I used to think Glenn Beck was funny ha ha along the lines of Stewart and Colbert. Until I realized his fake news wasn’t really fake news.

I read Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-14 and wanted to shake my head. Are all policy decisions posted as links buried under other links? And with that title, I wasn’t too keen on reading the rest of it. Anyway, what triggered the curiosity in the first place was an online petition by Avaaz.org: 48 hours to save Canadian journalism. Slightly hyperbolic, maybe? But just enough urgency to catch the eye of the Canadian public. 

An independent regulatory committee, the CRTC’s role is to provide a check on Canada’s public airwaves. Usually this means enforcing the rules and standards it sets for the telecommunications industry. It also extends to things like regulating foreign ownership of broadcast licences and ensuring the primacy of “Canadian” content. 

Most of the time it’s taking heat. The latest controversy-amongst others- centers around the re-wording of a CRTC policy that was challenged by a parliamentary committee. The standard of reporting is, hopefully, set by broadcasters’ own code of journalistic ethics. There’s also the CRTC. Through them standards are reinforced by a simple and straightforward regulation:

 “a licensee shall not broadcast […] any false or misleading news.”

Subject to review, this policy is questioned on its Constitutional grounding. Section 2 (b) of the Charter protects individual freedoms but also those of the press and other media of communication. 

The amendment adds a clarifier as a means to prevent future constitutional challenges. But the new wording may just open the door to another set of legal loopholes; and these ones may not be in favour of the viewer. It stipulates against “any news that the licensee knows is false or misleading and that endangers or is likely to endanger the lives, health or safety of the public.” It’s the second part that has garnered outcry from media advocates and the public.

Interpreted as, reporters can tell lies so long as no one is harmed, the notice has warranted some scrutiny. How can you judge or even prove that life has been endangered? And more specifically what kind of danger are we talking about here? Physical danger is often the last to manifest itself, and by then it’s too late and too difficult to peg to one news story. The assassination attempt on Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford is one example that has been referenced a lot. An unfortunate display of how news stories can contribute to a toxic political environment. 

I’m not really sure how the CRTC decision will play out, and what the ramifications will be. A true slacktivist (I have school…I swear) I wasn’t able to add feedback to the CRTC’s call for comments by the February 9th deadline. Luckily there’s passion coming in from all sides and the regulation change wasn’t able to slip by too unnoticed. The Commission received thousands of responses after opening the proposed change to public consultation. In turn, 48 hours later and Avaaz.org’s campaign was able to compile over 70, 000 signatures in its anti-amendment petition. Here are some perspectives that add to the debate about journalistic standards and news media regulation.

“Where is the motivation for change that would lower the standards   of truth and fairness in broadcast journalism? Peter Murdoch, VP of media for the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union

“Does the public need to worry about this? No! The charter protects the press freedom that is essential in a democracy, and there are also sufficient moral and legal checks and balances to keep journalists accountable.” Terry Field, Associate Professor and Chair of Journalism at Mount Royal University, Former CBC producer

“Television news is regulated by the CRTC precisely because news  that spreads lies degrades public discourse and destroys the ability of Canadians to cast an informed vote. These kinds of lies may not directly threaten our lives or personal security, but they do threaten our country and our democracy.” Avaaz.org, 48 Hour Petition

“It seems astounding that the CRTC would consider such a move at a time when we see the growing backlash in the United States to the poisoned levels of political discourse in the American media.” NDP MP, Charlie Angus

Additional News Sources:

Maclean’s, CRTC may ease ban on broadcasting false news

CBC News, CRTC undermined by appointment, changes, NDP

Toronto Star, Truth, lies and broadcasting in Canada

Globe and Mail, Opponents of CRTC’s false-news proposal bombard website

The World Bank Blog, Media Regulation: Who Needs Your Protection?

Picture Credit:  All rights reserved by mathiole, Flickr, Matheus Lopes 

 http://www.mathiole.com/website/

Gnatola ma no kpon sia, eyenabe adelan to kpo mi sena. (Ewe-mina, Benin, Ghana and Togo)

Until the lion has his or her own storyteller, the hunter will always have the best part of the story. (English)

                                                               OR

Until lions have their own historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter (Igbo, Nigeria). 

Until lions start writing down their own stories, the hunters will always be the heroes (Kenya and Zimbabwe).