIA officials and top secret US government documents all make the case against the US. Of course, some of you won't want to watch it. No left-wing nuts are being interviewed to allow you to keep your head in the sand. US military officials and 20+ year CIA agents are the source of the facts here.
All sarcasm aside, this is a very well done show.

[BCTed]

The hiring of Michelle Dube by CHCH was certainly not a mistake. She is quite attractive.

[DC83]

The hiring of Michelle Dube by CHCH was certainly not a mistake. She is quite attractive.

ahhaah Where did that come from?
I actually went to elementary school w/ this girl. She's nice/genuine. Probably one of the better reporters on CHCH.

[BCTed]

ahhaah Where did that come from?
I actually went to elementary school w/ this girl. She's nice/genuine. Probably one of the better reporters on CHCH.

I saw her on TV just before I posted that.

[raisethehammer]

she's friggin tall too.
She was at the Gore Plaza/two-way meeting last week. Either that or her boots had huge heels.

[highwater]

Just a reminder about this upcoming talk at the AGH. Should be good.


TNT: Local Media - Voice of the Few, or Mouthpiece for the Masses?

T.N.T. again brings together an expert panel of speakers to engage in discussion about current issues. The city of Hamilton has one major newspaper, several alternative papers, a half-dozen community weeklies, one network television station, one cable television station, and seven radio stations. Yet many feel their voices are not heard and that local issues do not receive the depth of coverage needed. What role should local media play in the community?

Terry Cooke will chair a panel including respected representatives from several media corporations on local and national fronts, as well as independent speakers from the worlds of arts and media, including confirmed participants Mike Katrycz, News Director, CHCH News, Ted Kennedy, Chief of Staff, CBC English Radio, Dave Kuruk, Founder and Editor of H Magazine, Tor Lukasik-Foss, artist and columnist, Ryan McGreal, Editor of www.raisethehammer.org, and Jim Poling, Managing Editor, News, The Hamilton Spectator.

Date & Time: Thursday, April 17, 7:00 pm
(optional exhibition tour at 6:00 pm included with T.N.T. ticket)

Price: AGH Members $10.00 | Students/Seniors $12.00 | Non-Members $15.00



Pre-registration is recommended. Reserve your attendance by purchasing tickets on-line, or by calling Laurie at 905-527-6610, ext. 272 or Tina at ext. 250.

[raisethehammer]

too bad they didn't get Mr. Losani and Mr. Desantis to sit on the panel.

[the dude]

unfortunately, joe and aldo are men of few words.

[DC83]

Not so much of a messup, but more-so of a snub:

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/07/02/newfie-stroke.html

Not once is there mention of Hamilton when this woman clearly lived/worked here for years (according to The Spec's article on the same subject). They say "McMaster" and "McMaster University" a couple times, but for Joe McIgnorant out in Calgary is going to have no idea where 'McMaster University'. The article mentions Windsor, so these people could think McMaster is one of Michighan's many Universities.

Why does the media snub us so often or portray Hamilton as a horrible place. It's no wonder the rest of Canada hates Hamilton, it's all they know.

Did we do something to P them off? Why can't Hamilton ever get any love!?

[Millstone]

Not so much of a messup, but more-so of a snub:

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/07/02/newfie-stroke.html

Not once is there mention of Hamilton when this woman clearly lived/worked here for years (according to The Spec's article on the same subject). They say "McMaster" and "McMaster University" a couple times, but for Joe McIgnorant out in Calgary is going to have no idea where 'McMaster University'. The article mentions Windsor, so these people could think McMaster is one of Michighan's many Universities.

Why does the media snub us so often or portray Hamilton as a horrible place. It's no wonder the rest of Canada hates Hamilton, it's all they know.

Did we do something to P them off? Why can't Hamilton ever get any love!?

Something about fire-breathing smokestacks from the bay.

[raisethehammer]

it's not that tough to figure out.
most national media is centred on TO....and TO has a massive inferiority complex.
so much so, that they feel the need to constantly slight the little brother down the highway in a feeble attempt to feel good about themselves.
It's been this way for years and won't change until Toronto becomes a 'world class city'.... in other words, never.

[BCTed]

it's not that tough to figure out.
most national media is centred on TO....and TO has a massive inferiority complex.
so much so, that they feel the need to constantly slight the little brother down the highway in a feeble attempt to feel good about themselves.
It's been this way for years and won't change until Toronto becomes a 'world class city'.... in other words, never.

Come on. You think that Hamilton did not get mentioned in a throwaway article because of Toronto's inferiority complex??

Maybe instead of constantly shaking my head at you, I should ask you to share some of your Kool-Aid.

[DC83]

Come on. You think that Hamilton did not get mentioned in a throwaway article because of Toronto's inferiority complex??

Maybe instead of constantly shaking my head at you, I should ask you to share some of your Kool-Aid.

First off, it's FAR from a 'throw-away-article'... it was at the top of the NEWS HEADLINES section of CBC.ca when I first got to work this morning (8am), and is currently the 2ND MOST VIEWED ARTICLE OF THE DAY (current time: 11:30am).
It's also the 1st time in Canadian history that anything like this has ever happened. IT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL, TED!

Stop responding to msgs and purposely posting articles you KNOW are going to piss particular people off.

My question was (and still is) WHY DOES HAMILTON GET SNUBBED BY NATIONAL MEDIA... stick to the topic. Maybe you could give me some insight as a non-Hamiltonian rather than picking a fight?

[highwater]

it's not that tough to figure out.
most national media is centred on TO....and TO has a massive inferiority complex.

I don't think it's an inferiority complex so much as a massive blind spot. Hamilton is simply not on their radar and they can't conceive of the possibility that it's capable of supporting life. I used to live in TO and I still spend quite a bit of time there. When you tell people you're from Hamilton, they look at you like you just announced you're from the planet Xenon. "You mean people actually live there?"

[markbarbera]

Toronto Star intentionally avoids Hamilton news so to not directly compete with the Hamilton Spectator. Thus the problem with media 'synergies'.

[BCTed]

First off, it's FAR from a 'throw-away-article'... it was at the top of the NEWS HEADLINES section of CBC.ca when I first got to work this morning (8am), and is currently the 2ND MOST VIEWED ARTICLE OF THE DAY (current time: 11:30am).
It's also the 1st time in Canadian history that anything like this has ever happened. IT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL, TED!

Stop responding to msgs and purposely posting articles you KNOW are going to piss particular people off.

My question was (and still is) WHY DOES HAMILTON GET SNUBBED BY NATIONAL MEDIA... stick to the topic. Maybe you could give me some insight as a non-Hamiltonian rather than picking a fight?

DC83, it is not a snub. It is commonplace for universities to be named without their host cities being mentioned. I keep referencing a Henry Morgentaler article from today that mentions, McGill, Ryerson, and UWO, but does not mention Montreal, Toronto, or London --- those cities are not being snubbed either. Unfortunately, my posts keep getting deleted, so you have probably not seen the article.

[drpgq]

What really irritates me in Canadian papers is the need to append ON after a Hamilton byline. I guess there must be some other Hamilton in the country it could be mistaken for, but I would think the average Canadian knows Hamilton exists (while having a poor opinion of it from my experience).

It is too bad in a way that Mac doesn't have the moniker University of Hamilton. We wouldn't then have this problem.

[JT Jacobs]

Not so much of a messup, but more-so of a snub:

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/07/02/newfie-stroke.html

Not once is there mention of Hamilton when this woman clearly lived/worked here for years (according to The Spec's article on the same subject). They say "McMaster" and "McMaster University" a couple times, but for Joe McIgnorant out in Calgary is going to have no idea where 'McMaster University'. The article mentions Windsor, so these people could think McMaster is one of Michighan's many Universities.

Why does the media snub us so often or portray Hamilton as a horrible place. It's no wonder the rest of Canada hates Hamilton, it's all they know.

Did we do something to P them off? Why can't Hamilton ever get any love!?

I realize that your mention of Calgary is an example of a Canadian region that, to you, is largely unaware of where McMaster is. However, the assertion is still ridiculous: any one who has a degree, I would contend, knows where MAC is. McMaster is one of the elite 14 medical-doctoral institutions in the country. It is also internationally recognized. Pretty much everyone knows where it is; who cares about those who don't?

As for Calgary, it has the most degrees granted per capita of any city in the country, making it the most educated of city populations in the nation. Finally, I lived in Calgary for years--and taught at the U of C--and everyone I ever met knew where McMaster is.

Don't worry so much. McMaster is what I call Canadian Ivy League, up there with McGill, UT, Queen's, and UWO.

[fastcarsfreedom]

Toronto may indeed have an inferiority complex (but it's a "world-class" inferiority complex at least)...but worry that Hamilton doesn't get mentioned in an article about McMaster is...well...evidence of the same complex. Living outside of Hamilton for the past 15 years, I've come to realize that contrary to popular opinion at home--the rest of Canada actually doesn't 'hate' Hamilton to the degree many people believe. You get the odd comment about industry...but honestly, that's about it. Remember, anyone who travels through Hamilton from the west...via the 403, is treated to a far different first impression of the City than the GTAs who traverse via the QEW...perhaps that is the difference...but when I've travelled this country, I've gotten comments about the Ti-Cats, the need for an NHL team, Sheila Copps and a dozen other things AS WELL as questions/comments about the steel industry.

The fact that the city wasn't mentioned in this article is an absolute non-story--and any resulting outcry is purely bush-league. Hamilton can stand on it's own strengths and merits and is blessed to have McMaster in it's midst. Be confident.

[DC83]

^^ Ya, I was totally using it as an example and nothing more. I was actually going to say 'ButtFuck, AB' but we're not suppose to swear on here ;) hehe I guess it's not profanity if it's a city, right? haha So no disrespect to CGY, I actually like the city and am super jealous of the C-Train.

And I know a lot of educated, or at leat well-informed, individuals such as most of us on here know where Mac is. I even know there's a UBC campus in Kelowna (UBC Okanagan I believe), but I just wish Hamilton would have been mentioned. It doesn't take much to add an 8-letter name in there; "First case of FAS ever in Canadian history discovered in Hamilton". If they took the time to mention 'Southwestern Ontario', why not just say Hamilton?

UPDATE:

They've revamped the article ;) Hmmm
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/07/03/stroke-accent.html

Alright... who emailed to bitch at them!?! hahaha

[JT Jacobs]

Toronto may indeed have an inferiority complex (but it's a "world-class" inferiority complex at least)...but worry that Hamilton doesn't get mentioned in an article about McMaster is...well...evidence of the same complex. Living outside of Hamilton for the past 15 years, I've come to realize that contrary to popular opinion at home--the rest of Canada actually doesn't 'hate' Hamilton to the degree many people believe. You get the odd comment about industry...but honestly, that's about it. Remember, anyone who travels through Hamilton from the west...via the 403, is treated to a far different first impression of the City than the GTAs who traverse via the QEW...perhaps that is the difference...but when I've travelled this country, I've gotten comments about the Ti-Cats, the need for an NHL team, Sheila Copps and a dozen other things AS WELL as questions/comments about the steel industry.

The fact that the city wasn't mentioned in this article is an absolute non-story--and any resulting outcry is purely bush-league. Hamilton can stand on it's own strengths and merits and is blessed to have McMaster in it's midst. Be confident.

Agreed. Besides, the article clearly mentions that the woman had treatment at Hamilton General. Any further mention of Hamilton would be redundant.

FCF, my experience in the West is similar to what you say regarding outsiders' view of Hamilton: they know a little about the city, but not much, and, largely, have no negative opinion of the city. When I hear a well-worn stereotype invoked, I merely correct it, to which they reply good-naturedly, as though learning something knew. Hamiltonians need to shake the cultural cringe they were weaned on.

[JT Jacobs]

^^ Ya, I was totally using it as an example and nothing more. I was actually going to say 'ButtFuck, AB' but we're not suppose to swear on here ;) hehe I guess it's not profanity if it's a city, right? haha So no disrespect to CGY, I actually like the city and am super jealous of the C-Train.

And I know a lot of educated, or at leat well-informed, individuals such as most of us on here know where Mac is. I even know there's a UBC campus in Kelowna (UBC Okanagan I believe), but I just wish Hamilton would have been mentioned. It doesn't take much to add an 8-letter name in there; "First case of FAS ever in Canadian history discovered in Hamilton". If they took the time to mention 'Southwestern Ontario', why not just say Hamilton?

UPDATE:

They've revamped the article ;) Hmmm
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/07/03/stroke-accent.html

Alright... who emailed to bitch at them!?! hahaha

I hear you. My personal pet peeve regarding Hamilton in the media is the appended "ON" after it always, as someone above already posted about. Jeepers, everyone knows where Hamilton is.

[raisethehammer]

haha...too funny.
I'm watching the CBC 6pm news and they just did a story about a group of Western students developing a new kind of biofuels. they didn't mention London once.
Then they did this story about the womans speech at Mac and sure enough, they said "Hamilton". lol.
they must be reading this.

[FairHamilton]

WOW, all these posts because a news article didn't mention Hamilton. Please someone remind me who has the inferiority complex???

You'll all be happy to know the Globe & Mail clearly indicated that McMaster is in Hamilton: Alexandre Sévigny, a researcher at McMaster University in Hamilton.

[BCTed]

I hear you. My personal pet peeve regarding Hamilton in the media is the appended "ON" after it always, as someone above already posted about. Jeepers, everyone knows where Hamilton is.


Agreed. And having to append the word "Hamilton" to McMaster is a similar type of thing. When Harvard is mentioned, nobody has to append "Boston" or "Cambridge" to it because it is already known. If McMaster were some lesser known or completely unknown university (e.g. Quest University in Squamish, BC), then it would be more necessary to mention its location.

As a couple of others have pointed out, the inferiority complex here lies in Hamilton. The suggestion that this is some kind of a slight on the part of Toronto is pretty ridiculous.

[FairHamilton]

The suggestion that this is some kind of a slight on the part of Toronto is pretty ridiculous.

And far fetched!!!